We recently got a dog who is about 8 months old and we really want to take her to the dog park. We’ve heard conflicting stories about them…some swear by them and others have nothing nice to say about them. Can anyone tell me about their experiences? Is it good for your dog? What are the pros and cons of this adventure? Are the ownersattentive to their dogs or am I putting her in a positon where another dog will attack her? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
July 29, 2009
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My family goes to Millbrook Exchange Park in Raleigh, it’s on Spring Forest Road (a bit hard to find) but behind the school and fire station.
We are regulars and try to go everyday. Here’s what we can tell you from lots of experience. The majority of dogs and their owners are very good and attentive and are just there to exercise and mingle. Every now and again you’ll get someone who just shouldn’t have their dog in the park but it’s pretty rare. Most of the people are regulars and if a dog is not behaving the owners get them out quickly with little to no pressure from the rest of the dog parents. We’ve never seen a dog fight there, the facility is very clean and the people are very nice and friendly. The morning crowd is more laid back and their dogs tend to be a bit older. The place gets really busy in the evenings and we avoid going after 5:00. If you’re dog is social and is used to playing with a lot of other dogs, give it a try. We’ll see you there!
Comment by We love the parks! — July 29, 2009 @ 11:59 pm
Dog safety at the dog park is an excellent Blog topic and a topic we’re asked to speak about and write about frequently. For the next week, we’ll visit two different dog parks and report examples of good and not so good dog behavior to help dog park visitors keep themselves and their dogs safe. Here’s the report from this morning.
Dog Park A and Park B- both moderately busy by 7:30 a.m., GREAT group of humans and their dogs but one perfect example of a dog who should not be in a dog park. Let’s start with him. Several times we heard the owner say, “He’s just playing” in response to comments made by others. This leads us to dog behavior tip #1, Appropriate Play.
What is Appropriate Play at the Dog Park?
1. Mouthing occasionally is normal dog behavior. Biting or nipping at another dog’s neck, legs, or other body parts is not good behavior. If your dog bites at the flesh of another dog and will not let go, if you or someone else has to pull that dog off of another, this is a symptom of a serious problem. A dog exhibiting this behavior should not be in a dog park until he is properly socialized and learns how to play appropriately.
2. Chasing other dogs is normal dog behavior but there are clear rules to this game which all dogs should instinctively understand. Dogs take turns chasing and being chased, this is the fun and the spirit of the game. The game is over when one dog stops running, lays down or hides himself. If a dog continuously pursues another dog, even when the other dog is running to hide, running to humans for protection, or is already hiding under a table, this is not “play”. This is a symptom of a serious problem and a dog exhibiting this behavior should not be in a dog park. Watch your dog when he is chasing another. Is the dog being chased turning around and chasing yours too? If he is not chasing yours and is only running from yours, this is a clear indicator that the two dogs are not “playing.” From the dog’s perspective, the dog being chased is fearful of the other dog, is not interested in playing and has selected the “flight option” of handling the threat. If the dog being chased is relentlessly pursued, he may turn to aggressive behaviors to protect himself. If your dog is a victim of relentless pursuing, remove him immediately from the park for his own safety. If your dog is a relentless pursuer and/or no dog is chasing him back, he should be removed from the dog park right away. Going to the dog park should be fun for your dog and should never be about fear.
Even though we took training dogs to the parks (they are normally non-reactive), we removed them immediately after witnessing this behavior. If you are unsure if your dog is behaving offensively, a good indicator is if people are leaving with their dogs to get away from yours. Three people made their exit shortly before or after we did, one of which was compelled to carry her dog out.
Comment by admin — July 30, 2009 @ 9:02 am
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Comment by Zashkaser — August 6, 2009 @ 1:51 am