dog park etiquette ?

[Itsapyr]

Well today was my first adventure to the dogpark on my own with both dogs.

At what point do you step in and tell another dog owner enough and to control their dog?

I finally did today and the one apologized and the other took his dog and left. It was 3 dogs ganging up on Jasper and he was afraid. I let it go for a bit but after the 3rd time I literally grabbed the one and told him enough. Yeh Jasper was bigger but they knocked him down more than once and it wasn't play.

BUT my Janey OMG I love her to death. She so put that Cane Corso in his place and put him on his back. OMG OMG I loved it. She stuck her chest out like a mini Abs and cocked that head sideways and let him have it. Then she went and stood with her man...the lady standing with me burst out laughing and said " There will be no Humping Janey today. You go girl friend"

It was nice after they left. Another group came with a girl I have met there before. All the dogs had a blast.

[mezmerelda]

I don't know, Pam. That's one of the reasons we stopped going to dog parks for a long time. There was a Rhodesian Ridgeback that bullied Gryffin a bit when he was a pup--even peed on his head. His owner was nowhere to be found. We went back about 6 months later and found the same dog, and he tried to hump Gryffin. I'm not sure he tried that to any dog ever again, as Gryffin had found his backbone by then. The place we go now has very well behaved humans with their dogs.

[Itsapyr]

Well I never thought I would grab another person's dog but that was uncalled for and I most definitely was not in the mood today.

So here is Janey with a nice little Aussie


And a group of them


It was definitely hot when my dogs stand in the pool...but i think they need a bigger pool. LOL

[ToBScholarly]

So beautiful!

[krb0471]

I have read threads where dog park visitors poopoo owners who "hover" and stay involved in their dog's actions. I am a "hoverer", I want to make sure i can correct my dog and my dog does not hurt another or vice versa. Most people seem to lazy to go over and take their dog in hand but would rather continuously shout their name, which does not help the issue. My rule is 3 strikes- if your dog does something I deem harmful I will say something, then give you 2 times to remedy it. After that I will do what I see necessary to correct YOUR dog if it is irritating my dog. Since beig in De, I have shaken the scruff or body blocked/pushed 4 dogs in the past 2 months. I've gotten dirty looks as well as satisfied smirks from other dog owners. It seems like people are afraid to admit their dog might need a time out or to go home. I don't mind being the dog park b*tch if it allows my dog to come home in w/o injury.

btw- can we go to that park when I visit?

[ALDOGMOM]

OMG - that pool picture is hilarious!

Bogey has been to our park a couple of times since it opened..I stayed right with him (he wasn't on leash) so that I could intervene in case something did go wrong...I never sat down on a bench and had a conversation with anyone...I would have no problem asking someone to remove their dog or taking a dog by the collar and correcting them...

My sisters subdivision is built around a dog park and they have had all kinds of issues there....including two dogs that required veterinary attention after a dog fight that got out of control..

Birdie, of course, will never get to go...

[ShilohsGirlJen]

I know Cesar is a hot topic at times but he did a dog park section the other day. One of his biggest issues was the owners were not watching their dogs they were talking to each other or on their phone. Even at the dog parks the owners need to be on top of things. I would have no fear in correcting another dog. he a;lsop said so many people go to the parks for their dogs to burn energy. He went on to say a walk should proceed time in the park so the dogs are not so wakado in the park.

[sam.i.am]

I love your photos of Jas and Janey at the park. The pool is hilariously small.

We brought Delilah to the dog park here a few times. Each time, I was disappointed by the way that owners let their dogs hump her (I mean tackle her and scare her) and most owners were not near their dogs. My husband and I both hovered near wherever Delilah was and did our best to make sure she was safe.

I think it's fair to intervene if your dog is in any way at risk or scared due to bullying. We have done that and we have ended up leaving the park due to the lack of response we received from the owners.

[Truman's Mom]

I always stroll around the dog park, it keeps Truman moving or I'm following him. I remember one time some guy that was sitting on a bench said to me as I followed Truman "is that your first dog?" like I was suppose to sit somewhere and let Truman do anything he wanted. To many people think it's their time to socialize and that their dogs are fenced in so no need to watch.

Bravo to you Pam for doing what was needed to protect your dog.

[Nanaba]

I step in as soon as it looks like it could get dangerous.

Wren & I had a not-so-pleasant experience at the dog park about a year ago. He got taken down by two other dogs. Wren was howling and his eyes were wide with fear. The two dogs were snarling and one had him by his neck. The owner just stood there and watched. I was yelling at the owner to get her @$#%@$^ dogs off of mine and pretty much was kicking them away from him. Well, blocking them with my foot is more accurate. They were snarling and I really didn't want to reach my hand into the middle of it.

I'm told that the dogs had done it in the past. WTF? And they're still allowed there? (This was a park where you have to pay membership fees, so should be a bit more controlled.) I called in the morning to complain. They knew right away who I was talking about as the owner had already called and was sigining her dogs up for private training classes. I was told they weren't aggressive dogs it was just "pack play". Whatever.

I think I was more traumatized by the attack. Wren was more traumatized by the bath he got (it was SO muddy that day, and he was tackled right in the middle of a huge mud puddle) Thank goodness we've got a Pet Wash at the corner gas station. I'd have hated to even bring him in the house as muddy as he was.

Anyways... after that, if I am at all uncomfortable with the behavior of other dogs I say something to the owner. It's a small enough community at the park that just the mention of the two dogs and everyone understands.

[Swissy Mom]

These stories are why we don't go to dog parks. We are fortunate to have many friends with dogs and decent sized fenced yards, so we just make sure Cash does lots of playdates. I think I'm just too much of a control freak to do the dog park. I know I'd end up all p***ed off at someone.

[Chan]

I wish there was a dog park around here...
I love the pool pic...made me giggle

[Lora]

Dont even get me started! Last trip to the dog park was with Basja, Kendra and Rufus in Il and i was NOT pleased.