Dog park dilemma/ recommendation on actions

2143 Views 31 Replies 21 Participants Last post by Kris10, Nov 5, 2010

LunoLUV

Discussion Starter · Nov 2, 2010

Wondering if I am overreacting. I was at the dog park and everything was fine except there was a dog that got a little to rough with the other dogs. Well he went after my dog and he was mainly just growling and grabbing his neck. Well I got in between the two and decided to leave (the other owner was not interfering like usual). He kept going after Luno (whose is 60lbs and 6mo). Well I just calmly said be nice to the other dog multiple times as I got between them holding my dog by his collar. Then the dog was able to get past me and he bit Luno in the side hard enough for him to yelp which at that point I yelled at the dog and kept yelling till he backed up!!! I was so angry I wanted to hit the dog!!!!

The owner didnt make any kind of notion to stop and only after I yelled at her dog did she grab him!!!! And then let him go and he ran right back to us at the door!!! UGH I hate irresponsible owners.

Well anyway my BF says I should let him go because he need to learn to defend himself.... just in case I'm not their one time. But it should never have to come to that. Should I not grab my dog by the collar because he may think he doing something wrong? I don't wan tLuno to turn into a scared dog... He 98% around good dogs at the park and he always does great! Its just every once in awhile there are horrible owners there and I leave as soon as it gets to be a problem!!!

What do you guys do in this situation and what recommendations do you have?

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21 - 32 of 32 Posts

codmaster

· #21 · Nov 3, 2010

TitonsDad said:
Gtfo!!

Very nice language!

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Konotashi

· #22 · Nov 3, 2010

I love going to the dog park. But we normally have smart people there.

Now I'll stand outside of the gates and observe the other dogs first before going in. There was a rottweiler/lab mix looking dog there once and he was definitely a troublemaker. Almost started a few fights, owner wasn't even paying attention to him. I just played with Sania in the field outside of the fenced area where he was.

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JazzNScout

· #23 · Nov 3, 2010

I don't go to dog parks, either.
In general, I don't think it's a good idea to let your dog handle the situation.

Of course I'm going against my own actions -- Years ago, I had little yapping foo foos always coming after my dogs, biting at their ankles, when we'd go on our daily walks at a big park. After months of being "attacked," and the idiot owner doing nothing about it -- not even calling his dogs -- I allowed my Morgan to take care of the situation:

Main Foo Foo came up, as usual, snapping and growling at Morgan's ankles. Morgan, in one swift move with just the right amount of force, reached back and snapped at Foo Foo, nailing him just a little. I heard a little "yelp!" and Foo Foo ran. Never again. It never happened again. I walked away with an evil grin.

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Deuce

· #24 · Nov 3, 2010

Mrs.K said:
frankly, i don't go to dog parks anymore because of these kind of situations and irresponsible dog owners. If I want my dogs to socialize I do that with dogs I know.

I would not go back there.

I agree 100%.

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EchoGSD

· #25 · Nov 3, 2010

I stopped taking my dogs to dog parks after my then 9 month old Echo was attacked by a pack of huskies who were there without authorization as part of a "rescue group". They went on full pack attack, luckily I saw it coming and was able to kick, grab, and throw them off enough that Echo wasn't seriously injured. Dog parks are the equivalent of inner city gang zones.

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Gwenhwyfair

· #26 · Nov 3, 2010

Unfortunately my 7 month old is being reactive to other dogs. I take her to the dog park but like you mention, we stay outside the fence. This allows her to safely watch and sniff others dogs which come up to the fence and has been helpful. Most of the dogs seem friendly and well behaved.

I'm very, very reluctant to take her in though, mainly because (as others mention) it would only take one bad experience to put us really on the wrong track....

Konotashi said:
I love going to the dog park. But we normally have smart people there.

Now I'll stand outside of the gates and observe the other dogs first before going in. There was a rottweiler/lab mix looking dog there once and he was definitely a troublemaker. Almost started a few fights, owner wasn't even paying attention to him. I just played with Sania in the field outside of the fenced area where he was.

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Kris10

· #27 · Nov 3, 2010

We have a dog park in our development that is only open to homeowners. It's a great thing that it is private b/c you get to know everyone and it is often empty and a great place to meet with your dog's friends without others if you like, or go alone to train off leash in a large area.
I have stopped going to the planned meetings where there are a lot of dogs b/c some aren't well behaved. Also since Max is not altered he will be blamed even though he is not aggressive b/c, I have been told, other dogs will be aggressive toward him.
****So I want to ask those with more dog park experience than I if you think this is the case? How much do unaltered dogs cause aggression in those around it?

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ken k

· #28 · Nov 3, 2010

my 2 cents, I went to the dog park a few time when Max was a pup, and from time to time he would be attacked like you described, so I ask my instructor about this, he said "dont go to the dog park", he seen the expression on my face and knew that was not a satisfactory answer, he said right now your dog does not know how to fight, and if you keep going then he will learn to fight and then you will have a problem

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Kris10

· #29 · Nov 3, 2010

Yes that is another concern of mine.

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LunoLUV

Discussion Starter · #30 · Nov 5, 2010

Everyone had very valid point and concerns. It looks like the only think really to do is be very cautious of bad owners and untrained pets and avoid crowed dog parks. I think I may have been a little confusing in my post regarding my BF, he thought that I was "babying" him and that it was causing more of a negative effect than good. Not that he wanted me to intentionally allow him to stay and fight his own battles ( Luno is still a young pup).

I mainly was concerned about whether I was over reacting ( in the case of the dog biting and him yelping I know I wasn't!) I was wondering if grabbing him by the collar and leading him away was a negative thing or what I should have done in this circumstance or what other have done?

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KZoppa

· #31 · Nov 5, 2010

Kris10 said:
We have a dog park in our development that is only open to homeowners. It's a great thing that it is private b/c you get to know everyone and it is often empty and a great place to meet with your dog's friends without others if you like, or go alone to train off leash in a large area.
I have stopped going to the planned meetings where there are a lot of dogs b/c some aren't well behaved. Also since Max is not altered he will be blamed even though he is not aggressive b/c, I have been told, other dogs will be aggressive toward him.
****So I want to ask those with more dog park experience than I if you think this is the case? How much do unaltered dogs cause aggression in those around it?

In my experience its usually the altered dogs who are the most aggressive at the dog parks. The dog park back home, the altered dogs were pretty much given free reign and got away with things because their owners assumed they were 'cool' since they were fixed. While the unaltered dogs were usually the best behaved because their owners knew they needed more attention and socialization. thats the best explanation i have for it.

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Kris10

· #32 · Nov 5, 2010

Hmmm. Yeah I suspected they were making an excuse. But you know if anything does happen the unaltered GSD will be blamed! So I will stay away unless I know the dogs/owners present are OK. Thanks!

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