Dog Parks: Yay or Nay?

I really like dog parks, I go daily with my grandmas partner when they walk their dogs. For the five months or so that I've been going every day, I've only seen 2 fights. If, well, you can really call them fights. Just dogs that got really worked up and had a "disagreement". No blood shed or anything. It's a excellent place to exercise dogs.. better than a leashed walk for sure.. especially if you're in the city and don't have a huge yard for a dog to run in. There's a bunch of variety here.. there's one thats very hilly and spacious, one that goes through a nice forest, and another one (which I go to) that has everything, .. lovely "foresty" part, big fields and a river that flows right beside it.

Nay for me. I used to take Maggie when I first got her, but I don't like the dog park by us anymore. Slowly more and more owners would bring their aggressive dogs and every single time we went there was always a fight, thankfully Maggie knew well enough to stay out of those. I like to take them their in the winter, after it snows when no one else is there because they LOVE to run there, especially Teddi.

I have found more and more fun places and trails to walk the dogs, and in the woods where they can roam around and I prefer doing that now because it gets all of us out of the house for some fun!!
 

I take Jack to our local park from time to time.  He really enjoys it.  the only issues we have had with other dogs were aggressive smaller dogs (a lasa and a pom), but other than that no issues.  Jack is pretty chill too--if another dog is causing trouble, he just lets it roll off his back and finds somewhere else to be.

 There isn't one anywhere near me. I've gotten together with dog owning friends and made my own parks, using baseball fields in the off season (with permission, of course!) and dogs who know each other and get along. We stick to play dates with dogs we know, because Emma can be a bit reactive, and I don't want her playing with dogs who are difficult to control. Everybody we play with is pretty well trained, and at least has a good recall, so we can call them all away from trouble.

Yes for dog parks at least in my area.  We pay a mere 40.00 a year for a pass and we can use 7 different places although we basically use two of them.  Without them I couldn't own this dog.  He needs to run off leach daily in order to live with him!!

A few unfortunate incidents but in a year nothing that was horrid.  More scuffles.  We have more little dogs that bite than the large ones.  My dog has learned so much about other dogs from the parks.  He knows how to act with other dogs and has some he adores and some he totally avoids.  Just like people I think.  He can play chuck it for hours at the park too.  Our yard is too small for that sort of play.  He likes to play frisbee and chase balls so we need tons of space for it. 

IMO it depends on the dog and the age of the dog. Gunnar has a great time at dog parks but we do not go to them any more now that Hektor is part of our family. He is not a dog park dog.

 If your dog is old enough and is vacinnated and if your dog has a friendly manner, no fear issues, no bully issues then the dog park can be a great place.

 You do always have to bear in mind that not everyone who goes to a dog park is a responsible owner. So you very well may run into dogs who should not be at dog parks. This can result in injury to your dog along with behaviour problems that can pop up if your dog is attacked or harrased at the park. 

 Annnd... she plays best with BIG dogs. Her buddies are a Pit Bull, two Boxers, four GSDs, four Dobermans, a Standard Poodle, and... a Chihuahua! LOL If I put her in the "big dog" area at a dog park, I'm afraid she'd be run over, or seen as prey. In the "small dog" area, she might hurt somebody. She's very rough and tumble, and very strong.

BCMixs that sounds nice.  I agree w/ you about the fee being worth it for the pool and agility.  I would love a place like that around here.  I don't think I would be able to take everyone but for a few of the dogs they would *love* it.

we have several dog parks here, and I'm not really a fan of the "dog mosh pit" type- the enclosed field where the dogs are expected to play while their owners chat. Very few dogs really seem comfortable in such environments, and the potential for injury is high. We have the other type, which I am a big fan of, with walking trails and fetching fields and swimming ponds. There you can train and exercise your dog off lead, don't have to have your dog interact with other dogs if you don't want to, you can just call your dog and walk away.

We have a pretty nice one about 2 miles from my house.  It's 3 acres fenced, with separate large and small dog areas, and both sides have a few agility obstacles set up.  I kinda wish there was a little pond, but at the same time I'm glad there isn't, because Harry luuuuuves water, and he would spend the whole time in the water and I'd have to bring home a soaking wet dog in my car.   But, because we don't have our yard fenced in yet, which we will be doing this spring, it's an excellent place for Harry to get some decent exercise.  We just started going last weekend, because I wanted to wait until at least 3 weeks after his last round of vaccines.  He has a blast at the park!  Most of the dogs that have been the three times I've been there are wonderful.  Only one incident this past Wednesday of an overly aggressive dog that ran into Harry at full speed (on purpose), and knocked him over and he hurt his leg a little.  He was fine after a minute or two, and the owner was very apologetic, and right after it happened she leashed her dog and left, which I respected.  Just like your child joining a soccer team, there are going to be obnoxious people who ignore the rules, but most folks at my park are pretty cool.  I agree that it's a good idea to try it out during off-peak times, or to bring your dog and walk them around outside the fence first a few times.  Plenty of folks do that at the park I go to.  The dogs inside the fence will run up and sniff them, and bounce around saying "come play with us!" but you know your dog can't get into any trouble that way until you're confident about bringing them inside off leash.

I take Apollo to one dog park that is leash mandatory because he isn't good with tiny dogs (under 10lbs). Usually I let him off leash at our state park because there are rarely people there.

My only thing is, I don't know if I'm a weirdo, but I won't take my dog to the dog park after a rain if there are puddles...because I don't want the urine and waste germies to get mixed into a puddle and have my dog drink it...because he sometimes licks puddles.

For the most part I am going to say I am a "nay". I have been to a few, to see friends, and had a good time, but I worry that health, temperment and ignorant owners are a problem. I do like some of the bigger ones where it is not a sea of dogs.

Like Lisje (sorry if I spelled it wrong) we have large back yard, we have agility equipment and a 20 acre school where neighborhood dogs can roam off leash (when school is out and kids have gone home) and play with each other. Especially now that Max has had 2 TPLO's and Teddi's THR, I don't want some strangers monster beast jumping on my dogs even if it is not in a mean or bad way. They don't need that. I prefer structured gatherings with dogs and owners I know.

mudpuppy

we have several dog parks here, and I'm not really a fan of the "dog mosh pit" type- the enclosed field where the dogs are expected to play while their owners chat. Very few dogs really seem comfortable in such environments, and the potential for injury is high. We have the other type, which I am a big fan of, with walking trails and fetching fields and swimming ponds. There you can train and exercise your dog off lead, don't have to have your dog interact with other dogs if you don't want to, you can just call your dog and walk away.

I completely feel the same way. The one closest to us is where people go to talk while their dogs are way over there not being paid attention too. Granted there are owners that go there and watch their dog constantly, but I've seen to much of people not paying attention to their dogs and I don't like it. Now there is a huge park with trails for hiking with your dog off lead and a huge field and ponds that I love, unfortunately we don't go too often because its pretty far away, but the few times we do go the dogs love it! 

mudpuppy

We have the other type, which I am a big fan of, with walking trails and fetching fields and swimming ponds. There you can train and exercise your dog off lead, don't have to have your dog interact with other dogs if you don't want to, you can just call your dog and walk away.

Now... I'd go to THAT type of dog park. Emma would LOOOOVE that! 

mudpuppy

we have several dog parks here, and I'm not really a fan of the "dog mosh pit" type- the enclosed field where the dogs are expected to play while their owners chat. Very few dogs really seem comfortable in such environments, and the potential for injury is high. We have the other type, which I am a big fan of, with walking trails and fetching fields and swimming ponds. There you can train and exercise your dog off lead, don't have to have your dog interact with other dogs if you don't want to, you can just call your dog and walk away.

 That's exactly the kind of places we go too, and the dogs love it! One is close to our house and overlooking a lake, with cattle grazing during part of the year, another is on the San Francisco Bay, with around 40 acres for the dogs to run around and chase balls, along with paths along the water and a dog ramp to the water for swimming. That park has a dog washing business in the parking lot with a snack bar for the humans. The third place, probably the dogs' favorite, but also the furthest away, about an hour drive, is Fort Funston, an off leash dog beach. We take them somewhere at least once a week.