pros and cons of off-lwash dog park?

Question

Yesterday we took our 4 month old pup to the off-leash dog park. At first we were concerned as to how it would go, but honestly, he had a blast. All the dogs were great and the owners really understood how to establish acceptable behavioral boundaries with their dogs. My question is, has anyone had similar or worse, bad experiences at off-leash parks? What are the happy stories and what are the horror stories? I'm planning on taking out little guy there more often, so want to know what I'm in for. thanks all for sharing....

Answer 1

there are a lot of pros to a dog park. dogs are social animals and it is great to let them romp with other dogs. problem is, a lot of owners are in denial that their dog is, for lack of a better term, a jerk! you need to be careful with a puppy as young as yours because one or two bad experiences could cause fear problems down the road. basically just use your judgement. if you feel comfortable with the other owners and it seems like they are all in control of their dogs, then have fun! just keep a good eye out for trouble and stay close enough to your pup to intervene if things ever get out of hand.

Answer 2

Off leash parks can be much fun but just like any other park there are bound to be bullies every once in a while. If you can find a park where all the patrons use common sense about toys,illness and neuter/spay etc you should have lots of fond memories to share. Make sure your pup has completed all its vaccinations before visiting parks. Plan on spay/neutering also to prevent aggression issues around other dogs.

Answer 3

Bad experiences: Sometimes, small groups of people who frequent the dog park at the same times, often form their own social groups. They usually gather in small circles at the site; they eat and chat, and they totally ignore their dogs. They don't notice that their dog is pooping, they won't clean it up ... they don't notice that their dog is trying to hump other dogs ... they don't notice that their dog is acting a bit too aggressive etc. etc. These folks tend to ignore other folks who are pointing out that their dog needs attention, and they act as though the place was made just for them (because they're regulars).
Other than that, you don't have any way of knowing whether or not the dog that your dog is playing with is healthy or mean spirited.
Good experiences: Days when you're lucky enough to find that other folks at the park are good canine citizens, and all the dogs have a great time safely.

Answer 4

We go to a local dog park and most of the time, my Border Collie has a great time... her best fun is when the Greyhound's come in and take to running--she loves to get in and go running all out with them.

There is a woman who comes to our park with a couple of Cocker Spaniels. The dogs are loved by their owner, but never groomed and their manners are horrible. These dogs jump up on people constantly (terrible on a day if it's a little wet and mucky) and if you have treats, forget it, they won't leave you alone. And ofcourse their owner NEVER addresses their jumping or bad behaviors. When she shows up, we leave. Other issues are people who don't clean up after their pets, but those of us who frequent and appreciate our off leash space will take the time to clean up anything left behind. Might not be my dog's, but at least I know someone isn't going to step in it.

Fortunately, this has been the worst of it at our dog park. Most of the owners who come in are aware of their dogs and their behaviors and address things as needed. The dog park is a good place for my pup to get a good run in and some play time with other dogs and she really enjoys it. For me, it's an opportunity to work on her recalls with the distraction of play time right there.

Answer 5

My boys LOVE to go to dog parks - we have 5 double fenced parks within a 10 minute drive of our house (2 have lakes, which I stay away from because my lab just won't come out of the water!).

The biggest con that you'll see isn't in the dogs, but in ignorant owners. If you're ever at a park and see a owner letting their dog be aggressive or exhibiting other bad behavior (Like jumping on people), move on and go back another day.

Also, plan on having your pup neutered in a couple of months if you plan to take him to dog parks - Un-neutered dogs are usually the problem dogs as they tend to try to be dominant.

Answer 6

I can't take my dog to the local dog park. There is a dog owner there who has a complete demon dog and does nothing at all to correct it. The whole place clears out when she shows up, which always seems to be the same time I do. So, no more dog park for my pup.

Answer 7

I take my dog to the off-leash park near our house several times a week, and he loves it! He has gotten to know the other dogs and we have gotten to know their owners, who are mostly friendly regulars. From time to time there have been badly disciplined dogs which "play" aggressively, and the occasional unneutered dog that mounts everything that moves, but generally it is a great way to socialise your pup, and a good learning experience for him too. Older dogs are generally nice to puppies.

Answer 8

I never take my dogs to the dog park. I have no control over the dogs there their owners. Most people do not know how to properly handle a dog and they do not know the dynamics of pack drive or what it really means. Dogs, contrary to popular opinion, are not social creatures outside of their pack and will, depending on the dog, try to establish dominance over other dogs. My dogs will not associate with any other dogs, even if they are there. They look at me as the center of their pack and their Universe. I socialize my dogs with other people and dogs, but, at a distance, no touching allowed. That has always worked for me.

Answer 9

Ive had nothing but good experiences with the dog parks. The only bad experience I had was forgetting a towel and wiping off two big muddy dogs with a roll of paper towels to put them back in the car.

Answer 10

I have never had a bad experience with an off leash park.