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Dog Park Not Allowing Pitbulls

18K views 143 replies 38 participants last post by  RCloud  
#1 ·
So, there is a dog park opening in my area soon, which is cool because we don't have any 'true' dog parks here, just parks that happen to allow dogs as well, with some off leash areas.

However, this park isn't allowing bully breeds.

Since this is the first facility of it's kind in my area, I wanted to hear from people with experience with dog parks as to if this is typical or not. Yea, the argument can be made that it may be due to insurance, but there are lots of dog daycares in the area who allow all dogs on a case by case evaluation basis, and they don't seem to have an issue getting insured. The people who own the facility have refused to comment on the policy to any news agency and don't want to be talked about in relation to this in general, so no one knows for sure what the reasoning behind it is.

Many people are concerned that the government could use this as justification to create BSL, which worries me if that's true.
 
#2 ·
Will it be an open to the public dog park that is self monitored by the people using it or a private park requiring membership and has employees on site? That makes a huge difference and why daycares are much different than dog parks. At any decent daycare the dog must pass an evaluation before being allowed to attend and if their behavior changes you can and will be asked not to return.

When I still went to dog parks we had some pits come. Some were great, some were great with some dogs and bad with others, some should never have been in the dog park. The same could be said for any breed really. I know a lot of experienced pit/bully owners simply say it's best to avoid dog parks period as there are just too many unknowns and often the pit/bully will be blamed no matter what happens.
 
#4 ·
Well a private park can do whatever it wants really. The private dog park I looked into near me (45 minute drive so not really 'near' me) doesn't blanketly ban pits/bullies but they do make special note to talk to them first before coming to any of their "open house" days if you have an "aggressive breed" like pits, rotties, GSD, bullies, chows, and a handful of other breeds. They actually do a evaluation for every dog before you can become a member but a lesser screening before you can attend an open house visit. I had sent the coordinator a message asking if I should get a letter from his daycare because to the average Joe my dog is brindle therefore my dog is a pit. Basically because I had bothered to read the information they posted and responded accordingly if showed me as responsible and to come on out to the open house. Overall I liked the place but it was too much money for a park 45 minutes away I wouldn't want to drive to often enough.
 
#5 ·
I was going to look at signing up and bringing my boy there (not necessarily all the time, but it's nice having different options and dog for him to go see).

Once I heard that they will be blanketedly banning certain breeds (even though they will be temperament testing each individual) I have decided that I don't want to bring my dog there. I don't believe in BSL and that is too close for me. I will choose to bring my dog to other places and will keep my eyes out instead for the aggressive dogs myself.
 
#8 ·
I was going to look at signing up and bringing my boy there (not necessarily all the time, but it's nice having different options and dog for him to go see).

Once I heard that they will be blanketedly banning certain breeds (even though they will be temperament testing each individual) I have decided that I don't want to bring my dog there. I don't believe in BSL and that is too close for me. I will choose to bring my dog to other places and will keep my eyes out instead for the aggressive dogs myself.
This is what gets me, I think. If you're going to temperament test ANYWAY, then why not just say all dogs are allowed pending temperament evaluation? At first I thought they weren't temp testing at all due to limited resources and limiting breeds to reduce liability, (play at your own risk sorta thing) but I found out that wasn't the case, so now I'm genuinely curious as to the reasoning.

I don't want to jump to any conclusions, but IF they are limiting breeds based on personal bias then that's not cool, and isn't helping the cause of the bully breeds at all. I know that technically it's their business and they can allow who they want, but it still doesn't seem right to me.
 
#7 ·
I'm not for BSL in any way, but I will say that I do not believe dog parks are the place for most Pit Bulls. Or heck most bully breeds. MOST of the fights I see break out involve a Pit Bull-looking dog. I no longer even attempt to bring my 17lb'er over on the bigger side (I used to because I meet up with friends who have nice big dogs, and it often wouldn't be too crowded) but then a Pit would come in and just be really pushy and starting stuff. So I just watch from the small dog side and it's always the "oh, it's ALL how you raise them!" people. Sorry. Instincts usually rule over that. Pit Bulls are pre-disposed to have the potential for DA. I would never bring my terrier into a fence full of rabbits and expect him NOT to go after them. Maybe a bad comparision and I used to feel differently but after speaking with Pit Bill owners themselves and how most responsible Pit owners will NOT bring their dogs to dog parks... I have changed my thoughts, and especially after seeing it with my own eyes many times over and over again. Again, not saying Pit Bulls are bad, I like them, and not ALL Pit Bulls are going to be DA but the chance is too high IMO. I allow my Jackson around my aunt's Pit Bull because he's 12 years old and has proven to be safe around dogs his entire life and I'm very good at reading dogs body language. But at the dog park, you just never know who these dogs are, etc.
 
#11 ·
The daycare where Alannah currently goes does not allow pits. It's privately owned, you have to be a member, pay, have vet records up to date with their requirements, and they do individual temperament testing on every dog. Sadly, they had two incidents with pits in a very short period of time and the owners decided to no longer allow them. It caused a lot of uproar in the area by people who disagreed with their decision.
 
#12 ·
Sadly I think this goes back to the "Bred to be Bad " thread..... Around here there is a fair amount of BYB pitts and their temprament suffers... I do not believe in BSL either (and here they arent Banned from Anything, but are supposed to be Fixed, but obviously enforcement is lax), but I do think that due to the proliferation of irresponsible breeding, they do have more of a tendency to be DA/ dangerous(more than other breeds with BYB), I can see why a private park would ban them....
 
#15 ·
I do blame the people. People are idiots, and have ruined the rep of a fine family dog that started off as a game farm dog. We have plenty of well behaved pitts at our dog run area, and a fair amount of dogs that are run in muzzles (and they are not all pitts either-- yesterday it was a GSP and another one was some sort of smaller mix)....
 
#21 ·
My bostons are part of the bully breed family. They're a joy at the park and well behaved and play nice. Does this mean they shouldn't be there just because they're in the bully family? No. It doesn't. I disagree with not allowing pities at dog parks either. As long as they're well behaved and are properly trained by responsible owners, it isn't a problem, just like any other dog.
But this is why I could never own a pit, because I could not tolerate people telling me where I could, and could not bring my dog just because of what it is.
 
#16 ·
Unfortunately, I've heard a few too many stories from pit owners about pits who "turned on" at 2, 3, 5 years of age or even later. The breed was bred, and still is bred by a lot of people, to fight other dogs. It doesn't make them bad dogs, it just is what it is.

Add to that the fear and hatred many people have of pit bulls, and you have the perfect storm if an incident occurs at a park. A beagle gets into a vicious fight at the dog park and everyone says, "Huh, a beagle? Really?" A pit bull gets into a mild snark off at a park and everyone is calling for a ban on the breed altogether, not just at parks.
 
#35 ·
Add to that the fear and hatred many people have of pit bulls, and you have the perfect storm if an incident occurs at a park. A beagle gets into a vicious fight at the dog park and everyone says, "Huh, a beagle? Really?" A pit bull gets into a mild snark off at a park and everyone is calling for a ban on the breed altogether, not just at parks.

I agree! Instead of a beagle it usually a golden. A GOLDEN! being bad no way the other dog must of done something. A pitbull does something and the news media is called.
 
#18 ·
Adjecyca1: Well, I guess that make me an irresponsible person then because when I bring Ranger to the dog park I try to also bring my brother's pit mix to get her out for a run. She spends the whole time complaining loudly to Ranger while she chases him, chews on him, and generally spends her entire visit within 15 feet of him. When other people's dog come over to say hi, she politely stands for them to smell her and then runs back to Ranger to play some more.

While I agree that there are many bully breeds that do not get along with other dogs, I find the pits in HRM that go to the dog parks are well behaved. I've had more problems with huskys and JRTs (ugh, the terrors lol), If you're going to take the time to temp test the animals prior to membership, then who cares about the breed as we all know that it is based on the individual
 
#22 ·
This thread reminds me of so many others that have the same sort of conundrum... IF any dog, regardless of whichever breed characteristics it has that may cause an issue in a public place with other dogs/people, has been properly socialized and trained and has a competent, watchful owner, then that dog can be perfectly lovely in any situation and should not be discriminated against. HOWEVER, sadly, this is not the case ~50% of the time (I just picked a random percentage... the point is, not every dog owner is as responsible as they should be).

With breeds that have fewer less-than-desirable characteristics or those characteristics are easier to train away, even some of the least attentive owners are still able to handle their dogs in public without any issues (or the dogs are small enough that they can't do too much damage).

The problem is that breeds like pit bulls require a lot more care and attention than many owners realize, so their bad traits are seen by the public more regularly, hence people wanting to ban them from public places. I totally agree that, as seen on a case-by-case basis, any breed of dog should be allowed into whatever private dog park. At a public park where people are self-policing the rules, chances are high that there are going to be dogs there that have issues that have not been addressed by their owners. By going to a public park, everyone is taking the risk that their own dog may either cause or become part of a fight, which is the sad-but-true fact of the matter.
 
#25 ·
When I was looking up BSL, I actually saw one that had Bostons...and Pugs! I was left scratching my head wondering about what horrific incident had happened with a pug in that particular community?!

BSL sucks. However, I can see where a private dog park should be allowed to have whatever rules and restrictions they like, being a private business. For example, what if a dog park wanted to cater to only specific breeds and mixes? (I've never heard of this, but maybe in a large city somewhere?) Or, what if they decided only dogs of certain sizes were allowed? If it's a private business or club, I can see where they should be free to make their own rules...even if I think their rules are stupid.
 
#27 ·
When I said bully breeds I was referring to the APBT,AST,AMbully, Staffie bull, American bull dog,ect.. The Boston terrier is far from the fighting dogs it was bred from, and if the Boston started a fight it wouldn't cause the damage or hysteria of many of the other bully breeds, there also probably wouldn't be an uproar stating Boston terriers should be banned I will respond with more later I am on my phone...
 
#28 ·
For THEIR reasons, I find it pretty unfair, as I'm guessing their reasons are similar to the reasons of other dog parks that have a "no pit bull" rule, and that's simply playing into the whole "dangerous breed" deal. Any dog that walks through those gates, regardless of breed, can be dangerous and unstable. I've lost count of how many dog fights I've witnessed in dog parks, and stopped going when my own dog was mauled by a lab.

However...as much as it sickens me to say this, I do think it's a good idea to ban bully breeds from dog parks, simply because when a fight does happen, even if it's not the Pit Bull's fault, it's the Pit Bull that WILL be blamed for it, no matter what. The owner of the lab and his friends, a bunch of dumb college kids who were off chit chatting amongst themselves rather then watching their dog, tried to blame Charlotte for the fight that happened to her, despite the fact that it was the other dog who had gone after her by grabbing her by the neck and dragging her through the mud while she was standing there unsuspectingly. The owner also tried claiming she had bit him, when infact she hadn't. He didn't even have a mark on his hand.

We got out of there pronto before things got worse, but it was a wake up call for me. It's not fair, but in an unfair world I've accepted that a vast majority of society is going to hate my dog for no other reason then the fact that she happens to be a Pit Bull, and they WILL use that against her. As their owners, it's up to us to use our heads and protect them. You don't bring Pit Bulls to dog parks because they are dangerous and unstable. You don't bring them because society is dangerous and unstable.
 
#36 ·
The owner of the lab and his friends, a bunch of dumb college kids who were off chit chatting amongst themselves rather then watching their dog, tried to blame Charlotte for the fight that happened to her, despite the fact that it was the other dog who had gone after her by grabbing her by the neck and dragging her through the mud while she was standing there unsuspectingly.

You don't bring Pit Bulls to dog parks because they are dangerous and unstable. You don't bring them because society is dangerous and unstable.
UGH. We had a big chocolate that was doing a number on a little pittie looking thing this weekend. It was my fourth or fifth time going ever, and i wont be back, it just makes me too nervous.

This assh*** college guy had this big chocolate that was just being a complete butthole to all the other dogs there. take your freaking lab out of here, its completely incorrect temperment for the breed and that dog shouldnt have been in a dog park.

the pitties were angels. Its the boxers that nug cant handle, their play style is just way too rude for him. He gets flipped upside down and they keep knocking him over and hes such a LAB that he won't growl or correct anyone. So I dont think its the right place for him (even though he seems to still have fun when hes getting dragged through the dirt by boxers) and we'll stick to the people park :)
 
#29 ·
There was an update from someone claiming to be a friend of the park owners (they themselves are still refusing to be interviewed on the topic). Allegedly the issue is with the insurance policy, not the park owners' feelings toward the bully breeds.

The park is just a section of woods that is sectioned off with trails and etc, open 24/7 to the members, so there would be no staff on hand supervising the interactions, and thus they couldn't get an insurance policy that would cover bully breeds without paying several more thousands of dollars than they currently are.
 
#30 ·
My rescue dog is a lab/pit mix and she's my first experience the pitbull breed. I'd have to say if she's representative of the breed's personality, I agree that a dog park is not the place for her. She's ok in our house with our other dog, and she's ok on a leash under my direct control (but has her moments). She may even reach the point where she can play off leash with some other dogs (carefully introduced). But would I turn her loose in a dog park with everything from small dogs to large dogs and all those personalities? No freaking way. She is good with mellow dogs but if another dog lunges or snarls at her, the gloves come off and she's ready to fight right now. I'm working on it, but I don't think she would be a good candidate for a dog park and don't see us ever going to one. At the same token, I don't know that I agree with breed bans. I know, as my dog's owner, that she isn't a good candidate for the dog parks. But why should a pitbull that has never shown dog aggression be banned? Seems like it should be based more on the individual personality of the dog. Then again, that assumes that all dog owners will be responsible, and not all will. Maybe bully breed bans are more about the people than the dogs.
 
#31 · (Edited)
My rescue dog is a lab/pit mix and she's my first experience the pitbull breed. I'd have to say if she's representative of the breed's personality, I agree that a dog park is not the place for her. She's ok in our house with our other dog, and she's ok on a leash under my direct control (but has her moments). She may even reach the point where she can play off leash with some other dogs (carefully introduced). But would I turn her loose in a dog park with everything from small dogs to large dogs and all those personalities? No freaking way. She is good with mellow dogs but if another dog lunges or snarls at her, the gloves come off and she's ready to fight right now. I'm working on it, but I don't think she would be a good candidate for a dog park and don't see us ever going to one. At the same token, I don't know that I agree with breed bans. I know, as my dog's owner, that she isn't a good candidate for the dog parks. But why should a pitbull that has never shown dog aggression be banned? Seems like it should be based more on the individual personality of the dog. Then again, that assumes that all dog owners will be responsible, and not all will. Maybe bully breed bans are more about the people than the dogs.
Unfortunately this is what it all comes down too. The fact is with dog parks (atleast in public dog parks) anyone can walk through the gate, and things can happen in the blink of an eye. I won't even take Ma'ii, my ACD, to dog parks for the simple fact that I've seen too many things and know the risk is just far to high. Dog fights happen at dog parks all the time, regardless of the breed, and if a bully breed happens to be involved, regardless if they were aggressive or defending themselves, that's a potential death sentence and more bad media BS.
 
#33 ·
I think pit bulls are great. My brother has one and she is a lovely dog; several members of this forum have gorgeous and well-behaved pits. I think that pit bulls make great companions and family pets. However, I don't think that pits belong in a dog park. It's not just the propensity for dog aggression (which often shows up once they're two years old or even older), or the fact that they often won't start a fight, but will finish it. It's the fact that if a pit gets into a fight, even if some other dog started it, and even if the pit is just defending itself, that pit is going to be blamed. If the other dog dies, that pit is going to make the news. That just adds more fuel to the "pits are killers and should be banned" fire.

If your pit has a couple of doggie friends, that's awesome. Find a big yard or an unused sports field for them to run and play in (my dogs aren't pits, but they are not dog park material, so we use a ball field for running loose). Dogs don't need to go to dog parks.
 
#37 ·
It is a private park and the owners have the right to do what they want. It is no different than a training facility. I would hate to have someone say I had to allow such and such on my own private place.

It is too bad that these dogs have gotten a bad rap. There are alot of sweet pitties out there the public just does not see it. The news does not show the pits who does search and rescue, the therapy ones. No, for most all they see is a pitbull being loaded up into the animal control vehicle. That the pit was involved with a MAULING, not a bite but, a mauling. Typical, good news does not make the evening news only the bad.
 
#41 ·
It is too bad that these dogs have gotten a bad rap. There are alot of sweet pitties out there the public just does not see it. The news does not show the pits who does search and rescue, the therapy ones. No, for most all they see is a pitbull being loaded up into the animal control vehicle. That the pit was involved with a MAULING, not a bite but, a mauling. Typical, good news does not make the evening news only the bad.
It's so true. When I first started volunteering it never occurred to me that I had come in contact with any pit bulls for a month or two. I hadn't seen any dogs that were aggressive or that made me feel uncomfortable in their behaviour at all, certainly nothing like the monsters you read about in the news. Lo and behold MANY of those sweet, loving, happy dogs had been pits. It blew my mind and totally changed my perspective. Some of those dogs had gone through such crappy circumstances in their lives, but were able to come back from it and be totally loving and sweet, butt waggling dogs. Boisterous? Sure. Lacking in manners? A lot of them, but nothing some proper training couldn't help fix. (most hadn't had any training before)

Now I'm much more at ease taking a pit or pit mix out than a lot of the other, more hyper and bouncy mixes.

It really is a shame that public perception makes owning these breeds so much more difficult than a more socially acceptable breed. I feel if that were to change, more responsible owners would consider adopting one, rather than the irresponsible ones who want to cash in on the bad image the dog currently has.
 
#38 · (Edited)
Vader is wonderful with other dogs. Even though he is UKC reg pit bull...I know for a fact from his blood lines he has American bully in him...which are bred to be less dog aggressive so I think I got lucky with him.
Before we got Vader, he went to dog parks all the time and loved it. ( according to owner / inlaws ) He was even attacked by another dog and cowered away instead of fighting. however he tends to play very rough and he is very strong and so he got " kicked out " lol =p I still have been unable to find a good playmate for him. He bulldozes dogs over cause he is clumsy and heavy. He went to play with a friends dog and he jumped up and fell on her. and that was the end of it. The next play time was with a boxer...they were playing chase and he plowed into her and sent her tumbling. She wouldn't play after that but if dogs can feel bad I think he did...after eh knocked her down...he walked over to her, with his head head down...and licked her face all over. and laid down. that was his best chance of a regular play friend too >.< HE LOVES to play. He will roll onto his back against the fence on spots that the fence has a bigger gap under it and try to get the dogs next door to play lol...they just growl and bark at him <.< I can not take him to dog parks simply because he plays to rough. He looses himself in his happy moments and just goes crazy. Its funny on a little dog when it runs in crazy circles as fast as it can go but a 90lb stocky pit bull is not so good. He does wonderfully with our basset because Flash growls at him if he gets to excited lol. So Vader will try to get into a game of chase but he stopped trying to wrestle with him. He is super gentle with Flash and lets Flash bully him around. I don't know how a basset hound ended up in charge but somehow Vader is respectfully afraid of the short old dog. It is sad though that he has no true play mate. Flash is a no fun old fart.

Also if another dog STARTED a fight with him...he would be afraid he would finish it. Some people bring dogs they should not bring to the parks and it scares me even walking him in town someday a aggressive dog might charge us start something with him. and then he gets blamed because he is the pit bull. He is so strong I would not want to be a dog that started a fight with him. We have had dogs run up on us during our walks and Vader is always super sweet. but I am just thinking in my head when I see this dogs running toward me. Please don't try to fight with him cause I would not want to be in the middle of that. Every time the people come to get their loose dogs away from us...I tell them...your lucky my dog is friendly or there was not a car coming.