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Dog Park etiquette

Started 4 months ago by critter
Latest reply from critter

critter
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My son and I went to the dog park the other day and I am wondering about dog park etiquette. Our dog was playing with another dog and the play was rough but both of the dogs were wagging tails and doing the give and take play. When it got rougher than I was comfortable with, I started towards the dogs, both still wagging tails, one gentleman standing near me stated ‘let them be, they are having fun’. A lady on the other side informed me that I was doing harm to my dog due to he would be afraid of other dogs if I let the rough play to continue. The people meant well but it got to be too much, both in each ear. My question is, when you have two people on either side of you insistent in their belief of dog raising, what is the best way to handle it? I just don’t want to be rude.

Posted 4 months ago #
TDe
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I'd say... "sorry, it's time for us to go," get the dog and move to another part of the park.

Posted 4 months ago #
maude
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My dogs play rough with each other and I'm fine with that since I'm going to be the one paying the vet bill if one of them gets hurt. My brother brings his un-neutered Boxer over on occasion and they play rough too but you can tell when the Boxer wants to turn it into a fight. But at the dog park I try to reign them in a bit. One of mine turns into a level 3 sex offender at the park, humping just about everything in sight. Some people know that it's a dominance thing and the dogs will work it out. Others just freak out. And if a dog doesn't like it and snaps at my dog, then that's what my dog gets. I'd probably just let your dog do what they do as long as you are comfortable with the level of play.

Posted 4 months ago #
cclarue
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Thats the downfall of my experience at the dogpark. The ninnys is what i call them. When my dog was a puppy there was one lady who checked my dogs collar and said it was too something. Loose or tight i dont even remember but it was really not her business. She had a small dog my dog is a mastiff. She went on about how i should have his bowls placed at home and all this while her 2-3 yo grandson was in the middle of the big play area with 4-5 dogs all around him !!!Hmm. But i love the park. Just ignore the ninnys:)and like tde said walk away as long as u and the other owner are fine with their play thats all that matters.

Posted 4 months ago #
amalia
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Maybe you should consider being a **little** rude. Not as much as "mind your own business," but more like, "Thank you, I get lots of unsolicited and opinionated advice about MY dog." [Sorry, I love West Seattle, but I do feel like the Hall Monitors are constantly asking to see my pass.]

Posted 4 months ago #
SJoy
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Going to the dog park can be a little frustrating. Everyone has their own opinions about how dogs should play. We used to take our dog that passed away to the dog park. He didn't really like to play so we walked around the woods and he really enjoyed that. But now we have a nine month old pitbull puppy. He is a rough player but a good dog and not what most dog people would consider "aggressive". Pitbulls play rough - that's just what they do.

Also, since he is a pitbull, many are scared and misinformed about pitbulls, so they think that all pits are evil and want to attack everything and everyone. So no matter what happens - even if a dog came up and bit him for no reason (which could happen) it would still be the pit's fault.

I've been thinking of putting a post up on the forum for a big, rough playing dog group. He needs to play and my yorkies don't really appreciate his size. I definitely don't want him in a play group where the dogs are small or timid because he is not... he gets along well with other dogs, he just likes to run, chase, jump, pounce and mount :)

Posted 4 months ago #
datamuse
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he just likes to run, chase, jump, pounce and mount

Pits are the Tiggers of the canine world, I swear--it's like they're on springs! Bouncebouncebouncebouncebouncebounce...

Posted 4 months ago #
goodgraces
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Sjoy: I'd love to know about a "big, rough-playing dog group" if you start one! My two are loud, rough, and all-good-intentions. But they can scare others who don't have the same style of play. I've been thinking for some time that I'd love for them to have a group just for them. ;-)

Posted 4 months ago #
tom kelley
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mSJoy, I can appreciate your experience. I take my female Rotty to the off leash on a regular basis and it never fails to happen that some yippy, yuppy, little dog gets in her face. She responds with a woof and a bounce on her toes that always elicits a snooty, passive aggressive attitude from the owner.
Isn't there an area at the off leash where small dogs are supposed to be?

Posted 4 months ago #
GoGo
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There is an off leash area for little dogs. My dogs are considered little (Boston terriers) but they are insulted if I try to take them to the "little dog" area. They LOVE playing with big dogs, the bigger the better! I think people just need to relax, unless things are getting WAY out of hand the dogs will sort it out amongst themselves. If your dog gets out of control he/she shouldn't be in the dog park in the first place, right?

Posted 4 months ago #
tom kelley
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RIGHT. In my experience it's usually the over-reacting humans that are the problem.

Posted 4 months ago #
365Stairs
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Great...the "little" dogs are going to march in protest for being segregated / alienated for being called little and "ankle biters"...

"Big" Dogs are going to sit and Occupy their side of the park...

Pretty soon it will turn into Pure Breeds vs. Mutts...

Owners will fling their respective dogs poo at each other...

You heard it here first...

WSB - please stand by for remote coverage...

Posted 4 months ago #
tom kelley
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Poo is no longer in common usage having been replaced by the more politically correct poop, the result of lawsuits and protests on behalf or Whinnie The.

Posted 4 months ago #
365Stairs
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That was a really Good one - I laughed out loud...

TK - I stand corrected - with the occassional juke and ducking required...nothing on my shoes either..

Posted 4 months ago #
tom kelley
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Poo is no longer in common usage having been replaced by the more politically correct poop, the result of lawsuits and protests on behalf or Whinnie The.

Posted 4 months ago #
GoGo
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365Stairs, you are FUNNY!! Thanks, I needed that. I'm going to go home and get the dogs started on their protest signs!

Posted 4 months ago #
kootchman
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A wagging tall is not a universal sign they are having fun..it means they are in an alert state... and what they do next is fairly unpredictable. I don't take mine to a dog parks. A tail waggin' pit attacked my AB and the ensuing mayhem cost us both many, many dollars... dog parks are calculated risks. Not every dog out there was trained and evaluated by Cesar Milan. Famous last words from a dog owner... ""he/she has never done that before"... my opinion is dogs being pack animals are under stress in a dog park..there is no pack order or hirearchy.

Posted 4 months ago #
anonyme
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Kootch, good observations. Domestic dogs are an entirely different breed than their wild cousins, and the dog park must be both stimulating and confusing to dogs. Other common famous last words: "He's friendly".

Posted 4 months ago #
SJoy
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Goodgraces - I thought about starting something informal, maybe asking if anyone wants to do a "play date" with my dog at my house on the forum. I'm not really sure where else to go so the dogs can be off leash and contained since - for me - the off leash park is out of question.

Then I started thinking more about it and about liability etc since they are dogs, and even in play someone might get hurt.. people are so weird, you just never know when someone might sue you for stupid stuff. So I'm still thinking about it.

If anyone has any ideas - they would be great to hear. Maybe some kind of a formal dog group with "play dates" (Gosh I hate that word LOL) at peoples houses but to be a member you have to sign a no liability contract... Seems kinda ridiculous but I guess it's a CYA kind of a thing. Suggestions?

Posted 4 months ago #
critter
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I find it funny when a dog barks and attempts to chew off your leg and the owner says 'gee...that never has happened before' then looks at you like its YOUR fault.

Posted 4 months ago #