laffi Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I have been thinking about this a lot and would like to hear your opinions. I am well aware that the performance dogs should be well socialized, especially if they compete in sports like agility or flyball (a lot of excitement and running of leash). However after talking to a couple of fellow competitors, most of them do not visit dog parks (which were labeled as 'where accidents are waiting to happen'). So if you do compete with your dogs (any off leash sport counts), would you mind sharing with me how you go about socializing your dog? And if you go to the dog parks or not. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Sorry, the first one to post and I voted other I don't take Kaos to dog parks as he does not like dogs getting in his face and jumping all over him, which often happens in busy dog parks. I take him to a quieter park where we generally know the few other dogs who tend to come at the same time. Most of my socialising with him is at training, trials, friends with some on walks and at the quieter park etc I do take Diesel to the dog park, generally about once a week if it is not too busy at the time we go. He enjoys the dog park and he is generally pretty good about being jumped on etc though he is not keen on being continually harassed or humped/bullied/growled/stared at. Totally different dog to Kaos. But I am not yet trialling him (and if we don't get his focus/motivation issues fixed I may not ever!) so I don't know if he counts :D There are one or two dogs that don't like him, so if they are in the park we don't go (since I can't trust the other owners to notice - when a Weim came and continued to growl at him, the owner said it wanted to play!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seita Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I don't let my performance dogs play with any other dogs at all :D . I'd rather not give them something else that is fun to do which could result in them placing a higher priority on that than me. I try to keep all my training fun as well, but basically I try to make sure I am *THE* most interesting, exciting and fun thing they know. That said my current girl is a total dog snob , she just ignores all other dogs and the only way she'll give any attention is if they come up get in her face and pester her, then she'll snap and tell them off. So my not allowing her contact with other dogs doesn't really affect her at all - she'd preffer it that way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I socialize my dogs with my friends dogs and dogs whose owners I know at my dog club. We have dedicated grounds with offlead areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdude Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I am the same with my bitch as Seita. My girl is a dog snob too. Its how I wanted her to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesP Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I don't go to dog parks either and am not that fussed about the dogs socializing. Would also prefer that they see me as the source of good fun. But I do have 3 dogs and am on a couple of acres. If I had 1 dog in a normal garden I might do things a bit differently. Mine are a bit snobby too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulp Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 My boy is a flyball dog, he spends some time in the offlead areas socialising at our club every training day. Thinking of him as a "performance dog" makes me chuckle.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leopuppy04 Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 We do heaps of dog meets with our trialling friends, but also do venture to the dog parks occasionally.... I tend not to avoid them, but because of training/other commitments and trials, we seldom make it... I am wary of mixing with dogs I don't know, but I also believe it important for my dog to be comfortable in all situations so will take them to parks where I feel comfortable that they will be ok :D. I do regularly take them down to the river on hot days for example and let them run with other dogs and go swimming with other dogs Having said that - on the training sector, I would also take them to the same parks and get them to work around the other dogs - what great distractors . The rules are that they can't go up to other dogs before I release them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 (edited) The whole dog snob thing must be a BC thing. My older girl was less so as a baby but now is completely. My younger one is also a dog snob on the whole especially if she thinks there is a game to be had from me. I will regularly take them to places like the beach where there are plenty of other dogs and while the younger one will harass the older one they pay very little attention to the other dogs in the environment. Edited February 10, 2009 by ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MolassesLass Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I socialize my dogs with my friends dogs and dogs whose owners I know at my dog club. That's me too. I do occasionally go to a park when it's quiet or empty though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vickie Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I socialize my dogs with my friends dogs and dogs whose owners I know at my dog club. me too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Clover Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I socialize my dogs with my friends dogs and dogs whose owners I know at my dog club. me too Same here . We go to dog beaches, but usually find the quiet ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smisch Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Since we moved I rarely take the dogs out to parks mainly cos we'll just go for a run around the paddock and do some training. Besides training dogs there is a group fo four dogs here that the boys socialize with, one of which lives next door. Sydney was a different story we went and met with people at the park who I'd known long before owning my dogs and then even after I got the dogs it was before jock was a "performance dog" so we knew these dogs and had no problems with them.. I rarely go to offleash parks due to Snoopy's social skills, he prefers alot smaller groups of dogs who he can get to know.. the only breed so far that we have expierenced next to no social problems with is the Border Collie.. the only thing he'll do is stalk and chase them while they're chasing a ball.. He seems to have issues with most other breeds Begals, Retreivers and Labs are the worst as well as whole males.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vickie Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 (edited) the only breed so far that we have expierenced next to no social problems with is the Border Collie.. well you can hardly blame him for that . He has good taste your Snoopy Edited February 10, 2009 by Vickie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemesideways Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Interesting post, just happens to be what I'm currently thinking about. My next dog is going to be a border collie, whom I want to use for agility or obedience work. So I've been churning through a lot of ideas on how to make sure than as he/she grows up, I will be the main focus of all fun in the world. At the same time I want the pup to be well socialised with all other dogs and people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leema Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 (edited) I voted other - I'm not adverse to going to 'dog parks', but don't think I've been for a year or two. I only socialise my pups with dogs I know intimately and am sure can provide good experiences for my pup. I literally drove all over Adelaide to get Clover used to dogs I -know-, instead of random unpredictable dogs. Edited February 10, 2009 by Leema Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helen Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 (edited) I allow my dogs at the dog beach as often as I can, time to have fun and just be a dog - it is their favorite place - when they are gone I think their ashes will end up on a dog beach somewhere (we don;t have dog parks here) I have never seen it affect their performance except in a positive way by getting great exercise Edited February 10, 2009 by helen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvus Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I should hire Kivi's social services out. :D We have met a few iffy dogs lately that Kivi has brought round with some smooches. He has this way of looking extremely non-threatening and most dogs seem to tolerate his kisses. We just need to teach him how to be non-threatening with dogs smaller than him and we will be onto something! Last time we were at the vets he was licking every dog that came out looking miserable. There was one in particular that kept coming back for another Lappie smooch. She clearly felt like crap after surgery and just needed a little affection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J... Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 There isn't any specific dog parks around here in Country Vic. I do avoid over popular spots, Darcy likes her doggy friends that she knows but when it comes to strange dogs she'd prefer to play ball with me. You can see her get very frustrated at having other dogs in her face trying to play when all she wants is the ball. She can be quite submissive with other dogs, particularly small snappy dogs, and I don't like the idea of her being jumped on or roughed up by dogs who are bigger than her. One place I do go which is really popular, I find most dogs there are well behaved and most of them are just as fetch mad as what Darcy is so they don't bother her. I do take her to the beach at every chance, have just found an awesome beach which is really quiet so we head there as often as we can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I have a tiny house and a tiny yard and a dog that needs to run. I don't attend obedience training but I do go to agility once a week. Ziggy gets a free run probably 5-6 times a week. If I want to do formal training I take him to the very large dog park (maybe 2-3 times a week if it is cool enough) - I know "good" times to go, avoid walking near packs of dogs, do constant training when he is free running and am very aware of the body language of other dogs as Zig is a giant sook. I go to the local dog beach nearly every day if it's hot or don't want to train - I go at 6am/6.30am and I know all the early morning regular dog walkers - I have met some wonderful people and their beautiful dogs :D Ziggy still has to 'work' on the beach (we practice stays, focus, recalls, working on both sides for agility) and many novice dog owners will approach me and ask for training advice which is lovely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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