[Bridget]

The lady who owns our dog park speaks often about wolves, and therefore dogs, being social, pack animals who enjoy the company of other dogs and adapt naturally to dog parks, at least if their humans behave correctly. However, two of our dogs do not. My husband says that wolves are social only with their own pack and would consider wolves in other packs enemies, so therefore it would be UNNATURAL for a dog to easily adapt to the dog park. So, who is correct?

 

[LaRen616]

The lady who owns our dog park speaks often about wolves, and therefore dogs, being social, pack animals who enjoy the company of other dogs and adapt naturally to dog parks, at least if their humans behave correctly. However, two of our dogs do not. My husband says that wolves are social only with their own pack and would consider wolves in other packs enemies, so therefore it would be UNNATURAL for a dog to easily adapt to the dog park. So, who is correct?

IMO

Both are correct in a way.

The lady is correct when she says that dogs are pack animals that enjoy the company of other dogs (some dogs do not enjoy other dogs though), just because a dog is friendly with other dogs does not mean that they will be ok with going to a dog park with 10+ dogs around, it could make them uncomfortable.

Your husband is correct when he says wolves are only social with their own pack, they do consider other packs as enemies or competion. When it comes to dog packs, dogs can get along with their pack only and not like other dogs, when you bring your pack to a dog park they can gang up on other dogs.

I have a very social 1.5 year old male GSD, he loves dogs, cats and people. I used to take him to the dog park once a week since he was a puppy, we never had a problem, he played with all of the dogs and he never got into a fight.

I have a 1.5 year old male GSD/Husky mix, he only likes my GSD, he does not like other dogs, he is dog aggressive. He cannot go to the dog park.

 

[Castlemaid]

I think your husband is more correct - but dogs are not wolves.

 

[Samba]

It is true, dogs are not wolves so it is not exact to compare the behaviors of wolves in social living dynamics to domestic pet dogs brought to a dog park.

 

[ahazra]

There are tons of articles/books on this topic that clearly spells out that dogs are not wolves. Dogs (not the wild dog) have been domesticated for over 50,000 years and although originally from the wolve's lineage currently don't share too many characteristics with them.

 

[onyx'girl]

I am amazed that dogs at the dog parks get along as well as they do. My females never would so I don't take them, but would love to take my flip camera there for some fun videos!
I hear stories from a friend who takes her pup~its so cool how dogs that have no relationship interact.
She told me yesterday how a 1 yr old golden took a pug under her "wing" and "protected" it from all the other dogs, actually putting her front legs around the pug in a hug, and kept the other dogs away...the dogs had never met each other before, she said it was hilarious to all the owners watching.

 

[KZoppa]

i agree that both are correct in a way. Wolves are fine with their own pack but because they're territorial trespassers are not welcome. They have a family to protect. I've loved wolves since i was a small kid. I could go on and on but simply put, both are correct in their own ways.

 

[JazzNScout]

I think if dogs adapted naturally to dog parks there wouldn't be so many dog fights taking place in them.