Dog park fears

I would find a puppy socialization class to take him to. That way, he can be with lots of other pups and kind of get used to that. Also, I think I'd probably only go to the park when there are a few dogs. Try to increase the dogs he's around gradually so he gets used to it. And most importantly, watch your energy, Don't be afraid for him.

 He's probably going through his second fear period - check out this site http://www.diamondsintheruff.com/DevelopmentalStages.html

You don't want to keep taking him to the dog park if he's scared during this time because it could negatively impact him for life. I would enroll him in a socialization class or puppy/beginners agility class where he can be around other dogs in a fun controlled safe atmosphere. This way you can ensure that all experiences he has with other dogs at this time are positive and that he won't turn in to a fear/reactive aggressive dog.

Dog parks aren't the end-all in this world.  Some are nice for some people.  MY dogs never EVER see a dogpark.  I don't like them ... there are one or two acceptable ones here but for a lot of reasons I don't take my dogs.

Classes -- YES YES YES ... socialization ... and start on obedience.  Even "puppy obedience".  Take him in the car -- take him PLACES. 

My THREE dogs are loading in the car tonight to go to Tampa with us.  We'll go over and stay at a La Quinta so I can watch the parade in the morning and then we'll go to Busch.  They have a great pet place (air-conditioned) and David and I will kick around the park for a while.  We'll go back to the motel.

It's fun.  I'll take the dogs down to the lobby and SIT.  One at a time -- but I let them meet people, have a few treats, generally be oohed and ahhed over and they LOVE it. 

It'll be FUN!!

But it comes with time and with taking them.  Don't let one bad situation sour you .. just take him DIFFERENT places.  Invent places to go and take him!!

We have been to puppy obedience and he passed with flying colors.  He picked up every command and was always about a week ahead of the other puppy's cue wise.  He loved playing with the pups in his class there were three other besides us.  Were starting intermediate classes in January hopefully that will help.  Another question if you don't mind answering.  What do you do while your dog is playing at the dog park?  I noticed at this one everyone knows everyone and seem to only talk to those certain people one which well hasn't been me.  I don't want to be one of those ones sitting and reading a book, but I'm kind of tired of trying to talk to people and them ignoring me.  Hmm maybe Cowboys picking up on that.

 I walk around with my dogs at the park. We have 2 parks here. 1 is 17 acres with woods a pond and a walking trail. So, I let the dogs play for a bit at one spot, sometimes I toss the frisbee around, then we walk the trail for a while, then we stop so they can play and I toss the frisbee again and so on. Just by going to the park I have met a ton of people. It'll come with time.

The other park is just an open field fenced in - 2 acres. I walk the perimeter of the fence with my dogs at this one. They follow along happily like they're on a mission. Again, sometimes we stop so they can play, I toss the frisbee around, pet other dogs and so on.

Interact with the dogs - that'll get the owners to open up. And don't just sit around - use the time to get some walking in for yourself too 

 In my experience, there are some good dog parks, but there are a LOT more bad dog parks. I've been to several bad dog parks on several occasions and the energy I get there is so negative. There's a lot of anxiety, fear, and crazed neuroticism at bad dog parks. That type of tension and energy really feeds off into our pups, and it truly does affect them in a very negative manner. If your pup is freaking out at this dog park but does well in other social settings, you're probably at a bad/loud/crazy dog park. If I were you, I would find another quieter/lesser-known dog park, a quiet dog trail, or something along those lines. Until then, abandon this dog park and find a better place to socialize. You want to encourage your pup to come out of his shell, not go further into it.

Also, to start a relationship with other dog park goers - remember, we all didn't start off knowing each other. Over time, we become acquainted. If your pup is taking a liking to a dog or two, speak with the owner. The timeless: "What breed is your dog?" serves well to break the ice, even if you already know what breed it is  

iluvyulots

What do you do while your dog is playing at the dog park?

I don't take mine anymore, but when I was taking them, I watched them. I walked around with them, played with them and spent my time observing my dogs. The group(s) of people would be talking, reading, listening to music and socializing among themselves, basically ignoring their (sometimes misbehaving) dogs and I was out away from the people watching the dogs.

But, then, I'm used to being the odd one out when it comes to human beings...

As far as the dog park cliques, it takes time and persistence to break into one if you have the desire, but I found that most of them  were just gossipy little cliques that I'd have no part of anyway. You're better off just hangin' with the dogs, IMO.

If it's one of those "fenced small area" dog parks, you might want to just not go. Very few dogs actually seem to enjoy the rowdy crowd of stranger dogs atmosphere of such dog parks- if you go watch often, many of the dogs appear stressed, bored, confused, etc., stand around and actually get very little exercise while their owners ignore them and socialize with each other. If you can arrange play dates with a few dogs your dog actually likes that might work better to meet his needs.

I and my dogs much prefer the "walk the trails off leash and try to ignore other dogs" sort of dog park, unfortunately they are much less common than the "mosh pit" type.

I would have to say it's a puppy thing for now.  He's young and if he was smaller than the dogs that approached him, then definitely he was a little fearful, but I'm sure he'll grow out of it.  Misty used to lay down everytime the GS (Sony) down where we boat at would come running at her, she would lay down and scoot towards her if she felt it was ok, or if Sony was barking she'd be laying between our legs.  I noticed she did this the day we picked her out.  When Farmer Tom went into the cage all the puppies, layed down and scooted to him, wagging their tails.  It was the cutest thing I've ever seen.  Now that Misty's 6 mos. she's gotten a lot taller, and she doesn't lay down like that too much anymore.  In fact, this huge Golden Retreiver did when it came running at us while on a walk.  It was so funny!  I think it too could be a way for some dogs to let the others know "hey, look, I'm friendly", and others, it's because the dog may be a little frightened, but I believe they grow out of it.  The more interaction with other dogs, the sooner they'll recover from the fear.  Good Luck, Cowboy's a cutie! 

It might surprise you to know that, even though I'm a trainer myself, my pup went to more than one class - she went to puppy, a few advanced, and an "out and about" class.  I try to have my dogs go to class when they are pups, adolescents, and again as social adults.  Maybe you could convince your trainer to hold supervised play groups.  That tends to attract people who have taken the time to train their dogs, and the dogs, thus, are safer playmates!