1st time at dog park; barking mad at first but....

[H15A5H1]

I took my 8month old rescue to the dog park for the 1st time today after seeing how well he did with all of my friends dogs.

When we came upon the entrance to the dog park, Otto suddenly went into a rage of barking, lunging, and growling. This caught me totally off guard because he rarely does this at all. Then I realized that Otto probably mistakened the fenced enclosure as someones house and the running dogs as dogs that were running to bark at him.

Otto wouldn't calm down so we took him for a stroll around the park away from the dogs. When he came back, he still acted the same until a full grown male GSD came up to the gate and sniffed Otto calmly. Right at that moment Otto suddenly calmed down and became very friendly. So, we decided to let him in (on leash at first). Right when he came in, he was bombarded by 4 dogs all sniffing him up. Otto was just wagging his tail all happy. Then I decided to let him off leash to run free and roam with the other dogs. We were there for almost 3 hours. Otto never showed any signs of aggression, or barked at anyone. He played with all the dogs and even came up to some of the other owners. I don't think hes ever had so much fun!

I'm hoping when I bring him back, he won't go through the whole aggressive barking ordeal again. Whats everyones input on this matter?

[Mandalay]

Originally Posted By: H15A5H1 Then I realized that Otto probably mistakened the fenced enclosure as someones house and the running dogs as dogs that were running to bark at him.

Good catch! I dont think I'd have thought of that right away. I know a lot of people are weary of dog parks and I am a little, too. I do take Mandi to one near our house sometimes, but if there is even a hint of trouble, I leave. In fact, if I had been there last night and saw your dog act like that, and then you brought him in, I'd have probably left as soon as you came in (please don't take that offensively, I dont mean it bad at you in ANY way). I would not have even thought about your dog mistaking it for an established pack of dogs barking at him. Not that I think it will change how I react to other dogs at the dog park since we have had our fair share of trouble with other dogs and since one day in the far away future I'd like to foster so I try to keep Mandi in good with other dogs.

Maybe try playing with him right outside if he acts like that next time, or try going when there is only 2 or 3 other dogs. Or even when it is empty and playing with him inside the park, but alone for a few times so he can see this is a place of play.

[BlackPuppy]

That GSD that came up to sniff Otto, may have been the dog park "police". LOL. Balto does stuff in dog parks to calm other dogs and prevent altercations between them.

[Kayla's Dad]

Sounds like you handled it just fine. I would be very watchful and careful however whenever a group of dogs that you are not familiar with come up all at once like that. It sounds like a good initial experience overall for you guys.

[DrDoom]

I would agree, but I also know at our dog park, the "group" that sniffs everyone just as they are coming in is USUALLY the result of PEOPLE, who rather than coming into the park immediately and acting like they have some sense, instead stand there at the gate hemming and hawwing about whether or not they should come in. It's incredibly annoying because they CAUSE the dogs to run over to the gate to see who it is, then stand there acting as if "shoo" or whatever other words they use should cause dogs who don't know them to clear a path for them as if they're canine royalty.
Sorry. It's a hot button issue for me.

[trudy]

First time I took Ty to a dog park he was 4 months, I had a dog come over the fence and attack him. The owner said it was my fault as he was on leash, well Duh, we were outside the gates. We did go in and the same dog rolled and pinned him and then 3 others jumped on him. Those owners left when I rescued him and did NOT allow any of them to attack again. we had fun with the remaining dogs. Next time we went about 2 months later again aggressive dogs came at him but I stopped them, I do recognize aggression, sniffing and stiff legged is OK, Full out attack is not. Then we went a few time s no problems but by the time he was 1 he started following the aggressors when new dogs arrived. I keep him away as I don't allow it, he is a dominant, unneutered male and it isn't worth it to encourage this behavior.

[AbbyK9]

I very rarely take my dogs to the dog park.

When we lived in northern Virginia, we had a new dog park open, and that was a great place to take Abby - at first, before lots of people knew about it. Then more and more people came and more and more problems occurred.

I've seen everything stupid there you can imagine: people putting their 10lbs Chihuahuas in to play with the big dogs, for example. And one woman brought in her Husky mix wearing a choke chain and a bandana that was held up with a big safety pin - yeah, that's real safe for a dog that is play-wrestling with others.

The last day we went, a woman brought her two TOY POSSESSIVE dogs and a bunch of tennis balls to the park, and one of her dogs attacked Abby, who was just trotting along, minding her own business!

We do still take the girls to the dog park up here in northern Virginia, but we take them to the one on base. It sees a lot less use, since you need to be able to get on base to use it, and it's checked every so often by the MPs to make sure everyone complies with the rules.

Even so, and even with us going when there are only few dogs in the park, we still see a lot of stupidity. The last time, someone brought a 9 week old Dachshund puppy to the park to play with the other dogs. And then someone with two aggressive, male, unaltered Boxers came - at which point we left.

That said, my girls love going to the dog park and they have a great time, as long as we're careful to avoid the trouble makers and go at times when the park is not very busy. It's a great place to train with distractions and to let them play with other dogs their size (or bigger - Ronja has a Great Dane buddy she just adores). But we're pretty strict about how they get to behave at the park, too.

First, we never let them rush to the gate or bark when we arrive at the park. We do sit/stay next to the car, then require them to heel to the gate and sit before letting them in. If they act up, we will walk the opposite direction, away from the park, until they are settled and listening.

Second, we never let them rush the gate when new people come in. They have to come and sit by us when newcomers enter, because many dogs don't like being bum-rushed by a big pack.

Third, if a dog behaves badly outside the park - barking, lunging, dragging their owner to the door, growling at the fence, etc. - we engage ours in a game with a toy and go to another area of the park. When a dog enters that way, it can set the tone for the rest of the dogs, and the dogs playing nicely until then can start acting quite different. So we separate ours until things have calmed.

Fourth, if we see any unwanted behavior - humping, aggression, etc. - from any of the dogs, we call ours away and go elsewhere in the park. If there's too much of it, or dogs coming in seem out of control, we will take ours, leash them, and leave. No play place is worth risking them getting injured.

We actually just went to the park yesterday since we have holiday leave, and it was FUN. We were the only ones there, and they were landing and hovering helicopters in the field adjacent to the park, so it was a great opportunity to train (and play) with a pretty unusual distraction. We also had a go at the obstacles in the park (an incline type jump, a wall, and a row of logs as jumps) and an overall good time.

Anyway, regarding the OP's post ... I think you absolutely did the right thing by walking away and having him settle, rather than letting him run and lunge up to the fence - good for you! Definitely do that next time - have him calm and settle before going into the park.