GSD's and dog parks

[asherkain]

Hi Everyone,

I'm about to pick up my first GSD puppy up in a week, so I have been researching everything GSD, more than ever this past week. After really spending a great deal of time on this forum I have seen a lot of comments about how GSD's aren't really dog park animals. I have been a very long time admirer of the breed and always considered myself fairly knowledgable about their temperament, but I never realized that GSD's do so poorly around other dogs.

I personally am not a big fan of dog parks. In my experience there are typically way too many dog owners there who have no control over their dogs, but I do love the idea of doggy daycare and that does require a dog who can handle a pack of dogs. I would have never thought owning a GSD meant I would have a dog who didn't do well with other dogs.

Does anyone own a GSD that can go to dog parks or doggie play groups?

[Cheyanna]

Fiona goes to dog parks. Most often she prefers to play with other shepherds. I am never more than a few feet from her for those dumb or distracted owners who let their dogs run unchecked. She was shy at first, but does not hide under the bench or between my legs anymore.


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[Verivus]

It depends on the individual dog. My GSD loves to play with (some) dogs and he never starts a fight (though he might try to end one). If he gets too ramped up though he will start humping, so I don't go as often anymore. If I do go it's when there is less doggy traffic. Kaiser is fine around all dogs, big and small.

[jessac]

Fleury is 5 months and we've been to puppy class and the dog park. At both, he prefers the people or to stand and watch the other dogs. He's played with a few that have been more calm in temperament, but doesn't get what the fuss is about.

[pfitzpa1]

My girl does really well in our dog Park, she has a few regulars she plays hard with, and most other dogs she will sniff at, but ignore. I started bringing her there at 9 weeks, most of the first few weeks she stayed between my legs. It is a good park with very responsible owners.

[Shaolin]

GSDs don't do poorly around other dogs as long as they are very well socialized from the beginning.

The reasons I don't frequent dog parks are that: My dog is unaltered and most parks want you to have an altered dog. If there is a dog fight and my GSD gets involved, in the end, it'll be the shepherd's fault for any and all injuries. Too many reported issues with people putting antifreeze soaked food or putting things that can hurt a dog like nails or broken glass in the play area.

Most of all, you never know what you might get in a dog park. Too often you get owners who just aren't paying attention or who don't care if their dog gets into a scrap, or is making an oops litter in the corner. I found a good play group associated with my trainer that has other GSDs in it as well as other breeds that closely match his size or bigger and they play all they want. There's also a doggie day care here that has an "unaltered" group and we go to that every few weeks. We sit around having coffee and dougnuts while our dogs pee on everything they can for an hour.

If you find a good park, go for it! If not, I'm sure you'll find a good play group to go to.

[Thesilentone]

I've honestly only visited 3 parks in this area and would have to say I like the one that's basically down the road from me being that it's closeby, brand new, stable fencing, cleaned up and it's not as known as the others so less people frequent there with their dogs. I have only brought Sam once so far to that park and seemed a bit standoffish at first and then starting running around with random dogs after awhile. I don't think he has problems with different dogs, just different people he's never seen.. then again while we were there for a few hours he could care less there was people there and focused more on playing. That was back when he was 4 months old before winter reared it's head, i'll have to go back there though in the spring. So I guess only time will tell if he can handle going overall to the park in the future.

[PeteG]

Every dog is different my GSD gets a long with any dog no matter what size or what breed. But as for dog parks I went only a few times not too crazy about them, as what other people have said I agree, and some dog owners are not responsible e.g. not having current vaccinations and so on.

[Ziltoid]

I use dog parks. All of my GSDs have loved them but I socialised them all pretty heavily from a young age so that may have helped.

There will always be a few people taking dogs that shouldn't be there but I find as long as you're a regular user you tend to bump into the same dogs and know who the trouble ones are. If a new dog turns up, i usually keep mine away until i've seen the other dogs interacting and know they're ok.

The only dogs i have trouble with at mine are a couple of other GSDs so i just stay away from them. As i said just be aware that not every dog there will be friendly so keep an eye on things.

Personally i think they are great. I have heard some horror stories but never seen anything too bad in my time using them.

[jocoyn]

My dog has very good behaviors around other dogs and the only ones that ever did have "issues" were dogs allowed to play with strange dogs.

My goal is that other dogs are "just there" and not at all interesting because my dog works, and because walks and everything go better that way with a dog neutral dog. He learned the appropriate social graces from balanced, known, adult dogs as a puppy.

I don't want to undermine that.