Quote: bonnie roof

 Quote: jenni williams

Steer clear of any dog parks...they are about the absolute worst place you can take a dog.

I don't think all dog parks are the worst place you could take a dog. I would never make or believe a sweeping generalization like that.

The thing is that unless it's private or leash-only (in which case, it's not what most people mean by "dog park"), you have zero idea of the training/handling skills of any strange human there, and the same knowledge of any aggro issues of any dog there.

It doesn't really matter which park it is. The potential is there any time we decide to allow unknown dogs owned by strangers to interact with our own under no reliable control.

One bad encounter can damage my dog(s) for life, and I'm not willing to put unfounded trust in any strange humans or strange off-leash dogs to keep that from happening.

Of course, this is absolutely the individual's choice.

I think that it's more "tone" here that you are sensing.

Yeah, you're right. This board does tend to state opinions (as facts or commands ) and then move on to the next post.

However, you're in the midst of a lot of extremely experienced and knowledgeable owners and trainers. I learned long ago to grab the info and run and ignore the tone completely. I can choose to ignore the info, too! The option is there for all of us.

 Quote: Bonnie Roof

Once I figure out how to post pictures here I will.

Do you have a Photobucket-type account? You could link us. I would love to see pics!

I refuse to make sweeping generalizations and instead prefer to give most people a little credit.

Every day we take our dogs out in public, anywhere, be it on lead or off, there are no guarentees a "bad encounter" is not going to happen. The only thing we have control over is ourself and hopefully our dog. The potential for a bad encounter is anywhere, anytime. At least at my local dog park locaed in a small community I can take the time to assess the situation and make a decision to enter or just stay outside and walk around.

Anytime you take your dog out in public you ARE willing to put unfounded trust in any strange human or strange off leash dogs...our world is not perfect. None of us can predict how any one person or other animal may react at any given time. In my view, a well run dog park is a great class room and a far more controlled environment than just being out and about.

I see the glass half full in other words.

Edited by Bonnie Roof (07/11/2009 10:45 AM)
Edit reason: spelling...I make typos all the time. lol

 Quote: Bonnie Roof

... Anytime you take your dog out in public you ARE willing to put unfounded trust in any strange human or strange off leash dogs...our world is not perfect. None of us can predict how any one person or other animal may react at any goven time. In my view, a well run dog park is a great class room and a far more controlled environment than just being out and about.

I see the glass half full in other words.

My own choice is not to have my dogs in a group of unknown off-leash dogs. This doesn't generally happen unless I go to an off-leash dog park.

But I respect your opinion.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote: Bonnie Roof

Once I figure out how to post pictures here I will.

Do you have a Photobucket-type account? You could link us. I would love to see pics!

I don't have photo bucket. But maybe these links will work:

http://www.russianbearkennels.com/viewtopic.php?t=815&start=0

http://www.russianbearkennels.com/viewtopic.php?t=823&start=0

I like some puppy classes

I wouldn't be apt to take a puppy to something like a "Petsmart" type deal, but I have a friend who's school conducts a very nice class for puppies. Of course, there's no expectation that the puppies will actually learn the new behaviors while at class, it's more about giving the puppies a positive experience in an environment with many dogs.

The interactions between the puppies in these classes is enough to maintain good 'dog skills', but not so much that the pup grows up 'doggy'.

For me it's like an insurance policy: I want to know that, in a crunch, my dog knows how be around other dogs politely, whether I'm on the other end of the leash or not (which I am 99.99% of the time). I don't want it to be a foreign concept that plays out badly in an emergency.

At the same time, I'm not a fan of letting strange adult dogs interact, so I avoid dog parks like the plague. Too many variable there for me to feel comfortable. My dog does have a very few carefully chosen dogs that he interacts well with though, because this particular dog just has that kind of temperament.

I think having good skills helps a dog to be more confident in the presence of other dogs too, making them less of a distraction. Being confident and non-reactive helps your dog to be less of a trigger to other dogs as well.


Edited by Kristel Smart (07/11/2009 11:00 AM)
Edit reason: added more

Hi Kristel,

The puppy class I am taking my puppy, Dory, to has 3 other puppies in the class. It really is more of what you described, a positive experience around other dogs. I would never go to a Pet Smart class either, although I have taken Dory on lead in a petsupermarket when I bought food and toys.

I think many people get the idea that all dog parks are this crazy place with uncontrolled dogs running every where. I am fortunate to live in an area where the local dog park is run by the city and volunteers. There are rarely more than 8 - 12 dogs there at any given time. People communicate with each other and there is a place for small dogs and puppies and a place for larger dogs. I live in a rather rural county and the dog park is located in a very small town.

Thanks for your repsonse. I love the picture of your Dobie.

 Quote: bonnie roof

I refuse to make sweeping generalizations and instead prefer to give most people a little credit.

Every day we take our dogs out in public, anywhere, be it on lead or off, there are no guarentees a "bad encounter" is not going to happen. The only thing we have control over is ourself and hopefully our dog. The potential for a bad encounter is anywhere, anytime. At least at my local dog park locaed in a small community I can take the time to assess the situation and make a decision to enter or just stay outside and walk around.

Anytime you take your dog out in public you ARE willing to put unfounded trust in any strange human or strange off leash dogs

So you think you are as likely to get your puppy killed or traumatized by some undisciplined beast at Starbuck's or Home Depot as you are at a dog park? Statistically, that doesn't make sense. It's like not wearing your seatbelt. 99% of the time you won't need it. But when you do...

 Quote: bonnie roof

I see a theme here on the Leerburg forum. Many people tend to make assumptions based on very little information.

How is your assumption about our "theme" different than what you are criticizing us for? Most of us are not shy about admitting we care much more about the health and safety of dogs than not stepping on the owner's toes. No one has said anything offensive or insulting to you, yet you made a rather sweeping generalization w/a bit of a "tone", yourself.

I simply said I would avoid dog parks. By definition they are asking for trouble. You have zero control over other people's dogs, and I don't care how much "homework" you want to do, your homework and lack of ignorance will not be able to save your puppy from potentially traumatizing experiences and dangerous encounters. Are you going to close the park to any dog you haven't previously interviewed for a good fit to "socialize" your puppy with? Dog parks are public places with loose dogs. Most of those dogs are owned and handled by pet owners who do not recognize a problem brewing before it escalates. How many times have we heard "He just wants to say hi" about a dog very clearly approaching w/ill intent? It's happened to me in my own yard.

I don't do puppy classes personally, but at least there they have leashes, all dogs are approximately the same age, and they are a bit more organized.

It's your puppy; do what you want. 9 times out of 10 you might be ok and you can sit back and laugh at our sweeping generalizations and assumptions. But there's that one time w/that one dog...and if "socializing" is more important to you than safety, that's your decision. As you said, you are not ignorant and can make sound decisions to her needs. You ARE posting on a forum where people are allowed to comment, however, so don't get upset when they do.

I would dog a search on the forum for dog park threads. The stories might make for interesting reading.

http://leerburg.com/dogparks.htm
Also, here is the link to all the results for "dog park" on this forum alone. http://leerburg.com/search/dosearch.php?terms=%22dog+park%22&Submit=SEARCH

Jenni, go bully someone else with your passive aggressive lecture.

puppy classes are only as good as the instructor(s) and a number of members on this board have spent thousands of dollars and hours training our dogs. To have some chowder head ruin or set back your training because they think "Buttons" needs a playmate and can't read the most fundimental of cues in dogs is an unacceptable risk.

Generaly speaking dog parks or areas with unleashed/uncontrolled adult dogs is a bad idea. Puppies playing together may be ok but if you look at my pic below you can see "Erika" has a nick in her ear from a littermate when she was 6 weeks old