Too Aggressive?

Anne makes very good points about the changing personalities of dogs as they mature.  And often our perceptions of our dogs likes and dislikes aren't quite on target.

I personally don't like dog parks.  A couple of my "kids" do very well, the others don't.  I'd rather scout out an area where I can take them all to play off lead, run, etc, than to divi things up and have to worry about how other dogs might behave at a dog park.  There are far too many inattentive owners in those places.  No matter how fab their recall, my dogs are still dogs and subject to doggish reactions in places like that.  I'm not sure that training can ever totally and completely overcome their instincts.

glenmar

I personally don't like dog parks.  A couple of my "kids" do very well, the others don't. 

 

 It's not only a matter of whether your dog or dogs do well at a dog park.  The problem is that you have no control of what the other dogs are like that may be there on any given visit.  We've had quite a few threads here about people who had been going with no problems until something bad happened.  It's not always another dog either.  Sometimes the problem is with an owner who causes an issue. 

Just because someone has never had a problem at the dog park doesn't mean they never will.  It's sort of like driving a car.  You can be the safest most careful driver on the road but you have to factor in the other idiots out there.  Most of us can't choose not to drive but we can make smart choices in where we take our dogs to play off lead and choose their playmates based on the compatibility of the dogs and their play styles.

 have to worry about how other dogs might behave at a dog park.  There are far too many inattentive owners in those places.  (from my last post)

I'm probably odd, (and please don't everyone agree at the same time) but I really enjoy going out with my dogs and I'm far more relaxed in a setting away from dogs I don't know.

my problems with dog parks go beyond what happens there. I think they created a FALSE and unnatural sense for people of what is "normal dog behavior" in the presence of other strange dogs. IMO it is unnatural for ANY mature dog to immediately get along and desire play, with some dog it just met. There are LOTS of preliminaries that go on...and left to their own devices? There might be some posturing...growling...snapping...mounting...even a small ritualized "fight" before things got to the point where the dogs might decide to make play overtures...ignore one another, chase each other off...or full on fight. In a dog park setting many times those rituals and decisions are removed from the dog or labeled "aggressive" or "dominant' when simply...given it's druthers...some dogs would rather LEAVE the area but their fenced in...LOL!

rwbeagles

IMO it is unnatural for ANY mature dog to immediately get along and desire play, with some dog it just met.

 

Except for Bugsy, of course. lol  I agree with you that most dogs need time and space to sort out things and they need the option to not interact with just any dog who happens to be in the park.  Many owners misinterpret the normal behavior that dogs use to decide if they want to play. Twister loves to play with other dogs but he has his ritual terrier methods of making new dog friends. lol  Some dogs don't appreciate his posturing type behavior, so I choose the dogs he is introduced to based on my knowledge of the other dog's personality and Twister's nature. 

Very good point, Gina.