My neighbor has two dogs, a mix of what appears to be pit /lab and other???? The smaller dog looks like a Cav KC mix. Both are rescues that she has had since they were pups last year. In the beginning they were wild, particularly the larger dog. She has worked with walking them and uses a Gentle Leader with the larger dog, however, they are still not very socialized, although sweet, they get pretty overexcited when encountering others and she, in turn, stresses out and curses them.
Through conversation she knows that I sometimes take my girls to a local dog park. We hadn't been in a while because some idiot supposedly put anti-freeze in the water and a couple of dogs died and others were ill. (Even though I take my own water and never let them drink from the public water - we stayed away.) In the last couple of weeks, we've gone twice and I mentioned it to my neighbor. She has never been and wants to go with us tomorrow night. I said okay without really giving it much consideration. I think it would be great for her dogs. I do, however, have concerns and they are:
- She has a big dog and a little dog. Do they both go on the little dog side????? I will not take mine on the big dog side, only because the area is just too large and my dogs take off in opposite directions and I can't keep track of them.
- I don't know that she will be able to handle both of her dogs at the same time. It may or may not be an issue, but I'm wondering if she shouldn't take one at a time????? I can help to a certain extent. Abbie will take of and play fine on her own, but the last couple of times we went, Layla was really overwhelmed. She just sat near me and wouldn't play. She normally loves other dogs and people and used to play like crazy at the park, but not anymore. So I will be focused on her to a certain extent and if her dogs prove to be a handful, I don't know how much I can help. Plus, her dogs don't really know me other than passing by during walks now and then. Also, we will be going at a very busy time - dusk.
- If I'm going to the park I want to take both of my dogs. Neither one of them does well being left behind, so that's not an option. Nor will I go to the dog park and leave both of them at home, that doesn't make sense to me, although I do want to help my neighbor.
Any thoughts??