Why Do Some People Leave Their Dog On Leash In Dog Park?

I kinda felt the same way last night when I saw a lady with her dog on the least while her dog and another one where trying to play together, I at first thought it was mean and strange, but then thinking about the first time I took my dog to the dog park I felt SUPER over protective and a little nervous not sure what to expect. I have seen several other people do it, not always sure its probably a people thing or sometimes the dog is in the process of being socialized and they are taking the right procautions so their dog doesnt attack another one.. idk just my thoughts...

I think some people just don't understand the dynamics of a dog park and he probably doesn't realize that he's really putting his dog at a disadvantage by doing that.  Hopefully somebody will set him straight.
 
Joyce

It could be he thought his dog was special or it could be that he didn't trust them OR his dog to get along with others. If a dog isn't socialized or hates other dogs and the owner is trying to expose them and socialize them, it's best to have them on a leash, although I think it would be best to stay outside the park for that.

I once saw a lady bring her dog in and walk it all around on a leash and then she approached me and asked, "Is it really all right ot take him off leash here"? So maybe the guy just didn't know it was legal or something.

ORIGINAL: FourIsCompany

 If a dog isn't socialized or hates other dogs and the owner is trying to expose them and socialize them, it's best to have them on a leash, although I think it would be best to stay outside the park for that.

 
This is just my [sm=2cents.gif] but if a dog isn't socialized or hates other dogs, that dog most definitely does not belong at a dog park.  That's just asking for major trouble.
 
Joyce

Yes, I agree he could just be being careful...  But If he was afraid of how his dog or other dogs are going to react, I'd think it would be a better idea to stay on the other side of the fence.  For one, you can stand there and observe for a little while and see how the other dogs are interacting with each other. And then you can wait for a dog to come near you, and sniff your dog through the fence.  If the dog doesn't growl or show any signs of aggression, then you know you can try it out.  I think just standing there near the entrance, where a lot of dogs are... is a very bad idea.

They probably want a demonstration of how quickly a leashed dog in a dog park, can trigger a dog fight.....[]

ORIGINAL: fuzzy_dogs_mom

I think some people just don't understand the dynamics of a dog park and he probably doesn't realize that he's really putting his dog at a disadvantage by doing that.  Hopefully somebody will set him straight.
 
Joyce

 
I think Joyce hit the nail on the head.  I also think that some people just get nervous.  Dog parks can be intimidating places.  Hopefully someone will give him some guidence!

Just as an alternate theory -- it could be for the very same reason I will not GO to a dogpark.
 
If I let my dog off leash when I'm not 100% confident in their recall, then I risk allowing the dog to be out of my control while I call *pointlessly* for them to come only to have them refuse.  THAT is contrary to every bit of training I do and I don't ever put my dogs in a position where they can successfully say 'no' to me. 
 
That, in a nutshell is why I never go.  I understand that it can cause 'problems' in addition so we just plain don't go.  I've been in the past and have been incredibly unhappy with every one we've been to. 
 
I'm not trying to start a good vs. bad dog parks discussion -- but it's absolutely crystal clear to me why someone wouldn't want to relinquish that kind of control in a place where they know they can't control/protect their dogs from others and in addition may not be comfortable that their own dogs will respond to them in the face of that much 'freedom'.

This is just my [sm=2cents.gif] but if a dog isn't socialized or hates other dogs, that dog most definitely does not belong at a dog park.  That's just asking for major trouble.

 
And how do you socialize a dog so that it won't hate other dogs if you don't take it to places like the dog park.  Aside from my mom's dog there are no other dogs around for Zami to see if we don't go to the dog park.  We live in the middle of nowhere and have to drive into town to go to the park.  She hates other dogs but not in an agressive way.  She's generally scared of them but will growl and nip in their direction if they get too pushy sniffing her.  To let her off lead at this point would be a bad idea but to not take her to the dog park isn't going to get us anywhere either.  Instead we go sit along the fence out of the way while she gets used to seeing other dogs and I can keep her close enough to tell both her to chill and the other dog to back off if it tries to get too friendly too quickly for her comfort level.
 
Honestly I think this is a stupid question.  More than half the people I know would rather keep their dogs on a leash at the dog park.  There's too many things that can go wrong.  The other dog, your dog, the other people... etc.  Most will keep their dog leashed and let it play with 1 or 2 other dogs after talking to the owner so they know the other dog doesn't have a history of potentially dangerous behavior.  There's only a surprisingly small group of people who let their dogs off leash to run with the pack that gets formed.  Reason there's specific off leash only and on leash only areas as well as a designated training area at the park. 

I haven't been at a dog park with my pup yet but I know that when (and if) I take him there, he will be on a long leash simply because he does not have a solid recall. We're working on it, but knowing how he is with people and dogs (he gets somewhat excited...) it'll be a long time before I can ever let him off-leash and expect him to not jump all over everyone.

Off-leash dogparks are a pretty new phenomenon, Sham, and believe me, there's PLENTY of other ways to socialize dogs. Obedience classes, pet supply stores, friends' dogs, playdates, etc. The whole "dogs should be able to get along with all other dogs in a chaotic situation like a dog park" is, to my mind, not entirely a beneficial construct- I think in a lot of ways, "a dog should be able to keep himelf under control around other dogs in a controlled situation" (ie, socialized/interacting at a class or a PSS) is a much more realistic and useful expectation, that 99% of dogs can meet.

Aizy, PLEASE don't leave your dog on a longline- it's really dangerous, both to your pup (she can get caught up on something), to other dogs (who can get tangled and injured) and to people (who can get clotheslined.) If her recall isn't reliable, don't take her to the park when there is ANYONE else there.

We do some distance work on a long-line at the park when it's empty, but never when anyone's there. Mal's recall is 90% or so out of play situations. If I'm not sure he'll come, I walk over and grab him.

It's actually a pretty bad idea to leave your dog on a leash at a dog park. i think it has something to do with the leashed dog being more vulnerable, so the other dogs want to attack it, i guess. I saw a nasty nasty fight once when a guy refused to take his dog off the leash. 2 large males were attacking the leashed dog...and it couldn't defend itself. I think if a dog needs to be leashed it should be around other leashed dogs, not loose dogs.

ORIGINAL: Sham85

This is just my [sm=2cents.gif] but if a dog isn't socialized or hates other dogs, that dog most definitely does not belong at a dog park.  That's just asking for major trouble.

And how do you socialize a dog so that it won't hate other dogs if you don't take it to places like the dog park.  Aside from my mom's dog there are no other dogs around for Zami to see if we don't go to the dog park.  We live in the middle of nowhere and have to drive into town to go to the park.  She hates other dogs but not in an agressive way.  She's generally scared of them but will growl and nip in their direction if they get too pushy sniffing her.  To let her off lead at this point would be a bad idea but to not take her to the dog park isn't going to get us anywhere either.  Instead we go sit along the fence out of the way while she gets used to seeing other dogs and I can keep her close enough to tell both her to chill and the other dog to back off if it tries to get too friendly too quickly for her comfort level.

Honestly I think this is a stupid question.  More than half the people I know would rather keep their dogs on a leash at the dog park.  There's too many things that can go wrong.  The other dog, your dog, the other people... etc.  Most will keep their dog leashed and let it play with 1 or 2 other dogs after talking to the owner so they know the other dog doesn't have a history of potentially dangerous behavior.  There's only a surprisingly small group of people who let their dogs off leash to run with the pack that gets formed.  Reason there's specific off leash only and on leash only areas as well as a designated training area at the park. 

Most dog parks that I have gone to  have signs that prohibit leashed dogs in the park If there isn't a sign, usually the other people will come over and tell you to either unleash your dog or leave the park. When a dog is leashed, and other dogs come over to say hello, the leashed dog feels threatened and many times will act out of fear aggression at the other dogs and that is when a dog fight will start. 

ORIGINAL: calliecritturs

Just as an alternate theory -- it could be for the very same reason I will not GO to a dogpark.

If I let my dog off leash when I'm not 100% confident in their recall, then I risk allowing the dog to be out of my control while I call *pointlessly* for them to come only to have them refuse.  THAT is contrary to every bit of training I do and I don't ever put my dogs in a position where they can successfully say 'no' to me. 



.

Since I live right next to a dog park. as soon as it opened last fall. I got an E Collar and in less than 2 weeks I  trained my dog to come from hundreds of feet away no matter what was going on.  She was good at recall prior to the E Collar training, but not when she was at the park with other dogs and people running around, and she was far away.  Some of the other owners are amazed when I call her , and she runs though a crowd of dogs chasing each other, right to me.....I wouldn't feel comfortable taking her to the park without that recall control.