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

ottoluv

 

Honestly, that isn't a dog park.  Try a large park with 50-100 dogs off leash and you will see what me and the others are pointing out.  It's a whole different dynamic with that many dogs off leash.  

I agree that it does depend a lot on the physical dynamics of the park. Ours is huge. It is a hydro cut that is a city block wide and runs 2 blocks longs. If it is very crowded with limited space then I can see where mixing leashes and lines would be a problem. How big is your park? I visited a dog park once while we were visiting friends that was the size of a little playground. Even having 10 dogs in that area was enough to send me screaming for the gate! So yes, the park itself does make a difference. 

denise m

ottoluv

 

Honestly, that isn't a dog park.  Try a large park with 50-100 dogs off leash and you will see what me and the others are pointing out.  It's a whole different dynamic with that many dogs off leash.  

 

I agree that it does depend a lot on the physical dynamics of the park. Ours is huge. It is a hydro cut that is a city block wide and runs 2 blocks longs. If it is very crowded with limited space then I can see where mixing leashes and lines would be a problem. How big is your park? I visited a dog park once while we were visiting friends that was the size of a little playground. Even having 10 dogs in that area was enough to send me screaming for the gate! So yes, the park itself does make a difference. 

Laurel canyon is big, probably a couple acres.  The big dog section is about 5 times bigger then the small dog section.  Runyon is huge like 100 acres.  Barrington is smaller, but still fairly large.  There are a few smaller ones, but I don't like them because they are soooooooooo crowded on the weekends and nights.  I like laurel canyon because on weekdays when I'm post call there are still lots of dogs there from the dog walkers so the boys have a bunch of friends to play with :)  The weekends are out of control, fun, but crazy there.  The parking is horrilbe too unfortunately. 

ottoluv

Maybe just read what those who actually go to these parks have written and try to understand instead of arguing since you yourself admit to not having experienced these types of parks. 

Honestly, I wasn't arguing until you started telling me where my dogs do and don't belong without even knowing my situation. LOL Check it out, I was asking questions, sharing my experience and giving my opinion. And I didn't realize we were discussing only certain types of parks.

By the way, I would never let my dogs loose in the presence of 50-100 unknown dogs. That, IMO is asking for trouble. 

ottoluv

Okami, with all due respect, I believe that you said you don't have dogs. 

That doesn't preclude the member from sharing his or her opinion and experiences.  

FourIsCompany

ottoluv

Maybe just read what those who actually go to these parks have written and try to understand instead of arguing since you yourself admit to not having experienced these types of parks. 

Honestly, I wasn't arguing until you started telling me where my dogs do and don't belong without even knowing my situation. LOL Check it out, I was asking questions, sharing my experience and giving my opinion. And I didn't realize we were discussing only certain types of parks.

By the way, I would never let my dogs loose in the presence of 50-100 unknown dogs. That, IMO is asking for trouble. 

ottoluv

Okami, with all due respect, I believe that you said you don't have dogs. 

That doesn't preclude the member from sharing his or her opinion and experiences.  

You are right, with your one dog in particular it does sound like it would be trouble.  Since most people that go regularly understand the "dynamic" of the park, it's actually quite safe and very fun.  People who don't understand are usually the source of the problems that ruin it for everyone.  There is a funny group of regulars at barrington that some have named the "barrington bullies" that are the unofficial policing agency for that park, they are always telling people to take their dogs off leash or leave if they are causing problems.  Everyone just needs to be honest with themselves about their dog's interactions with others and decide if it's the right place for them.  Again, I would hardly call a park with 4 or 5 dogs on leash a dog park, it's just a park. 

FourIsCompany

By the way, I would never let my dogs loose in the presence of 50-100 unknown dogs. That, IMO is asking for trouble.
 

That would be way over my comfort zone as well. On a really busy day our park may have 25 dogs, 10 or 12 is more the norm.  Although there are dogs coming and going all day long, most people tend to walk at the same time every day so you are seeing the same dogs basically. There is the 9:00 crowd, the noon crowd etc.

You're right ottoluv, I don't personally own a dog. However, my grandma, whom I live with, owns two cockers. I walk them frequently in the dog park close to our house. I have no choice but to leash one of them. His recall isn't very good.

There is quite a difference between a city park and county park from what I have seen.  I don't use either but have been in both.  My MIL takes her dog to a city park and it is small and crowed.  like a play ground for dogs.  In our park, it is the county probably 10 acres or more with many hiking trails, lakes etc.  It is not just an area like a play ground for dogs.  People do both, on leash and off leash depending where in the park they are and how they feel about their dogs. There is a play ground section where dogs can run free and rump with others and everyone there seems to be off leash.   Its unfair to tell someone who wants to hike with their dog that they can't because they won't take the leash off????  Our park is called a DOG PARK not a "UNLEASHED" DOG PARK. 

There can be problems with leashed dog in a confined area but if you are walking thru the woods and an unleashed dog come up to yours hopefully that person has the control to call there dog back to them and leave you alone.  It is your right to use that park just as it is theirs!

You are all right.

I don't think we all mean the same thing when we say "dog park." To me, a dog park is an enclosed area, specifically for dogs. It may be smallish or largish, but it is fenced and designed FOR dogs. Human parks that are dog friendly are a whole 'nother kettle of fish.

Example - we have a dog park near me. Kids aren't really welcome. They're allowed, but signs discourage it. It drives me nuts when people leave their dogs on leash in that park, or bring dogs that can't socialize well with other dogs. We also have a nature preserve/hiking area that is dog friendly. The official rule is that dogs must be leashed, but plenty of people have unleashed dogs. While there is a mix of leashed and unleashed, the expectation is that unleashed dogs are under voice control. I will bring Sasha to the hiking park, but not to the dog park.  Sasha stays leashed at the hiking park.

So what 4ic is describing is not what I'd call having a leashed dog at a dog park. It sounds like a fine way to socialize B'asia.  

Sorry I wasn't clear on that from the start. It's the ONLY place here where dogs are legally allowed off-leash. It's the only park where dogs are allowed to run free and everyone calls it our "dog park". We's jest a buncha country-folk, ah guess. The only sign says, "Pick up after your dog". And since this is the only place I've ever owned dogs, it's the only one I know.

I'll go crawl in a hole somewhere now...
 

Although we have many state parks around us and is where we like to hike with the dogs.  There is one park created by the community as a "dog park" only.  This park is many acres (10 I think) with sections for play, swim, agility equipment - tunnels, fly ball, hiking and so forth.  The play, fly ball and agility sections are fenced and where most dogs are unleashed and brought there for the sole purpose of running free.  But the lake and the hiking trails have both leashed and unleashed dogs.  My MIL's park in Brooklyn is no bigger than my back yard (1 acre) and its all a play ground with a couple of mounds of dirt that the dogs can run up and down - it wouldn't make sense to bring your dog there on leash since I can't believe they would have the benefit of what it was meant to be and that is a place where the dogs can run and play.

Dog_ma

You are all right.

I don't think we all mean the same thing when we say "dog park." To me, a dog park is an enclosed area, specifically for dogs. It may be smallish or largish, but it is fenced and designed FOR dogs. Human parks that are dog friendly are a whole 'nother kettle of fish.

Example - we have a dog park near me. Kids aren't really welcome. They're allowed, but signs discourage it. It drives me nuts when people leave their dogs on leash in that park, or bring dogs that can't socialize well with other dogs. We also have a nature preserve/hiking area that is dog friendly. The official rule is that dogs must be leashed, but plenty of people have unleashed dogs. While there is a mix of leashed and unleashed, the expectation is that unleashed dogs are under voice control. I will bring Sasha to the hiking park, but not to the dog park.  Sasha stays leashed at the hiking park.

So what 4ic is describing is not what I'd call having a leashed dog at a dog park. It sounds like a fine way to socialize B'asia.  

I agree with you 100%.