smisch Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 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 :D . He has good taste your Snoopy Hahaha I always knew he had good taste lol.. makes up for the lack of brains at times! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozjen Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I like to give my dogs free runs at the park or beach but usually will only let them play with dogs they know, if a strange dog turns up my dogs go back on leash. Too often these dogs are not controled by owners and rush at my dogs sometimes aggresively. My Aussie, Jenna while being a big softie gets nervous of dogs that rush at her but can also get defensive of my old Papillon Gizmo if he is with us. If people have their dogs on lead and under control and the dogs are friendly I like to let my dogs meet and greet. If they get on well I'm happy to let Jenna have an offlead play but will stop it if Jenna starts to get too worked up as she can get kinda pushy and rough. Gizmo because of his size, age and a heart condition doesn't get to join in unless its his Sheltie friends, also he can be a crochety bugger and will take on bigger dogs if they accidently step on him. His Sheltie friends just laugh at him but other dogs might swallow him. All the dog parkes aroung here are either on busy roads with no fencing or parks in the middle of nowhere where it is not safe for someone especially a female to go on their own. Alot of people go to the ponyclub grounds and hope there isn't a ranger around. My pet hates are those that do not pick up after their dogs and those that do not control their dogs around others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sayreovi Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I don't go to dog parks, well when there are other dogs there anyway. They generally don't socialise with other dogs that I don't know, mostly it was with a couple of their flyball team mates. Hell, I don't think they have even seen another dog for months! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Midol Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I want my dog to be like Seitas, but no matter how hard I try he won't stop loving dogs. I have no idea why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Midol, just be glad he's not aggressive towards dogs I think some of it is in their nature too, just how they react to things. Diesel was always pretty interested in other dogs, while Kaos was not interested, from the day I got him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seita Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I want my dog to be like Seitas, but no matter how hard I try he won't stop loving dogs.I have no idea why. It must be me, all 3 of my dogs have never been very dog orientated.... well the first was DA and the second was very very timid and the third is a snob. Maybe I just know how to pick em!? Like Kavik said, I'd be happy that he's friendly, nothing worse than having an unfriendly dog! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubyBlue Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Mine go to the off lead park every morning, there are a regular group that are down there at the same time and we're pretty familiar with all of them. They also socialise with my friends dogs and strange dogs at places like the beach and creek. We've had a few incidences with aggressive dogs but theyre definatly a pack and no other dogs been stupid enough to try anything serious. Seeing dogs every morning means that when they are working its not such a big deal if another dog bounds up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke W Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 (edited) I voted every day. I know the local dog park pretty well and I'm wary about dogs I don't know. I don't compete yet but I definitely will. I'm probably doing the wrong thing. Barkly likes to play with other dogs, mostly the ones around his size. If the other dog doesn't want to play, Barkly tends to go about his own thing. I try to use the premack principle sometimes and get him to work around other dogs and release him to play as a reward. He's pretty good at dog school when he's off lead, he seems to know he's in work mode and he stays away from the other dogs. I'm trying to be more exciting to him but I need to drop some weight so I can run faster! ETA: Barkly is a pretty confident but in no way an aggressive dog. He's happy and comfortable around other dogs. Edited February 11, 2009 by Luke W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helen Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I don't think you are doing the wrong thing at all luke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoemonster Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Used to do the dog park thing, but now they are older I wish I hadnt. i got too caught up in humanising it, and thinking they should love being able to play with friends Next time (yeah how many times do we say this) I'm aiming for neutral. Will socialised, but controlled, not a free for all, where I risk things going wrong At the moment, my guys will run with a limited handful of dogs that I know, but never with unknown dogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odin-Genie Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Used to do the dog park thing, but now they are older I wish I hadnt. i got too caught up in humanising it, and thinking they should love being able to play with friends I'm curious. What's wrong with letting dogs play in the dog park, except for the risk factor regarding unknown dogs? Is there anything negative about too much socialising? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superminty Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Used to do the dog park thing, but now they are older I wish I hadnt. i got too caught up in humanising it, and thinking they should love being able to play with friends I'm curious. What's wrong with letting dogs play in the dog park, except for the risk factor regarding unknown dogs? Is there anything negative about too much socialising? shoemonster: I was devastated when I realised my DA dog Cash would never be able to "play with friends" - I enjoyed watching my first dog Minty play in the dog park and thought that Cash would be missing out on something (humanising much?) - then I figured out (through trial and error) that not all dogs want to play with other dogs, some dogs don't want anything to do with other dogs and really, my "pack' (and I use the term loosely) is all my dog really needs to be fulfilled. I socialised Cash extensively, however he just doesn't like other dogs and is much happier now that I don't put him in situations that he is uncomfortable with. So no dog parks for us. I will still work Minty in parks, but she is completely focused on me. So it's not that there's anything wrong with letting dogs play, provided you weigh up the risks, it's just that dogs dont need to play. In addition, with performance dogs (back to the point of the thread), the handler should be the best thing in the dog's life - some dogs, given the opportunity to play regularly and without restriction may find playing with other dogs more appealing than their owners. Having said that, I think most performance dog owners would have a suitable drive/reward method that outweighs the pleasure of playing with other dogs - so play time is "down time" for the dog. Just my thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelpie-i Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I do many private consults and quite a few of them involve dogs who don't recall (come back to their owners when called). Funnily enough almost all of these dogs are allowed to romp off lead at dog parks with other dogs. Now I am not saying that all dogs that go to dog parks don't recall, but the majority of owners who allow their dogs at the parks do have the same repeated problems. The dogs place extremely high value on playing and chasing other dogs and the owners fair only 2nd or even 3rd or 4th in some cases. So what chance do these owners have of getting their dogs back when their dogs don't see them as a highlight? Even when my 2 kelpies get together with their regular group of friends, their focus is not on the other dogs but rather myself and the frisbee/toy. This is what has been conditioned into them. Are my dogs missing out? Missing out on what? Like Superminty, one of my dogs does not like other unknown dogs but seems happy and comfortable around his loose "pack" of friends but they are not his focus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelbrook Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 I don't like dog parks - too much can go wrong when too many inexperienced owners and out of control dogs get together. They are brilliant when they are empty ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 My dogs learnt to socialise with other well behaved dogs in a training enviroment. Neither are really into playing with other dogs. The small girl is too tired of being jumped all over by boisterous dogs. The boy has a weakness (love affair) for small fluffy dogs (male or female!!) and enjoys a polite hello. But dogs wanting to rough house in play are not his thing. Unfortunately I am beginning to give in to the idea that off leash areas are not for my dogs. While in the country I was lucky to have a lovely park and some great dog park mates. Since moving 6 months or so ago, the dog park inhabitants have had a bad influence on my dogs. Since an attack late last year my dogs are not the same. Even yesterday I had occassion to think this. At the deserted park one young man turned up with 5 dogs. He let them go and to his credit, mostly they left my dogs if he called. But these dogs were a team of pig hunting dogs and off lead covered a lot of ground. My boy saw them coming and took off with his tail between his legs. He was torn between wanting to bolt and wanting to stay with me. I left the park as calmly and up beat as I could. However at agility and obedience training he can see dogs to his hearts content. Safely. Both dogs seem to focus on me when working OK. So I think now that off lead can do more harm than good. Sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke W Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 (edited) Interesting results and responses. It should be noted that the poll results and responses will reflect the particular DOL demographic. PS - I assume 'dog park' simply means a park where dogs are allowed off lead. Edited February 14, 2009 by Luke W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J... Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 PS - I assume 'dog park' simply means a park where dogs are allowed off lead. I suppose it would depend on where you are? :rolleyes: Doesn't change the definition, but it does change whether I'd use it or not. In a small country town of 3000 people, we have so many places to run dogs off-lead that often you have them to yourself, and might come across one other dog and owner even at peak time. Many are regulars, and you get to know who's dog is good and who's are badly trained/badly mannered etc. Have no issue at all with using such an area, but I wouldn't call them a dog park either. On the other hand, a really busy off-lead area with dozens of dogs - no way! And that's what I would call a dog park. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke W Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 PS - I assume 'dog park' simply means a park where dogs are allowed off lead. I suppose it would depend on where you are? Doesn't change the definition, but it does change whether I'd use it or not. In a small country town of 3000 people, we have so many places to run dogs off-lead that often you have them to yourself, and might come across one other dog and owner even at peak time. Many are regulars, and you get to know who's dog is good and who's are badly trained/badly mannered etc. Have no issue at all with using such an area, but I wouldn't call them a dog park either. On the other hand, a really busy off-lead area with dozens of dogs - no way! And that's what I would call a dog park. I guess I won't see you at Brighton Beach on a warm Saturday afternoon then The joys of city living Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelpie-i Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 get to know who's dog is good and who's are badly trained/badly mannered etc. Badly trained/mannered through a human's eyes only. To dogs most are just being....well just dogs. Society asks a hell of a lot from dogs and if they don't live up to expectations, then they are branded as "bad" dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J... Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 PS - I assume 'dog park' simply means a park where dogs are allowed off lead. I suppose it would depend on where you are? Doesn't change the definition, but it does change whether I'd use it or not. In a small country town of 3000 people, we have so many places to run dogs off-lead that often you have them to yourself, and might come across one other dog and owner even at peak time. Many are regulars, and you get to know who's dog is good and who's are badly trained/badly mannered etc. Have no issue at all with using such an area, but I wouldn't call them a dog park either. On the other hand, a really busy off-lead area with dozens of dogs - no way! And that's what I would call a dog park. I guess I won't see you at Brighton Beach on a warm Saturday afternoon then The joys of city living Ahhh that would be a no! Why share a beach with 50 others when I can have one to myself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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