Park etiquette???

Avery+Sawyer · 05-28-2007, 09:29 PM

Can some of you seasoned dog owners help me out with dog etiquette in public places? Near my house, there is an open ballfield down this deep slope that is a good and safe place to take your dog and have them off the lead. I rarely see anyone down there, but tonight a guy with a medium size coon dog was there when we arrived. He seemed kind of put-out that we came down there. His dog immediately began chasing/wrestling my smaller dog, to the point my dog starting yelping. The guy said something to the effect that taking his dog out for 5 minutes is worse than not taking him out and all and left soon after. Should I have kept my dog on the lead until they were finished running around? What is the proper thing to do?
Also, what about crossing the street when you are approaching another dog on a walk? I feel it's a good opportunity for socialization, but a lot of people seemed miffed when we pass.
Any thoughts?

One last thing....any bad experiences at dog parks? A yorkie was killed at my local park (which is one of the top10 best dog parks in the USA)a few weeks ago by a lab mix. Makes me very nervous to let him loose there.

Amaya-Mazie-Marley · 05-28-2007, 09:58 PM

I personally won't go to dog parks. Even if there are smaller dog sections. I went with a friend the other day and there were huge dogs in the small dog area. Owners used it for no matter what size dog when they didn't want to be around everybody else. I also don't trust other peoples dogs. I don't care if you tell me your dog is the sweetest in the world, I don't know your dog and ANY dog can turn around and bite in an instant.
When you are out somewhere with your dog, you always need to pick up after it. Make sure it has manners. No jumping on people for instance. If another dog is aggervated by your dog, immideatly remove your dog away from the other. I wouldn't let mine off leads period, but thats just me.

sheltiemom · 05-28-2007, 10:12 PM

When you say crossing the street, you mean like the people walking their dog toward you cross the street? I do that, but it's because I'm leash training and Ripley pulls and barks when he sees other people/dogs. Part of what I'm doing is turning around and going the other way or crossing the street when he starts pulling, not deliberately trying to be anti-social or anything.

Snowshoe · 05-28-2007, 10:17 PM

Orchid has had bad experiences at dog parks. However, some members such as RonE and CrazyBrit have had great experiences, and make their respective dog parks a part of the daily socialization routine.

I think my worst experience was when Orchid was attacked by a Pit Bull mix at a dog park.

At that time, Orchid was only about 5 months old.

It had her on her back and was chewing at the fur around her neck. Its owner was a lady who seemed like she had no idea about what to do with her dog.

She just stood by and let her dog chew on mine.

My boyfriend grabbed a stick and somehow got her dog off of mine. The woman got upset at him for using force to get her dog off.

I'm not sure what she expected that we do.

Anyway, we've never gone back to the dog park. IMHO, just too much can happen. I let Orchid play with other dogs, but they are other dogs that I know are friendly.

Her "best friend" is a keesie puppy that's several months younger then she is. They have a great time playing together.

Nagem · 05-28-2007, 10:37 PM

In my opinion you did nothing wrong. Your dog was not doing the chasing. I take my dog to the dog park pretty frequently and I make sure to keep a close eye on him at all times, as well as the owners of the dogs he is playing with, so that I can intervene if it looks like anyone is getting uncomfortable.
If this man's dog ignores him once another dog is around, that is his own fault - not yours. It sounds like he has some more training to do and, instead of doing it, he is just avoiding problem situations altogether..
It's a public place and you have just as much right to take your dog there as he does.

Tankstar · 05-28-2007, 11:15 PM

Was this a dog park or just a regular park?
I take Blaze almost daily to the dog park (atleast 5 times a week) for about 3 hours at a time. Like any where there is some dogs that can turn. The most in 3 years I have seen since going there is just little scuffles. Its a huge park though (literally 500+ acres) so very easy to get away from people and other dogs and follow the off beateb path so to say. But I stick around the water hole where every one goes. for the most part it is all fine and dandy.

walking on a side walk, I just pass them. I put the lead tighter so he cant get to people or other dogs.

Avery+Sawyer · 05-29-2007, 08:23 PM

Thanks for the input! We are going both to regular parks and the dog parks, but it does amaze me at the dog park how many owners don't even pay attention to their dogs, and of course, they are the bullies.

RonE · 05-29-2007, 08:34 PM

I've said this enough times that I'm sure it's becoming tedious. But I think the reason I've had generally very good experiences at the dog park (actually parks, since there are three I go to) is because I'm had large, formidable dogs that nobody wants to pick on. Also, they are social enough that they aren't interested in looking for trouble.

I get a bit more nervous when we take Zeke, the 18 pound Schnauzer. I wish I could say that Esther would protect him, but Esther has not been a loyal friend to Zeke once she sees that tennis ball sailing.

Ginny01OT · 05-29-2007, 08:35 PM

Not only do you have to watch your dog at dog parks for obvious reasons but my dog got giardia from the dog park. There are all sorts of diseases/infections/parasites lurking in dog parks.

Alpha · 05-29-2007, 10:14 PM

Good point Ginny.

In your OP it sounds like you were not at a dog park, I don't go to dog parks so I can't say anything about dog park etiquette but normal parks, we go to all the time.

If the park we go to has a loose dog in it, we'll usually walk around ON lead for a little while. If they don't leave, we do. Under no circumstances do I allow my dogs offleash with strange dogs. If the people leave, then we'll continue down to the park until their gone, then my dogs will go off lead.

I won't be pretty upset if my dog was off leash and another dog owner entered the park and allowed their dogs to run towards mine off leash. Most of the time my dogs are back on leash by the time the off lead dog reaches us, which you'd think would be a pretty good indicator to the other owner that I don't want my dogs near theirs.

As for walking down the street. I don't expect anyone to cross the street for us, but it would be nice if people ASKED if their dogs could socialize before allowing their happy, frisky Golden to jump on me, upsetting my dogs. My polite answer would be, "Nope, sorry their pretty riled up from their walk! Thanks for asking though! Have a nice day!"

It's always best to ask first. With my dogs, especially owning a pitbull (who has yet to show any signs of DA) *I'm* just plain uncomfortable with my dogs being near strange dogs. I dont' want my dogs to get hurt, or cause harm to someone elses dog. I'm sure you'll come across people who don't mind, but for the safety of your own dog, you should always ask first. What if that dog had seriously injured your pup? Both would be at fault seeing as both dogs were offleash, but even more important, your dog may become DA as well as vet bills. Asking is priceless when it comes to preventing danger for your own dog.

CrzyBritNAmerica · 05-29-2007, 10:22 PM

Like Snowshoe said it completely depends on the park, the people in the area and the other dogs. I have had nothing but good experiences at our park, but I am very fortunate to live in a town where most people are very dog-savvy.

Ginny did have a great point with the illnesses you can get at a dog park. As long as your dog is vaccinated then it will be safe from parvo and all the other diseases vaccines cover, but giardia and coccidia (parasites that cause stomach illness) are not illnesses that we can vaccinate against. At our dog park we have 3-4 bowls out and people have to bring their own water. When I get there (if there's a lot of people I ask around to see if it's fresh) but if there isn't that many people I dump out the water and re-fill it with fresh just in case. There's still a chance they could get something, but it's a little better.

Tess&Coco · 05-30-2007, 06:31 AM

Wherever you go and however well-behaved your own dogs are, we all risk other owners who are not so conscientious or in control. Yesterday we met a woman with a beagle/BC cross who had been attacked by a pack of FIVE dogs - one of them, a GSD, had picked up this little dog and shaken it, causing two four-inch gashes down each side. The woman thought her dog had been killed, but the owner (female) with the pack didn't seem to be able to do anything about the attack. Because this woman was so nervous of my two, she didn't stay to chat and let me know the outcome for this pack.

We don't have dog parks in the UK but it's generally accepted that we can take our dogs into common parks etc as long as we keep them under control whether on lead or off. Many owners will drag their dogs away rather than let them greet, and I usually put mine on their leads if we see another dog on lead, and leave them off if the other dog is off. I do also ask if Coco can say hello before I let her greet another dog, as she is biggish and boisterous! Tess has become quite protective of her if other dogs are aggressive, it's very sweet! She stands between Coco and the other dog and gives a warning growl.

Jen D · 05-30-2007, 08:19 AM

I don't do dog parks but I have people I have met walking their dogs and have asked them if they wanted to get the dogs together. I have a large area that is fenced off with a pond so the dogs love it and I don't have to worrie about idiot dog owners. I also know my dogs and if bit by another dog they would fight, they never picked one or were aggresive towards other dogs but I have to keep in mind what they can do.

Dogsrule · 05-30-2007, 11:44 AM

At the vet where I work, we have a dog park, and we see many dogs with bites during the course of a year. It is a gamble to take your dog there, especially when the park is crowded. I avoid them unless there are people and dogs in the park that I know, and I watch my dog like a hawk while she is there.