Dog park questions

Smokey loves the dog park. You are right it is a "DisneyLand" for dogs. When it's time to go home Smokey acts like a little kid being told to stop play and go home. She would rather go to the park than for walks. You need a pass key to enter the park, members only. You quickly get to know the other dogs, and their owners. After a few times Smokey knows which dogs she like to play with, and which ones she doesn't.

It rained the last few days, and Smoke misses the park. We will be there today.

Rose

RoseOOPs

Smokey loves the dog park. You are right it is a "DisneyLand" for dogs. When it's time to go home Smokey acts like a little kid being told to stop play and go home. She would rather go to the park than for walks.

 For me, this is not a good thing and is contrary to having a strong relationship with your dog. 

Titan

Imagine if you lived in a world full of dogs and only had a couple people to talk to.

 

I know, nice right? lol

 Seriously though, they are pack animals. Socialization is in their very nature.

  Pack being the key word here. Dogs bond to their people, their dogs and that is what makes up a domestic dog's "pack". Playing with a bunch of random strange dogs isn't a pack related behavior at all. Some dogs naturally maintain juvenile characteristics through adulthood and always enjoy playing with strange dogs. Other mature and are only interested in interacting with their "pack". 

Titan

The dog park is like Disneyland for dogs. No matter how old they are, they can be socialized. It takes patience to take it slow at first and then introduce them to more and more dogs as they progress.

IMO an 11 year old Pyr is a poor candidate for a park. They could be injured or become very sore if they run around too much. IMO a geriatric dog would much prefer a nice evening at home with those they love and trust than to be put into a situation where their age might cause younger dogs to get obnoxious with them...and some younger/adolescent dogs LIVE to get into the faces of aged dogs...esp bigger ones. Experience talking there.

AgileGSD

Pack being the key word here. Dogs bond to their people, their dogs and that is what makes up a domestic dog's "pack". Playing with a bunch of random strange dogs isn't a pack related behavior at all. Some dogs naturally maintain juvenile characteristics through adulthood and always enjoy playing with strange dogs. Other mature and are only interested in interacting with their "pack". 

Absolutely it is also normal, pack behavior to hunt down, chase, and even kill interloping canines on pack territory...some dogs...esp those of territorially driven breeds like LGD's, Guardians, or Herders...still feel this instinct keenly and IMO there's no reason to put them out there to get into trouble.

As for dogs being "pack" animals, I don't see what a dog park really has to do with that.  Being a pack animal does not mean that automatically every member of the species is immediately accepted into the pack.  My Nikon is a rather extreme pack animal.  If you are in his pack (me, DH, and our other pets) then he is 100% accepting of you and anything you do, but that doesn't mean I can take any other dog off the street, put it in our yard, and expect Nikon to think this dog is part of his pack.  .

Coke goes to the dog park and has a lot of fun there.  He seems to get enjoyment out of being with large amounts of people and dogs.  My GSDs on the other hand do not enjoy that sort of thing so there is nothing I need to prove by forcing them into that situation.  My dogs are all extremely well socialized and besides Coke are trained to high levels.  We base our fun activities around what they truly enjoy, not what other people think my dogs should be doing.

One more point about socialization and adult dogs.  Socialization period is during puppyhood and anything beyond that is behavior modification.  Yes, dogs can be trained to be more accepting of other dogs but that's not socialization.  Dog parks are not like Disneyland to all dogs.  I prefer to pick my dogs' playmates and avoid any problems that can and do happen at dog parks.  Once your dog has a bad experience at a dog park, it can have ramifications for the life of that dog. 

 Also, to some PEOPLE, Disneyland is like a worst nightmare.  Not all people OR dogs have the same idea of a good time!

Liesje

Also, to some PEOPLE, Disneyland is like a worst nightmare. 

LOL, try going on that ride It's a Small World  for what felt like fifty times because the child along was afraid of just about everything else.  I'm not a fan of crowds or long lines so Disneyland isn't a place I want to revisit. 

I ran into this logic a lot when I worked at doggy daycare. People would call and want to bring their dog to doggy daycare "because he doesn't like other dogs". They felt that given enough socialization with other dogs, their dog would learn to love interacting with them.

I wish I had a nickel for every time I've had a prospective client call me up about my play groups and say that;-)  Some days I wish I could tell them that their kids' soccer games were NOT more important than socializing the puppy...it's called "plan ahead."

Liesje

Disneyland is like a worst nightmare

For Tootsie Disneyland for dogs would stress her out to the point of totally shutting down. Yeah, thats something I'd never do to my dog.

I agree that it does depend on the dog. Smokey is 5 months and has been going to the DP for the pasted month. She loves it. You need a gate pass to enter. The police come by often and check passes.  All the dogs have had their shots, and everyone picks up after their dogs. We always see the same dogs, as they go the same time we do. You get to know the dogs and their owners. I have not had any problems with the other dogs or their owners. Smokey has even gotten to know the dogs. There a certain dogs she enjoys playing with and some she doen't. Years ago I had a sheltie. The sheltie would not have enjoyed to DP, nor would I have taken him there. Again I think it depends on the dog and the owner.

 I agree with whoever said the dog park is like Disneyland for dogs, and with those who said not everyone likes Disneyland. I find it too crowded, and too hokey for my liking. Different people who like it like it for different reasons. Within Disneyland too, not everyone likes the same thing. My dog Luke likes to go to the park to fetch his ball. I think he is at his happiest when the park is empty, which makes other people turn around and go home.  I actually don't take him their often with the other two dogs living in the house. He prefers to go there to fetch his ball, and his doggie sisters will take it and not bring it back,or not let him return the ball. He doesn't mind if other dogs run with him and let him bring the ball back, or they get it and bring it back. If dogs don't bring it back though, and won't let him, that seems to bother him. Pigeon, who is Luke's size (he's a cavalier, she's a poodle mix) obviously belongs in the small dog size by weight. She prefers to run with the big dogs. She likes being chased by them, and will try to get them to do this. Some of the big dogs love this, and others can't stand it, and she can't be in with them.  Luke is more likely to approach the people (with his ball) than the other dogs. Our third dog Callie is just a crazy puppy, and tries to play with everyone, dog and human.

Some people like thrill rides, others like gentle rides, some people like both, and another group doesn't like Disneyland at all. We might be able to teach the people who don't like it to like it, but really, their lives can be complete with other activities. Just because they don't like Disneyland doesn't mean they are deprived, lesser people, or aren't living life to the fullest.

JackieG

One more point about socialization and adult dogs.  Socialization period is during puppyhood and anything beyond that is behavior modification.  Yes, dogs can be trained to be more accepting of other dogs but that's not socialization.  Dog parks are not like Disneyland to all dogs.  I prefer to pick my dogs' playmates and avoid any problems that can and do happen at dog parks.  Once your dog has a bad experience at a dog park, it can have ramifications for the life of that dog. 

Totally agree with you! Well said :)

I won't use dog parks, at all. Not worth the risk IMO. I have a dog who was attacked multiple times at our local dog parks and he has lasting issues. Where I live dog parks are mostly all small fenced parks where dogs are crammed in together. Accidents waiting to happen and not worth the risk to my dogs.

Actually I won't run my dogs with any dogs I don't know.

AgileGSD

 I ran into this logic a lot when I worked at doggy daycare. People would call and want to bring their dog to doggy daycare "because he doesn't like other dogs". They felt that given enough socialization with other dogs, their dog would learn to love interacting with them. Not all dogs want to play with strange dogs and there really isn't anything wrong with that. Some dogs are not safe to have interacting with strange dogs and it is irresponsible to put them into a group play situation with other dogs.

 

Unfortunately I've run into doggy daycares that seem to encourage this though.  I was looking into a new one in town recently for Jack.  they were asking questions and I mentioned having a second dog that I would not be bringing because she only gets along with a select few dogs.  The woman showing me around was telling me that I "should really bring her in and try it."  Ummmm, no, no, annnd no........

 I personally do not find dog parks to be the "devil" that some people do.  Jack likes them, so we go.  However, *nothing* is more sure to make a sucky dog park trip than dogs that should not be there due to lack of socialization, aggression issues, lack of owner control, etc.  We went last weekend and ran into that very thing.  At least the park had a good mud hole to wallow in, which pretty much redeemed the entire trip for Jack.  This is why I generally say, if you (collective) are wanting to take your dog to the dog park to "see how he likes the other dogs" or "because he goes crazy when he sees other dogs" and you just KNOW he just wants to play with them---DON'T!  See how the dog behaves with small numbers of social dogs he knows first, then move on from there.....

sillysally

AgileGSD

 I ran into this logic a lot when I worked at doggy daycare. People would call and want to bring their dog to doggy daycare "because he doesn't like other dogs". They felt that given enough socialization with other dogs, their dog would learn to love interacting with them. Not all dogs want to play with strange dogs and there really isn't anything wrong with that. Some dogs are not safe to have interacting with strange dogs and it is irresponsible to put them into a group play situation with other dogs.

 

 

 

Unfortunately I've run into doggy daycares that seem to encourage this though.  I was looking into a new one in town recently for Jack.  they were asking questions and I mentioned having a second dog that I would not be bringing because she only gets along with a select few dogs.  The woman showing me around was telling me that I "should really bring her in and try it."  Ummmm, no, no, annnd no........

 I personally do not find dog parks to be the "devil" that some people do.  Jack likes them, so we go.  However, *nothing* is more sure to make a sucky dog park trip than dogs that should not be there due to lack of socialization, aggression issues, lack of owner control, etc.  We went last weekend and ran into that very thing.  At least the park had a good mud hole to wallow in, which pretty much redeemed the entire trip for Jack.  This is why I generally say, if you (collective) are wanting to take your dog to the dog park to "see how he likes the other dogs" or "because he goes crazy when he sees other dogs" and you just KNOW he just wants to play with them---DON'T!  See how the dog behaves with small numbers of social dogs he knows first, then move on from there.....

The lady that told you that you should really bring her in and try it would be enough reason for me not to bring any of my dogs there.  Obviously, not the answer you would hear from someone who really knows dog behavior...