Should Aggressive Dogs Be Taken To Offleash Parks?

[Esky the husky]

Depends why the dogs are there.

If they are on leash and under control of the owner doing some socialization work then why not?

If they're running around at large and attacking other dogs then NO way should that be allowed

[megan_]

My DA dog is only leash walked. I also do some training off leash in my backyard (which is a decent size) - agility and fetch - I have a decent amount of agility equipment now. Very occasionally I will let her off in a small park that is rarely used if nobody is there and throw the ball a couple of times, but then it is right back on leash, I don't let her wander off leash at all. That is the price for being aggressive.

I keep Lucy on a lead and always tell people to keep their dogs away (she is fine with most dogs but doesn't like ones that jump on her). Still doesn't stop some people though. On Saturday a guy laughed at me while his GSD jumped all over her (she is a mini schnauzer). I managed to sheild Lucy but Fergus landed up getting hurt - they guy didn't even believe that his dog could hurt another dog. He actually had the nerve to say to me that "German Sheppard's don't eat other dogs" as if my concerns were trivial.

[Odin-Genie]

My opinion would be 'definitely not' when there are other dogs around. If DA dogs are taken to the park at off peak times, and the owners stand guard near the entry to warn others, and are willing to take their dog out when others arrive, then I have no issues. In any other instance it's an absolute 'no'. Would anyone risk taking their HA dog offlead near children, however well trained the dog might be? If not, why should we value others' dogs' lives any less?

[Joel]

I keep Lucy on a lead and always tell people to keep their dogs away (she is fine with most dogs but doesn't like ones that jump on her). Still doesn't stop some people though. On Saturday a guy laughed at me while his GSD jumped all over her (she is a mini schnauzer). I managed to sheild Lucy but Fergus landed up getting hurt - they guy didn't even believe that his dog could hurt another dog. He actually had the nerve to say to me that "German Sheppard's don't eat other dogs" as if my concerns were trivial.

Wow. That kind of thing REALLY annoys me. How can people be so easy going about their dog being a trouble maker and shrugging off other peoples concerns...? With a situation like that, I just wish that I could put people like him in a cage with a lion or a bear that wouldn't eat them, but just jump on them -_- I doubt he'd find it enjoyable. Grrrr

[Scarlet]

I don't have a DA dog BUT she is very focused when retrieving and doesn't like other dogs (apart from my other BC) coming up to her then or (heaven forbid) take her retrieve article.

She will give a warning growl to the dog and I think she would fight if the dog didn't leave her alone.

The few times it's happened I've been able to call her back to me so it has never got to a fight stage.

I can't even remove the toy because she'll then use something else-stick, leaf etc.

So I only take her to of leash areas when they are empty. If someone comes I leash her.

She really likes other dogs but usually at home.

I have let her associate parks with retrieving or frisbee playing so it is my fault.

[Kirislin]

I dont like aggressive dogs but I suppose they still need exercise. I think aggressive dogs should be muzzled and leashed at all times when out though, certainly not allowed to run free, god help anything in their line of fire.

[Maddy]

One of my dogs has very high prey drive (to the point she's keen on anything that moves, even large dogs and cattle) and we cope just fine without being able to walk her in public or take her to offlead areas.

She gets exercised out in our front yard (which is fully fenced) and gets socialisation with other greyhounds from a friend who has a few. She's been with us for a few years now and she's fit (in better shape than our other dog who can be walked in public), great with other greyhounds and very happy.

That said, I think when you take on (or find out you have) a DA dog, you have to be willing to commit to putting in the extra effort to ensure the dog doesn't develope other behaviours due to confinement or boredom. Not only that, but you have to ensure your dog doesn't cause injury to any other animal while out in public and that means maintaining 100% control or simply not putting the dog in those sort of situations to start with.

[megan_]

Unfortunately PLP, you can do everything 100% right, but some moron lets their offleash dog run up to yours and then it is all over. If everyone - even those with "perfect" dogs just obeyed the relevants laws then DA dogs wouldn't be such a liability.

[Maddy]

Unfortunately PLP, you can do everything 100% right, but some moron lets their offleash dog run up to yours and then it is all over. If everyone - even those with "perfect" dogs just obeyed the relevants laws then DA dogs wouldn't be such a liability.

Which is why I mentioned..

simply not putting the dog in those sort of situations to start with.

This is what I do with my DA dog and this leaves control of her environment entirely in my hands- which allows me to provide her with safe socialisation and exercise.

[megan_]

This is what I do with my DA dog and this leaves control of her environment entirely in my hands- which allows me to provide her with safe socialisation and exercise.

so she never leaves your property? She never goes to the vet? What should those of us with tiny yards do?

[Souff]

I am appalled at the number of so-called dog lovers in this thread who have said "No".

EVERY DOG NEEDS TO BE EXERCISED - and walking a dog on a lead is not always as good as a run (for the dog).

It is up to the owner of that dog to choose carefully the place and the time.

If danger is on the horizon, get out of there!

Not every dog is passive, some are aggressive.

And please stop calling people "morons" because they allow their dog to run up to yours.

It is a natural behaviour of dogs and not all dogs fear other dogs.

The responsibility for the dog rests with the owner, or in some cases, the handler.

My answer to the OP is "YES - but with a wholly responsible owner/handler who knows when NOT to be there".

Souff

[aussielover]

I am appalled at the number of so-called dog lovers in this thread who have said "No".

EVERY DOG NEEDS TO BE EXERCISED - and walking a dog on a lead is not always as good as a run (for the dog).

It is up to the owner of that dog to choose carefully the place and the time.

If danger is on the horizon, get out of there!

Not every dog is passive, some are aggressive.

And please stop calling people "morons" because they allow their dog to run up to yours.

It is a natural behaviour of dogs and not all dogs fear other dogs.

The responsibility for the dog rests with the owner, or in some cases, the handler.

My answer to the OP is "YES - but with a wholly responsible owner/handler who knows when NOT to be there".

Souff

I agree with this statement. I think you should be reasonably confident that your dog could APPROACH another dog without fear of being attacked. Obviously running up to and jumping all over another dog is a different situation.

However, due to some people letting their aggressive dogs off lead and doing whatever, I am reluctant to allow my puppy to approach other dogs before I can assess whether they are friendly or not.

[megan_]

I agree with this statement. I think you should be reasonably confident that your dog could APPROACH another dog without fear of being attacked. Obviously running up to and jumping all over another dog is a different situation.

However, due to some people letting their aggressive dogs off lead and doing whatever, I am reluctant to allow my puppy to approach other dogs before I can assess whether they are friendly or not.

My dog wouldn't attack and approaching dog. However, I don't let my dogs approach any dogs without asking the owner. My dogs don't fear other dogs but I have trained one to only go to other dogs when I give him the okay. My other dog is still a WIP so she remains on her long leash.

In your scenario above, the DA dog is on a leash and might have a whole group of dogs rush up to them. How do you expect them to react?

[Dory the Doted One]

What's with all the muzzling??? I've had a DA dog before, I never muzzled them ever. But then I had good control on them and they knew when I said "Leave It", it meant do not even growl and look at me when I'm talking to you. And if the dog that was bothering them kept persisting we would "Heel" our way to a safer place, sometimes with a "Please come and get your dog!!", directed at the other dogs owners.

I've taken them to dog parks...and I always leave if someone else wants to use the park...simple.

Dory has been such a change and a pure joy, because I can take her most places without a bother. LOL. Flip side now. If I want to take her to a park and I notice a dog with DA tendencies....I still leave.

[megan_]

Dory, I don't muzzle my dog but I think muzzles have been given a bad rap in the general public. I think they are a great tool. If I had a truely DA dog I would have no hesitation using one. The stress of going for a walk and wondering whether a stray or off leash dog would run up to your dog would just dissapear. I think the mere presence of a muzzle would mean that people wouldn't let their "super friendly" untrained boof jump all over your dog!

Edited August 9, 2010 by megan_

[Skitch]

No, I dont think Dog Aggressive dogs should be taken to offlead parks AT ALL. This is just my opinion and I'm totally understanding of the fact that people who have dog aggressive dogs still want to let their dogs run.. but at an offlead dog park? Where you KNOW that it's highly likely you'll run into other dogs that are offlead? I think it's a pretty irresponsible thing to do, personally. There are other means and ways to exercise a dog offlead, it doesn't have to be at a dog park. I have a dog aggressive dog and I would NEVER take her to an offlead dog park at any time under any circumstances.. she still gets to go for a run but we take her to a friends private property where we know there will not be other dogs around.

[Maddy]

This is what I do with my DA dog and this leaves control of her environment entirely in my hands- which allows me to provide her with safe socialisation and exercise.

so she never leaves your property? She never goes to the vet? What should those of us with tiny yards do?

Obviously she leaves to go to the vet but our vet (and I'm sure most others) have a rear entrance you can use if you call ahead of time and let them know you have a DA dog.

As far as yard size goes.. Our yard isn't huge (it's fenced awkwardly because of all the gates) but we still find ways to get her moving. She's a very large girl (for a greyhound) but there's more to exercise than just running.

Edited to add-

This may not have been your intention but it sounds as if you're implying my dog is being improperly cared for because I choose to put her safety (and the safety of other dogs in the community) above any enjoyment she'd recieve from running in an offleash park (where she could still cause a smaller dog considerable damage, even while muzzled).

Edited to add more..

I think the mere presence of a muzzle would mean that people wouldn't let their "super friendly" untrained boof jump all over your dog!

I have found the opposite to be true. When your dog is securely muzzled, people allow their dogs to jump all over it, assuming it can't bite and their dog is therefore safe.

This happens when I'm walking my (muzzled) boy almost every time.

Edited August 9, 2010 by Hardy's Angel

[Dory the Doted One]

Megan...This is true. I never thought of it from that perspective.

My very first dog I trained when I was 11yrs old was a DA GSD...no one ever suggested a muzzle. I just used to keeping my eyes peeled, a habit that hasn't left me whenever I'm around a group of dogs.

And I always took it as my responsiblity to keep my DA dogs under control at all times. Ahh how the world has changed.

Skitch...I would still take my DA dog to a park. So long as I could see all around me, who was coming and going. And I would always be sure to leave long in advance of anyone else coming in. (Thankfully I don't have a DA dog at the moment).

And I wouldn't consider someone else's property necessarily a safe haven to relax and let such a dog run free either. Only because I've seen situations where the next door neighbours 'farm dog' has popped over for a visit. Safest just to keep the eyes peeled and be high alert at all times.

But that is me. My belief is that only I can manage and control what me and my dog do...the rest is just disaster management.

I think sometimes if we get to uptight and don't stay calm, yet alert we actually excacerbate a situation..or even create the very thing we were hoping to prevent. My very first DA dog would never have been able to make some friends if I had shared the absolute attitudes that some people here seem to foster. I always gave him a chance...but he gave CLEAR signals as to where he was at, and took him away before anything could go wrong.

But that WAS a very different world to the one we have today.

[Souff]

I have a dog aggressive dog and I would NEVER take her to an offlead dog park at any time under any circumstances.. she still gets to go for a run but we take her to a friends private property where we know there will not be other dogs around.

You are very lucky to have the private area available to you, but I will guarantee that 99.8% of other dog owners with similar dogs are not that lucky.

Your logic cannot be applied to the majority.

Dog parks were put there for DOGS and it is up to the owners/handlers of those dogs to use them properly and to make sure that no other dogs get hurt.

[Souff]

double post

Edited August 9, 2010 by Souff