Evaluation for private dog park membership...

 Max would be uncomfortable about the hugging and the startle thing with the bowl would freak him out.  He'd pass the food test with flying colours (he will back away from his food if you approach him while he is eating.)  He may or may not "like" the other dog, and without me there to see his signals and remove him, he'd probably get into a spat, or even a fight.  So he would probably fail.

Dell would take the whole lot in her stride without flinching. She might jump at the startle test, but no more than you or I would.  She wouldn't even notice the hand in her bowl, and she'd probably enjoy the hug.  She might be boistrous when playing with the other dog, but I would expect her to pass.

The test does seem pretty stupid though.... why the hug?  Why the hand in the bowl?  Both seem irrelevant to a dog park situation.  And what about your control of the dog.... the dog's recall for example?  Is that not taken into account?

As I read this post and other's responses, I believe this is based on liability.  They are by design (even if not purposefully) denying any access to a dog who's standard for the breed (or mixes which took on strong temperment tratis) when that breed has the word "reserved" in that written standard.  I know few herding dogs and working dogs who would pass that test if they were past puppyhood and owners were not present.

The first part does offer some idea of socialability with respect to canine behavior.  The second set of tests remind me of those tests done to determine if a dog is adoptable. 

I also have considerable reservation  about the criteria for evaluators.  I know folks who have been active in dog sport (training) or the pet service industry for far more than 5 years who are absolutely clueless on behavior and would see aggression around every flying patch of dog hair. 

The park itself might be pretty calm with these criteria.  The dogs would likely be pretty submissive.  Not sure how that would turn out in the end. 

willowchow

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.

I heart Willow. I really really do!

OOOOHHHHH the fake hand in the food was for food agression!

wow.  When I first read it, I thought it was a "bury a fake hand in the food to see if you could startle or scare the dog" like if a human found something like that in their food lol.  oops.

mrv

 

As I read this post and other's responses, I believe this is based on liability.  They are by design (even if not purposefully) denying any access to a dog who's standard for the breed (or mixes which took on strong temperment tratis) when that breed has the word "reserved" in that written standard.  I know few herding dogs and working dogs who would pass that test if they were past puppyhood and owners were not present.

 FWIW IME most working or herding dogs don't actually really enjoy group play with lots of strange dogs past puppyhood. Usually the aloof breeds are aloof with strangers - dogs or people. My boy Belgian isn't aloof with anyone but his idea of play is usually flirting with girls (and sometimes boys) and acting macho when another macho boy is around. One of my adult girls is good with most other dogs and will play if they play chase games. The puppy seems like she'll remain pretty submissive and appeasing with other dogs but it is hard to say for sure. My old GSD girl went to daycare every day with me for a few years. She only liked it because she was with me though - she ignored most of the other dogs and followed me around with a tennis ball all day. Our corgi doesn't care for most strange dogs either and hated being at daycare.

mrv

 I also have considerable reservation  about the criteria for evaluators.  I know folks who have been active in dog sport (training) or the pet service industry for far more than 5 years who are absolutely clueless on behavior and would see aggression around every flying patch of dog hair. 

The park itself might be pretty calm with these criteria.  The dogs would likely be pretty submissive.  Not sure how that would turn out in the end. 

 There are also certified trainers that aren't very good, it is hard to set criteria for such things. Depending on where the certification is from, I'd be more trusting of someone with a history of training in dogsports.

 From my experience in daycare, I can say that there is a certain type of dog who does best in group play settings. That type of dog is the outgoing, willing to be submissive, softer temperament. They are dogs who, as adults retain a more juvenile temperament. That isn't to say other dogs can't do group play or won't like to play, just that those types of dogs tend to get the most enjoyment from it and are the least likely to cause problems. Generally many of the sporting and hound breeds tend to be the easiest to manage in a group play setting and to get the most enjoyment from interacting with strange dogs.

 It does seem like an awful lot for a dog park, private or otherwise.  There should never be food in a dog park in the first place, so I'm confused as to the purpose of that test being there.  There are dogs who are resource guarders for food, but not for toys, and vice versa.  I'm confident that the three AKK would pass, as a lot of the exercises are similar to the CGC/TDI tests they have done.  Nike...ergh, he'd probably pass if they didn't think too badly about him for getting really shaken up over the tossed food bowl.

In a nutshell, this place wouldn't fly with me because I wouldn't be allowed to be with the dogs during the test.  I see no reason for blocking the owners.  While they may be reputable, I would not be able to just hand them off to people who would be trying to push their buttons.  It definitely think they would pass, but what if a misplaced hand or squeeze or noise makes an uncomfortable experience for them?  Especially where Nike is concerned, I could never let someone possibly give him a bad experience he would hang on to, not after how far he has come.

3girls

I heart Willow. I really really do!

Thank you! 

willowchow

3girls

I heart Willow. I really really do!

Thank you! 

Awww, doesn't everyone??  I know I do!

I don't go to dog parks, either.  And, I'm not sure either one of my boys would pass this test.  Sammy would be the most likely to pass, though I can almost guarantee he would whine when taken away from me, but I bet a good evaluator could get him over it pretty quickly.

Harry has tendencies toward submissive urination when he's stressed and uncomfortable, so strangers can't hover over him.  The hug test would almost definitely result in him peeing on the evaluator's feet.