Stressmagnet Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I think most curly crosses are owned by first time owners who think 'ooh LABRADOR' and think their dog will be wonderful without any work. I can tell you (as can more experienced labrador owners here) Labs need the same amount of work - if not more due to their social tendencies - than any other dog. I work hard on training Ernie's on leash doggy manners so his OFF leash manners are as good. I spend endless games of LAT so I can call him off a greeting if need be. But I still think off leash areas are a great way for a dog with a limited or small back yard to meet and learn from other dogs. While I'm at home most of the day and happily (well most times) take him out - there are owners who think their dog doesn't need a walk or provide woefully inadequate ones. Case in point: the labradodle across the street gets 1 20 minute 5am Jog with her owner. No time to meet other dogs or sniff or roll in disgusting things or race around like a loon. Then she's in the backyard all day, barking at cars. She dragged her owner across a driveway and two raised flower beds to meet Ernie, who promptly got behind me and watched her from between my knees. The dog has been to ALL the classes but that was years ago. I suggested we take our dogs on a communal walk and was told 'she gets a walk'. ?? So. No new dogs for Coco the Oodle. I too, hate hate gate crowding and tend not to take Ernie to places that are fenced in with a gate. Stupid owners don't want to control their dogs - it's as if just because it's a dog park - they don't have to watch their dog. I take Ernie to an off leash reserve, usually with a friend who has her own dogs. We usually, but not always, have the place to ourselves but there are regulars who Ernie has met and with whom he interacts differently depending on their relationship. I think no matter how big my backyard is, or how much he likes to simply hang out with me -- this is a great part of his being a dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest donatella Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 The only time I take my dogs to off lead areas is when no one is there and the last time they got out and started running down the road with a passing jogger ???? Off leash areas are full of dogs with no manners because their owners figure their dog can just go there and run amuk as it's about impossible to control a pack of excited dogs. I've seen too much shit happen at those places, my dogs don't need random friends I think this is very generalised.... there are many many dogs and people who go to off leash areas and have a great time... you might have seen shit happen, but I have observed loads of dogs enjoying themselves... Just one example last October: At the opening of the Craigieburn Off Leash Park there would have been easily over 300 dogs there over the three hours of the opening... and no problems.... this was not a huge area and at one point the Craigieburn Dog Club was staging their demo within the park.... they had their dogs onlead and running thru heeling patterns and there were perhaps 60 other dogs in the area and none bothered the training group... I have seen the same at various beaches and other parks... lots of people and their dogs enjoying the open space and the dogs meeting some new friends. We run our own private off leash training park here and specialise in teaching the families how to get the best out of off leash social... also how to deal with the occassions when things are not so good. With backyards becoming so small people need places where they can give their dogs a chance to stretch their legs and to interact.... If you don't like the parks... don't go.... I don't go, because the 2 times I have been to 2 different parks there has been fights. Too dangerous and not for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stressmagnet Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 The only time I take my dogs to off lead areas is when no one is there and the last time they got out and started running down the road with a passing jogger ???? Off leash areas are full of dogs with no manners because their owners figure their dog can just go there and run amuk as it's about impossible to control a pack of excited dogs. I've seen too much shit happen at those places, my dogs don't need random friends I think this is very generalised.... there are many many dogs and people who go to off leash areas and have a great time... you might have seen shit happen, but I have observed loads of dogs enjoying themselves... Just one example last October: At the opening of the Craigieburn Off Leash Park there would have been easily over 300 dogs there over the three hours of the opening... and no problems.... this was not a huge area and at one point the Craigieburn Dog Club was staging their demo within the park.... they had their dogs onlead and running thru heeling patterns and there were perhaps 60 other dogs in the area and none bothered the training group... I have seen the same at various beaches and other parks... lots of people and their dogs enjoying the open space and the dogs meeting some new friends. We run our own private off leash training park here and specialise in teaching the families how to get the best out of off leash social... also how to deal with the occassions when things are not so good. With backyards becoming so small people need places where they can give their dogs a chance to stretch their legs and to interact.... If you don't like the parks... don't go.... I don't go, because the 2 times I have been to 2 different parks there has been fights. Too dangerous and not for me I wish more owners knew their dogs so well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starkehre Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 (edited) The only time I take my dogs to off lead areas is when no one is there and the last time they got out and started running down the road with a passing jogger Off leash areas are full of dogs with no manners because their owners figure their dog can just go there and run amuk as it's about impossible to control a pack of excited dogs. I've seen too much shit happen at those places, my dogs don't need random friends I think this is very generalised.... there are many many dogs and people who go to off leash areas and have a great time... you might have seen shit happen, but I have observed loads of dogs enjoying themselves... Just one example last October: At the opening of the Craigieburn Off Leash Park there would have been easily over 300 dogs there over the three hours of the opening... and no problems.... this was not a huge area and at one point the Craigieburn Dog Club was staging their demo within the park.... they had their dogs onlead and running thru heeling patterns and there were perhaps 60 other dogs in the area and none bothered the training group... I have seen the same at various beaches and other parks... lots of people and their dogs enjoying the open space and the dogs meeting some new friends. We run our own private off leash training park here and specialise in teaching the families how to get the best out of off leash social... also how to deal with the occassions when things are not so good. With backyards becoming so small people need places where they can give their dogs a chance to stretch their legs and to interact.... If you don't like the parks... don't go.... I for one can highly recommend Alpha Bet's off leash training park. She provides a wonderful, enriching, safe environment where owners are given the skills to learn how to read their dog and deal with a variety of situations. Her classes also provide the dog with a set of social skills that hold it in good stead for future social interactions, planned or otherwise. Let's face it, whether we wish our dogs to interact with others or not, the situation will inevitably present itself sometimes when we last expect it. Whether or not owners want to allow their dogs to frequent off leash areas or not, it is still a great idea to know how your dog will respond when put in situations that are not always in our control and to assist them coping in such scenarios. I plan on taking my puppies there later this year :) Edited April 8, 2015 by Starkehre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvus Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Autonomy benefits any animal. And engaging in species-specific behaviours is a cornerstone of good animal welfare. If it's safe and no one objects, let the dogs do their thing. Both my dogs seem to think it's polite to acknowledge any dog that comes within, say, 5m of them with a quick greeting. That is usually all they want, and many dogs respond in kind and then everyone moves on. I am also often bewildered that other people say they can't tell if an approaching dog is friendly or not. I can. My dogs can. Between us, we don't make many mistakes. My dogs have never been hurt by other dogs in a dog park, unless you count that time we had a shoulder injury from a wrestling session. Fights that break out in dog parks are often a matter of two dogs not understanding each other, or arousal getting out of control. The more practiced they are in their social encounters, the better their ability to defuse or dodge problems so they are non-events. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest donatella Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 (edited) My dogs do not particularly want to meet other dogs. It would be pretty dodgy if a sheep dog decided to play with the other dogs when it was supposed to be rounding up sheep! They very, very rarely approach other dogs first. They like some little poodles that we see sometimes on walks. But they would rather smooch pats from the owner. Yes this is mine. Could care less about other dogs would prefer to meet people. My new vet in the area said my dogs needed more dog friends Lol I've commented on this thread twice oops Edited April 12, 2015 by donatella Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stressmagnet Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Autonomy benefits any animal. And engaging in species-specific behaviours is a cornerstone of good animal welfare. If it's safe and no one objects, let the dogs do their thing. Both my dogs seem to think it's polite to acknowledge any dog that comes within, say, 5m of them with a quick greeting. That is usually all they want, and many dogs respond in kind and then everyone moves on. I am also often bewildered that other people say they can't tell if an approaching dog is friendly or not. I can. My dogs can. Between us, we don't make many mistakes. My dogs have never been hurt by other dogs in a dog park, unless you count that time we had a shoulder injury from a wrestling session. Fights that break out in dog parks are often a matter of two dogs not understanding each other, or arousal getting out of control. The more practiced they are in their social encounters, the better their ability to defuse or dodge problems so they are non-events. Ernie's judgement and greetings are much more intelligent now. When off leash, he will intently study any new dog before he wanders up to say hello. I can only attribute this to the wide variety of dogs he meets on his off leash times. Yes, there has been the odd rude encounter by another dog - but Ernie flatly refuses to engage until said dog learns. Of course, he is a year old now - and not the rude impulsive puppy he was 6 months ago when I first started taking him out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now