Evaluation for private dog park membership...

I don't really see why those tests are valueless....? The tests do seem very general and are not tailored to dogs with special needs (ex: fear of strangers, resource guarding, etc). But, those types of tests are generally done in most daycares and kennels that offer playgroups and some shelters. And, at least they are done by- from the description of the evaluator- someone who must be somewhat educated, and not someone off the street with no experience.

I mean, I guess if you don't like their rules and tests you don't have to apply for a membership at their dogpark.

3girls

Taking the dog away from the owner makes no sense - in a dog park, the owner is there! But there is truth in that most dogs are better behaved away from their owners. 

I can't understand that part unless this was a daycare type place where the dog would normally be without its owner.  For a dog park setting however where the owner is there that doesn't make any sense to me, in fact it could be dangerous if that is all they are going by since there are a number of dogs that would pass without their owners but with their owners there might very well rip someone's face off in the same scenario.

I'm not sure how Kirby would do since I don't know what they would consider pass or fail.  I doubt he would show any signs of aggression under any parts of the test, but he would might be skittish and he would probably be fixated on the door and trying to figure out where I am.  I have made a lot of progress with his tendencies toward separation anxiety and getting him used to being crated in different locations without me, but simply being walked away with a stranger and my guess is he would be trying to figure out why I didn't come along with him.  There is also a good chance he would completely ignore the food since he would be preoccupied with figuring out what is going on with me poofing on him.

My reaction to the test has nothing to do with whether my dogs would pass or fail.  No one touches my dogs except for me, my TD (with me present), my handler at my direction (with me present), and my vet (with me present).  It's more about them being mine and me not allowing a complete stranger who has never seen my dog until that point think they can take them out of my sight and manhandle them until they provoke a reaction.  I don't let anyone touch my camera except my husband and one of my friends, and my camera is a static object with no "temperament".

But I agree, if you don't like it, don't do it.  Hence why I do not bring my dogs to dog-daycares or to the private dog park.

 I wouldn't even have Sally go through it since she would never be going to an off leash park, but I'm pretty sure Jack would pass.  he has had to go without me with vets and groomers and daycare workers and never had any issue.  It seems overkill to me personally, and I would prefer to be able to observed the test from a location where he could not see me rather than not be able to see what went on at all, but I'm paranoid like that...

JackieG

It sounds more like a doggy day care test

I think this was what I was trying to say but couldn't figure out. This is a "test" for membership to a dog park where the owner is with the dog, right? not a day care, kennel or similar situation. I still don't understand the food dish/fake hand test and the hugging test for a dog park...And, I'm not sure this test would be a predictor of how an injured dog would react to first aid/treatment. What am I missing or not getting?

Given Frisby's health history and the stress triggers for an IMHA relapse/crash, I would not opt for any test like this. (I can't/won't take her to a dog park either because of her compromised immune system, though she would love to go!)  

FrisbyPI

I still don't understand the food dish/fake hand test and the hugging test for a dog park...And, I'm not sure this test would be a predictor of how an injured dog would react to first aid/treatment. What am I missing or not getting?

 

They must be trying to evaluate the dog's resource guarding tendencies with the fake hand test.  But people shouldn't take toys or food to dog parks.  I don't go to dog parks so it's not an issue for me.  I agree that the hugging test is sort of weird. Most dogs don't like to be hugged.  Mine would tolerate it but they wouldn't be happy.  For the record, I wouldn't let a stranger take my dogs into a room and do this test.  I'm not very trusting of strangers when it comes to my dogs.

Most of this seems reasonable to me.

I used to take Baily to an off leash dog park.  The truth is that while I was in the park with Baily...I was often not right next to him.  That's the whole point.  The dog can run willy nilly and have a blast.  Baily never went far...but he was not by side the whole time.  I had several occasions where I took control of  somebody elses dog.  Most of the other dogs would stay within sight and voice control of the owner.  Sometimes there would be a dog that just plain took off and wouldn't listen to anybody.  Some of these dogs would be completely obnoxious (not agressive) and I would manage to catch and leash it while continuing to walk the park.  Eventually, we'd run across the owner and I would be thanked for catching the dog.  There could be many reasons why a stranger may have to take control of your dog for some reason.

People were always bringing pockets full of treats.  I have seen families in there having lunch!  Toys (mostly balls) were also constantly there.  Balls to chase down in the field, the marsh, the pond.  Even if actual toys were not brought in, sticks and stuff could elicit the same response.

I think if this is a private dog park where membership is required....evalutaions should be part of it. 

We stopped going after Baily got attacked by our loose neighbor dog.  His "attitude" about strange dogs changed and he was no longer a good canidate.  Broke my heart really.......he used to LOVE that place.

I think mostly they are looking to see if the dog has a generally sound tempermemt.  Similar to the CGC test and evaluations I've seen on Animal Cops.

 I have two CGC dogs. I was holding the end of the leash for all but the 3 minute "abandonment" and there was no stranger taking food away from the dogs. There was also no hugging, just patting, and a very breif exam (two different evaluators). I'll soon have a third CGC dog, and she'll be TDI. I will, again, hold the leash for all but the 3 minute "abandonment", and no one will take food from her. I think that is asking a LOT of a dog.

 

That's ok, though, because I don't have to take my dogs to the park They aren't really dog park dogs, anyways. Too delicate.

Liesje

But I agree, if you don't like it, don't do it.  Hence why I do not bring my dogs to dog-daycares or to the private dog park.

Exactly. And neither do I .

DH and I love parks though. I'm all for the state park 20 minutes from our house. The dogs are allowed off leash and there's lots of ponds and creeks. We hike the trails less traveled and very rarely do we see anyone. We also have a park in our town that isn't an official dogpark, but lots of people bring their dogs there, and yes, dogs are allowed there. We went Saturday morning and spent about over and hour or two there and nobody showed up.

 Bugsy would pass I think - toughest for him would be taking him away from me - but if the person was all smiles and fun he wouldn't have an issue.  Heck he toddled off with the vet tech at the surgeon's 10 days after his surgery to have his staples out.  He doesn't make it easy for you to see his teeth but he doesn't do anything other than squirm.

LOL he could care less about hands in his food - I do it to him when I forget to add some supplement or whatever and he just steps back politely. And resumes when I done fiddling

I will say that the food part is fairly irresponsible in that a dog like Bugsy's allergies are so intense that if they gave him chicken kibble he'd be in hives and having breathing issues before it was over.

The rest I don't think he would care about - his enthusiasm might be a bit much for the evaluator though

Before we moved, we were members of a private dog park.  My dogs went through an evaluation very similar to this one.  It wasn't a big deal to my guys.

Chyna, Bevo, Brinxx, Shooter, Schatzi, & Angel would pass with no issues.

I would never had Brutus's leash off to anyone else for fear that he might bite someone.  He did well for his 3 minutes with the CGC evaluator, but, now, after seeing some of his reactions to new people, there's no way that I'd take that chance again.

I wouldn't expose Cher to the test right now.  We're working hard to make sure that every experience is a good one, & I'm not willing to risk a bad experience for something that isn't that important.

 I think Rupert would pass, but the whole time he'd be like WTF is this weird hooman doing?!

3girls

First, the evaluator approaches you with your dog on leash.

LOL, fail!  Seriously though, I agree, this is a bit much for a dog park.  It's as much as they do when they adopt dogs out for goodness sake. 

 

 

 Luke would probably be fine with it. He eats mostly out of toys that he bangs around, so I don't think a bowl making a loud sound would upset him too much. He goes with other people often enough. Not complete strangers, friends of mine who he has met, but I feel like if I told him it was ok, he'd be fine about it. I've been grabbing him and all that since the day I got him. He doesn't like his back feet touched, but nobody will get bit in the process.

Since this is a private park, I'm guessing they are doing this for liability reasons. It seems they are trying to test for common things which may happen at a dog park that could cause a dog to bite. And also being able to say if a bite occurs that they had no idea that "Fido" might bite and they took every precaution to prevent such incidents. Does it seem a bit weird? Sure. But doggy daycares often do the same sort of testing and for much the same reasons. I personally have not ever taken my dogs to a dog park and only maybe 3 or 4 times in almost 10 years did I leave them at the Daycare I worked at when I wasn't there.