Dog park trip didn't go so well

[JINXR]

Allee is about 2.5 years old. I took her to her first dog park a couple weeks ago. First time at a dog park for me too. She has always been dominant towards other dogs, but will usually play with most of them after they meet. She just plays rough and likes to play keep-away. So I was a little leery about taking her.

There were about 10-15 other dogs in the park. At the small entryway section, a couple of large dogs ran up to the fence aggressively which of course caused her hair to stand up and she started barking aggressively. Their owner was right there so we got them calmed down pretty quick. Decided to go ahead and let her in. Everything was going well so I took her off the leash.

For the first 5 minutes things were good. She was going up to the other people and dogs, smiling away and getting petted by everyone. I sat down on a wall and she came over to me. She was sitting there watching everyone when a lab took off sprinting down the park perpendicular to us to get to his owner. Allee started running towards him really fast and intercepted him. She didn't seem aggressive to me, but maybe she was. It just happened really fast. He got defensive pretty quick and barked at her and then she barked and jumped him. They rolled over one time and it was over. It happened pretty quick; it was almost over before it started. She didn't attempt to go after him again and she seemed kind of stunned that it happened. I put her on the leash and went and checked on the other dog and owner. He was fine and the owner wasn't upset.

Nobody asked me to leave or gave any impression that I should, but I decided it was for the best. I took her on a small walk and then we went home. It all just happened so fast that I couldn't really tell if she was in the wrong or not. I'm also not familiar with dog park etiquette, so I wasn't sure if it was ok to stay or not.

[SunCzarina]

If the other owner wasn't upset I think it would have been fine to stay. Doesn't sound like Allee really enjoyed it though. The lab did something she took as agressive and Allee is in her mind the queen so she decided to correct the other dog, which thankfully he took her correction.

Morgan (also a dominant queenly personality) is like that at the dog park. She walks in, walks the perimeter, may or may not sniff another dog then she saunters over and sits with the humans. I don't take her anymore becuase she doesn't run around or anything - it's more socialization for ME than it is for her.

Otto doesn't care for it much either and he's far more sociable than Morgan is. He goes in does a meet and greet with the other dogs then he wants to go play in the corner with a ball. Considering the diseases he could catch playing ball there, I don't take him anymore becuase he can play ball in my own yard where I have more control of the situation.

[hecarleton]

That's why I don't really like dog parks, as a place to let dogs run loose. There are too many uncontrollable factors(safety and health) for me.
Cosmo is not really dog aggressive, but gets really excited if other dogs are running and chasing and jumping about. One might say he has a high prey drive. He is okay with quiet, sedate strange dogs around him and he loves to run and chase with "his buddies", but he knows them and they know him. At a dog park you might be around friends but you never know who else might try to butt in. Things can happen so fast, and I think one would be so concerned about their dog and other dogs that one could not really have a good time out there.
We are lucky, in that we have plenty of room here, and there are other dog friendly areas around us for him to run and play with his friends w/o other strange dogs around for us to worry about, so we don't need dog parks.
This is just my own feelings and I know there are lots of others who feel different.
Glad no one was hurt or bent out of shape about the incident, it could have turned out so much different

[Sarah'sSita]

Not a fan of them either. Not for my dogs. Dogs getting to practice bad behaviors or being the receiver of a dog behaving badly. Owners often not paying attention or no knowledge of dog behavior. I found "playdates" with known dogs to be much more effective and less stressful. Also I have seen too many "Never-been-to-the-park before" with a unsocialized dog thinking its a good thing. NEVER IS! Several dogs killed at dog parks because of stupid owners. Too many unknowns and few options to to intervene and take control

[doggiedad]

seems like Allee was the agresser. maybe the dog park
is not for her.

Originally Posted By: JINXR Allee started running towards him really fast and intercepted him. She didn't seem aggressive to me, but maybe she was. It just happened really fast. He got defensive pretty quick and barked at her and then she barked and jumped him.

[middleofnowhere]

Sounds like herd dog behavior to me. Hey you! Slow down! Turn left!

[WayneMeganGSD]

I dont like taking my dog to any dog park that people can just let their dogs off the leash.

[Jax08]

Is there a dog park where it is required to keep your dogs on leashes?

[MustLoveGSDs]

I see a few things you can do differently next time to possibly prevent future altercations. If your dog needs slower introductions do not enter into the park with her when dogs are rushing the gate. Most dogs will feel overwhelmed and I have seen this scenario time and time again: Dog totally gets on defense, hackles raised, snarls and snaps, bites/attacks out of fear. This amps up the other dogs. Boom fight. A dog walking in with negative energy off the bat is never a good thing.

What you can do is politely ask the the dog owners to call their dogs back or away from the entry gate so you can walk in with your dog on calm terms. They shouldn't get mad at your for asking, it's a matter of common courtesy. If they are too far away or don't understand, then just walk your dog around for a bit until the dogs forget about the gate and run off, then bring her in so she won't be rushed.

With bringing a dog like a GSD to a dog park, I would never sit down to give the dog a chance to come sit by me and turn on his protective/guardian security system. Most German Shepherds "tag" during play. I think it's sort of like an innate herding type of behavior. They stand or sit and watch a dog run, wait, then t-bone it usually trying to grab it. I have seen it time and time again from working at dog daycares, the GSDs would eventually get kicked out because they would puncture other dogs, also my dog tries to tag sometimes at dog parks so I have to watch him like a hawk and remove him from situations where he could fail. He is completely attached to me so if I sit down he will sit down beside me and just watch other dogs like he's saying "don't come near my mom or else". Great behavior in the outside world, but not acceptable in a dog park.

It sounds like your dog is a bit dog reactive. She may not be aggressive off the bat, but if another dog challenges her or is perceived as a threat in any way, she gets on the defense and will react accordingly. Knowing you have a dog that will fight, you are going to need to stand up and be in very close proximity to your dog at all times watching her like a hawk(which dog owners should do anyway...). You also need to be calm, cool, and collected in the park. Do not walk in there being any kind of nervous, or wondering if your dog will fight. Just be aware of everything. There are a lot of stupid dogs and dog owners at dog parks, don't bank on them being responsible.

Though people may not speak up or say anything to you, German Shepherds are perceived as a "dangerous dog" and a lot of people are scared and intimidated by them. A lot of people are ignorant and will think in their minds, "oh there's that aggressive, vicious GSD again..why do people bring those dogs to dog parks?" and they will think that you cannot control your dog while completely dismissing aggressive labs and golden retrievers.

If you want to continue bringing your dog to the park, just know your dog and know her body language, be able to read the signs she is giving off and be in control. You need to feel totally confident in yourself and be completely comfortable, not nervous or leery or anything. I can't stress enough when you have a dog like this, do not sit down or give your dog any chance to sit or stand and "guard" you.

[JINXR]

Originally Posted By: MustLoveGSDsI see a few things you can do differently next time to possibly prevent future altercations. If your dog needs slower introductions do not enter into the park with her when dogs are rushing the gate. Most dogs will feel overwhelmed and I have seen this scenario time and time again: Dog totally gets on defense, hackles raised, snarls and snaps, bites/attacks out of fear. This amps up the other dogs. Boom fight. A dog walking in with negative energy off the bat is never a good thing.

What you can do is politely ask the the dog owners to call their dogs back or away from the entry gate so you can walk in with your dog on calm terms. They shouldn't get mad at your for asking, it's a matter of common courtesy. If they are too far away or don't understand, then just walk your dog around for a bit until the dogs forget about the gate and run off, then bring her in so she won't be rushed.

With bringing a dog like a GSD to a dog park, I would never sit down to give the dog a chance to come sit by me and turn on his protective/guardian security system. Most German Shepherds "tag" during play. I think it's sort of like an innate herding type of behavior. They stand or sit and watch a dog run, wait, then t-bone it usually trying to grab it. I have seen it time and time again from working at dog daycares, the GSDs would eventually get kicked out because they would puncture other dogs, also my dog tries to tag sometimes at dog parks so I have to watch him like a hawk and remove him from situations where he could fail. He is completely attached to me so if I sit down he will sit down beside me and just watch other dogs like he's saying "don't come near my mom or else". Great behavior in the outside world, but not acceptable in a dog park.

It sounds like your dog is a bit dog reactive. She may not be aggressive off the bat, but if another dog challenges her or is perceived as a threat in any way, she gets on the defense and will react accordingly. Knowing you have a dog that will fight, you are going to need to stand up and be in very close proximity to your dog at all times watching her like a hawk(which dog owners should do anyway...). You also need to be calm, cool, and collected in the park. Do not walk in there being any kind of nervous, or wondering if your dog will fight. Just be aware of everything. There are a lot of stupid dogs and dog owners at dog parks, don't bank on them being responsible.

Though people may not speak up or say anything to you, German Shepherds are perceived as a "dangerous dog" and a lot of people are scared and intimidated by them. A lot of people are ignorant and will think in their minds, "oh there's that aggressive, vicious GSD again..why do people bring those dogs to dog parks?" and they will think that you cannot control your dog while completely dismissing aggressive labs and golden retrievers.

If you want to continue bringing your dog to the park, just know your dog and know her body language, be able to read the signs she is giving off and be in control. You need to feel totally confident in yourself and be completely comfortable, not nervous or leery or anything.<span style="color: #FF0000"> I can't stress enough when you have a dog like this, do not sit down or give your dog any chance to sit or stand and "guard" you.</span>

I never thought about it like that. But that's exactly what she was doing. She sat there with me watching everything with her back to me. Good advice. Thanks.