Dog parks and doggie socialization

[Justicemom]

I don't go to dog park any more. My dogs are not afraid but they do not like dogs with no manners and they will tell them about it. They do great with dogs with good social skills.

I think herding dogs in general tend to playing in a chasing /running manner. They do not like being body slammed. Think of it this way if they let the sheep/cow etc bash into them,how long would they last? My shelties wrestle with each other and dogs they know well but its almost like they ask permission first.

Diva is my exception. She loved the rowdy Labs and if they knocked her down she rolls around on her back kicking her legs until she gets loose and then she flies out, circles around and jumps on them. I not convined she a real sheltie.

 

[mbfrench]

I don't go to dog park any more. My dogs are not afraid but they do not like dogs with no manners and they will tell them about it. They do great with dogs with good social skills.

I think herding dogs in general tend to playing in a chasing /running manner. They do not like being body slammed. Think of it this way if they let the sheep/cow etc bash into them,how long would they last? My shelties wrestle with each other and dogs they know well but its almost like they ask permission first.

Diva is my exception. She loved the rowdy Labs and if they knocked her down she rolls around on her back kicking her legs until she gets loose and then she flies out, circles around and jumps on them. I not convined she a real sheltie.

Now Shelli...
You know she is!

I am so grateful that Trapp can take Earnhardts hard play,as he gets his fare share of tossing around. Just the other day here in the kitchen,they were playing,but Earnhardt had enough of the silliness from Trapp.

So he took his nose (Trapp was on his muzzle) and Earnhardt have him a good toss off. And then a bear grunt...as if to say "yougin I have had enough" That was the end of the play time,and Trapp got the message loud & clear.

Then of course he came to me to pout~

 

[Justicemom]

Instead I have been trying to find dogs in the neighborhood that will come over and play. If you do take Buffy to a dog park find one that is only for small dogs. Also take a pocket of treats. Use them not only on your pup, but others if they seem to be aggressive. Food is always a great distraction for dogs. And personally I have no problem with restraining someone else's dog if I feel they are threatening my dog.

I would not bring food to give to a strange dogs with aggresion issues in a place like an off leash dog park. If there were dogs there with food aggression issues it could make things worse very quickly.

The last times I was at a dog park, I had my 3 there and a friend was there with her BC pup. After we were there about 30 mins, lady with a small terrier mix(Rat or JRT) joined us. He was alright but just a little terrier pushy. About 15 mins later, lady and a corgi walked in. The corgi did not look very relaxed with its hair up and weight forward on its feet. I called Justice into heel as it was the type of dog he would tolerate if it charged him. Sure enough the corgi rushed into the middle of the other 3 dogs and ploughed into the terrier who snarked at it. The terrier owner called her dog and the dog came to her and she gave it a treat which the terrier dropped on the ground. The corgi saw this and drove for the treat and snapped at the terrier. I told my friend to walk away with me and we moved about 10 yds away with the dogs . As we did so the terrier went to sniff the ground were the treat had been and the corgi attacked the terrier thinking there might be more food. I don't know what happened next as we left and have not been back.

 

[Justicemom]

Now Shelli...
You know she is!

I am so grateful that Trapp can take Earnhardts hard play,as he gets his fare share of tossing around. Just the other day here in the kitchen,they were playing,but Earnhardt had enough of the silliness from Trapp.

So he took his nose (Trapp was on his muzzle) and Earnhardt have him a good toss off. And then a bear grunt...as if to say "yougin I have had enough" That was the end of the play time,and Trapp got the message loud & clear.

Then of course he came to me to pout~

That's great they are such good buddies. I know all about the sheltie pout. When Ember tells Diva off. Diva comes over and looks at my like "did you see that mom, she was mean to me."

 

[labgirl]

Pleasant parks are very much down to the type of owners who go there. All dogs play differently, large dogs tend to wrestle and be pushy, collies prefer to chase and herd, whippet-types like to run. All different. The key is that dogs, especially big dogs are socialised with a range of breeds and learn to play accordingly. Socialisation is also about dogs learning the warning signs that means someone no longer wants to play. This is why I never got cross when a dog growled at Cadbury as a pup, they were telling him 'leave me alone' and he had to learn that.

My trainer was amazed when we first came to class how good Cadbury was at reacting to warnings from other dogs and pacifying them. I think in part this was because I didn't freak out if a dog grumbled at him.

When we first went to the park we met two lovely shelties. Penny was a sable and only young and she loved running around and around with Cadbury. He was a good boy and didn't try and play rough with her. The other sheltie was a lot older, a tri-colour and didn't want to play. Cadbury went up to her and she grumbled at him, so he left her alone, no problem. That was normal doggy interaction.

On the other hand I have met people who allow their dogs to pin Cadbury in a very dominant-aggressive way and act as though its ok Or the two terriers who ganged up on Cadbury and wouldn't stop chasing him around and around a field, nipping at his heels until I was able to rescue him. Poor soul.

The trouble is it only takes one irresponsible owner to ruin a dog park or the beach. I've just recently heard of a neighbour who was bitten by a dog on the beach. This strange dog came up to attack her dogs she was walking and bit her on the leg. TBH that has made me nervous and I don't even bother with the park that is 5 mins up the road as too many of the dogs there will just attack yours straight off.

I'm just so glad I have my training club for socialising.

 

[PitterPatter]

I would not bring food to give to a strange dogs with aggresion issues in a place like an off leash dog park. If there were dogs there with food aggression issues it could make things worse very quickly.

The last times I was at a dog park, I had my 3 there and a friend was there with her BC pup. After we were there about 30 mins, lady with a small terrier mix(Rat or JRT) joined us. He was alright but just a little terrier pushy. About 15 mins later, lady and a corgi walked in. The corgi did not look very relaxed with its hair up and weight forward on its feet. I called Justice into heel as it was the type of dog he would tolerate if it charged him. Sure enough the corgi rushed into the middle of the other 3 dogs and ploughed into the terrier who snarked at it. The terrier owner called her dog and the dog came to her and she gave it a treat which the terrier dropped on the ground. The corgi saw this and drove for the treat and snapped at the terrier. I told my friend to walk away with me and we moved about 10 yds away with the dogs . As we did so the terrier went to sniff the ground were the treat had been and the corgi attacked the terrier thinking there might be more food. I don't know what happened next as we left and have not been back.

You are right about you don't want to throw the food down. Then you will have a major dog fight. What I do is get in front of the aggressive dog and ask them if they want a cookie, showing them I have a treat in my hand. Most dogs know that word, and I always make them sit. You want an attentive and friendly look before you hand feed the dog. Plus when you ask the owner if it's okay to treat, it seems to get their attention as to the dogs behaviour. It makes the owner more friendly and they seem to be more attuned to how their dog is behaving. I agree that this is not a solution for everyone, and you need to know what you are doing. I seem to always have treats in my pockets. So I am always dispensing cookies to various dogs in the neighborhood and that I meet in the stores. But always with owner approval.

As far as Corgies, they seem to be a aggressive breed when it comes to other dogs. Loving with people, but otherwise they can be set-off pretty easy by other dogs.

 

[Crystal1]

When Buddy and I first started walking, all of a sudden 2 large labs were rushing towards us, and I picked Buddy up and held him over my head. The labs were jumping all over me and hitting me in the head and shoulders. This lady in a yard close by started yelling at them, and I realized that they were full grown, but still puppy hearted and meant no harm.

Afterward, Buddy trembled and trembled. When we walk now, he seems to be find with dogs his size and smaller, but wants to get away when the dog is larger. When I take him to the Music in the Park, he likes all the dogs, big and little. But people at the park seem to all make their dogs mind better, and the dogs have to be quiet and calm. So far, that has been a great experience.

We don't have a dog park around here, so I can't go to one, but I think I wouldn't like it. The dogs will only behave as well as the people have trained them, and have control of them. There always seems to be somebody that has to spoil the fun.

I try to find dogs in the neighborhood to play with Buddy. That seems to work better.

 

[Abby's Dad]

Abby is also almost six months too and with or without her hip problem I would never let her into the park with all those large dogs, there is way to much energy in there. Instead we walk around the soccer fields and learn all the lessons and tricks a sheltie can and has to learn. I find it much better bonding and quality time with me then chasing around other dogs. We always meet other dogs outside the park so she gets plenty of socialization.

 

[clancyh8sabby]

When we lived in Michigan, we paid to belong to a very nice dog park..and their was a section of beach on Lake Michigan for dogs that we went to.
I think the trick is to find times when the types of dogs that will be ok with your dogs are there..LOL If the only time you can go is on Sat...then its gonna be a mad house. I was lucky and didn't work during the week..so a Mon. or Tues. morning worked out great...hardly any dogs there and mine could find one or two doggy friends to romp with.
Several people have told me that tennis courts (if no one is playing tennis of course) are great places to have doggy play dates or just do some training. I've never found one empty to do this..but it would work great. They are usually fenced in..nice surface...
I have gotten a couple of tapes and books on reading doggy signals..its helped me alot with other dogs and being able to tell when my dogs have had enough or are not sure about a situtation.
I don't like having treats in a dog park ...for one thing the dogs know who has food and will hound you (pun intended) and my Clancy is one to find a human who has treats and just plant himself at their feet and do the famous Sheltie stare...its embarrassing!! LOL

Now here in Germany..I haven't found a dog park..but there are walking trails everywhere and alot of pretty parks or fields that I can let them off leash and run for a bit. I find that people here are alot more aware of doggy language and most dogs are very well behaved and seem to leave my dogs alone..both of mine aren't really into other dogs..a sniff hello and a few minutes of play..then they are done with them.
We've been walking alot of times and I'll see a dog in the distance coming our way that I know Clancy will prolly bark at..and usually if I can't move out of the way..I'll notice the person will see that Clancy is starting to "rev" up and they will move in another direction. Also being here, Clancy has gotten way better with other dogs. He even play bowed to a Lab at the vets last week.

I think with young dogs and puppies..you have to get as many good experiences with other dogs as possible. In small controlled groups or maybe just one other doggy friend. Some where along the line, I messed up with Clancy cuz he can be a brat with dogs..and I'm always kinda glad when another dog doesn't let him get away with it and tells him off. Abby is good with other dogs..but she will curl her lip at any rude ones...which is fine with me... a girl has to stand up for herself..LOL

Julie
Clancy & Abby

 

[tofu pup]

My two cents...

I'm definitely NOT a fan of dog parks, and we recommend against them to our new puppy owners.

There are just too many variables and opportunities for disaster, especially for a young dog who hasn't yet mastered the ins and outs of interacting with other dogs. Dog parks can work well if all participating dogs are evenly-matched in size and strength, carefully supervised by dog-savvy owners, and already very well-socialized. Dogs who are hesitant can easily be overwhelmed, and dogs who are just-plain rude can bully them, which compounds the problem. A dog park, with everyone off-lead and running off energy, is advanced-level socialization, and some dogs might simply never enjoy them, even if they're PhD-level socializers.

That said, some Shelties love dog parks and do very well at them. But for me, having seen how little dog-savvy other owners can exhibit (letting their huge, rude dog get in my dog's face and crowing "ohh, he's super-friendly!" comes immediately to mind), I'm very happy to skip them.

Socializing your Sheltie is, as you know, very important. It's fantastic that you're taking her to classes - this will help a lot in her dog-socialization. I'm not surprised that Buffy tends to hang back from the bigger dogs in class, but consistent and positive exposure to them (she doesn't have to play body-slam with them, she just has to tolerate them) is great. Perhaps well-supervised (dogs on leashes to start, slow, polite introductions between dogs) playdates with similarly-sized pups would be more to her liking.