First Dog Park Visit

[MackTruck]

I took Mack (my one year old EM) to a dog park today with a friend and her newly adopted pointer mix. I was really nervous about him running around with strange dogs and people, but he did wonderfully. He was gentle with all the dogs and his favorite new friend was a 10lb 6 month old pointer mix. I think the pointer thought he was as big as Mack and the other way around. He would also pounce on the dogs playing fetch, but he never knocked them over...he really is a pretty gentle giant. He also made sure he went and said hi to all the humans by leaning and slobbering on them. I can't wait to make visits to the dog park a regular event!

 

[NeoBull]

Glad it went so well! Never let your guard down at the dog park though, I'm always on the look out for dogs that really shouldn't be there and when I see one I leave before it leads to a negative experience or worse.

 

[Kelly]

Aw Mack sounds like a doll!

 

[chuckorlando]

Good deal. Glad ya'll had a good time.

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Glad you had a good time but be careful with dog parks. Just be aware of your surroundings.

Take pictures next time.

 

[AKBull]

That's great to hear. I try to get my boy out to one of our parks as many times as possible. There isn't a better way to make sure he's exhausted (both of us actually) for the night.
Being a big boy, Mack will start being known by name there.

 

[allformyk9s]

Happy to hear fun was had by all

 

[MackTruck]

Thanks for the advice! I plan to go with another friend and her boxers this week! I'll take pictures!

 

[Amtecinc54]

He was pretty excited and so was me when i saw him.

 

[WhiskeyLullaby]

That's great! It's always nice when your dogs first experience with something is nice, it makes it so much easier and more enjoyable for all parties. One thing I feel I should caution you about (and something that most people don't immediately think of) is the presence of small dogs in the park. My St. Berbard Vex has been rigorously socialized and would no sooner hurt a chihuahua than he would a child (unless he fell on one of them of course) but I often find that the little dogs aren't so accomedating.

Often the smaller dogs in the park aren't as well socailized as many of the larger breeds (I suppose it doesn't seem as obvious to small breed owners as it does to big dog owners) or else that they are more aggressive to my dog because of the size differential. The problem is that if a Pomeranian attacks Vex--even though Vex won't likely pay it any mind--HE suddenly seems like the bad guy. Because you know it's always the big guy whose at fault right? And even though he hasn't touched the other dog and this little runt is hanging off his ear the other owner runs up screaming and yelling that it is my fault.

Ideally a good dog park should have the areas for medium and large dogs separate from small and toy breeds but they don't always. So keep an eye out for the small dogs. Also I'm not sure about your dog but I had a spaniel mix when I was a kid that just HATED german shepherd dogs. He was wary around other dogs but if he saw a shepherd and it came too close his fur would stand on end and he would bear his teeth and let loose a snarl so mean you'd think he was a bear and it was because he had a terrible experience with a pair of German shepherds when he was a pup. So just watch the other dogs and if something does happen do all you can to minimize the associative reprcusions!

 

[bluebutterfly]

Dog parks don't exist in my world. Lol.

 

[voidecho]

So far we've had good dog park experiences with Lincoln. Great place for him to keep up with his socialization. Obviously we always keep our eyes and ears open to do our best to make sure no incidents occur.

 

[Gunny]

Way to go Mack! We've had the same experince with Gunny on the two occasions we've taken him to one of the local dog parks. Both times it's been quite a pleasant experience with a wide range of dogs. My only complaint is that there is two separate parks for small and large dogs, but for some reason, people think their smaller dogs are too good for the small breed park. It's always the smaller dogs that will snap at him and he just blows it off like nothing happened. Last time we went, he literally tried to climb into some lady's lap. She was nice about it and laughed that he thought he's a lap dog. He still doesn't like being around dogs that bark all the time, although I don't know anyone that does.

 

[stephanieb]

Good job Mack!!!!

 

[musicdeb]

Me too, dog parks do not exist in Titan's world.

 

[VentiandMe]

Awesome!! It's always cool to see your dog having fun I know mine for the most part...love the dog parks.

Like others have said though....never let your eye off your dog though. I usually follow my dog everywhere...and for good reason. The very first time we went to the dog park, my pup was about 4 1/2 months old at the time, another dog started attacking him...at first I thought it was just play,but then realized this dog was singling my dog out and getting on top of him and getting aggressive right away. I jumped in the second time, but wish I had noticed this behavior sooner. My boy was fine and he went about playing with other dogs once that dumb owner/dog left, but still it made me very weary of other aggressive dogs/irresponsible owners. You will be surprised how many "crazies" take their aggressive/un-socialized dogs to the park to play....or think it's playing.

Small dogs that sit there and yap the whole time is also irritating and I've seen tiny yapping dogs escalate other bigger dogs that are just playing to the point of fighting.