Too many lazy dog owners at the dog parks. Majority of these owners don't exercise their dogs enough and bring them here. Ignorance is bliss. I used to think most owners were responsible. Once I started reading and learning about behavioral science and dog training methods, I started noticing how most owners don't have control over their dogs.
WhG about the dogs? Has anyone every thought that maybe the problem is dog ownership in general? How do you manage “responsibility” among owners to make our communities safer and cleaner.
@@daniellepiana Don't take it personal but he is correct. There are exceptions. But thar statement should have to be said. If you are not one of them. Don't worry about it.
@@colecole3352 men are generally more confident with their dogs women are not. That being said i am a single woman with a Great Dane. I have had to learn lots especially with not baby talking in the beginning etc… he is a year old now and could definitely take charge of me if i let him.
My local dog park has been excellent, it may be an anomaly but the owners are responsible and the dogs have a fun time interacting. Once in a blue moon, there may be slight aggression but this is quickly dispelled and forgotten. Great friendships have been formed here with both dogs and owners.
Antoinette Novella I actually agree with you! Most of the time I find my dog park is great people are very nice and all the dogs get on most of the time, but yes once in a blue moon some aggression might happen. Plus you can get good things out of it too I've made good friendships with people at dog parks and knowing people too, the dog burns alot of energy off too interesting with his friends :)
I have been at a number of dog parks. When I talk to people who go a lot they all have stories of new visitors with irresponsible owners whose dogs attack other dogs. It all comes down to "YOUR OK UNTIL YOUR NOT".
A Belgian Groenendael and its owner came with its ball from home. I saw trouble coming and asked them to wait a while I left. The owner ignored me, let her dog in and threw the ball. My dog looked at the ball and the shepherd ran away from the ball towards us, flipped, pinned and bit my dog hard enough to make him scream and leave bruises. As my dog was screaming in pain I ask the other owner to control her dog. She said, "He is only trying to get his ball," and went back to the game on her phone.
Ive found that the root of problems at dog parks are people. Those who let their dogs rampage, and those who expect dogs to me programmed machines. Dogs need to be socialized and trained, but yeah theyre still dogs. Not letting them socialize is psychological torture.
My husky is very sweet, loves people and other dogs. She loves going to our local dog park. She really loves meeting other huskies. There is one woman that brings her four untrained huskies and ruin everything. Now when I see her coming, I leave immediately.
I took my dog to a state park. I waited for her attention to be on something else and I would hide behind a tree or bush and she would come and find me. Gave her lots of love and praise for this. when I stayed at the truck she would go off and come back when she was ready if I did not call her. So as long as I was moving she watched me and did not wander off. I don't know if it was her instinct or just something we blundered into. My point is that for the most part people who take their dogs to a dog park just sit on a bench and watch their dog interact with others instead of with the owner. So the owner needs to socialize their dog when meeting other dogs and owners and being there to teach their dog what is acceptable behavior.
I live next to the nations largest dog park. All dog owners are required to register and pay 150 per dog per year and are required to wear special tags and lanyards. I can tell you that in what I would consider the very best example of an off leash dog park (230 acres on the beach) We have had to pick our times that we go because there are so many problem owners. Our dogs are young and still building skills and the last thing we need to do is expose them to a spectrum of bad examples. Even after very minor interactions with aggressive dogs and isolating and calmed down my dogs will exhibit mimicked aggressive behavior within a couple hours of getting home and cooling down. Unfortunately I agree with this. The reality is that people are clueless. The dog park should be a good experience for both owner and dog and even in my utopian example there are bad owners that are not attentive... You will probably just find yourself rewatching this video and reminding yourself why this is right. I have to say the attitude that you would not leave your house because there are bad people is not a good analogy. My dogs go with me all sorts of places off and on leash. Heck we even go to the closed "dog park" after hours and risk the coyotes. I hate to say it, I would rather throw a rock to scare a wild animal than have to interact with some of the dim wits that think their dogs just teaching my dog the ropes.
I had one bad experience at a dog park today and after talking to one of the humans at the park I will never take another dog to a dog park as long as I live. Its not dogs id avoid its other pet owners.
I think you are right. The dog owner is the biggest contributive problem with exercising your dog in the dog park. They are also, at least the one near where I live, far too crowded.
Dog parks can be dangerous. Here is a story of mine to illustrate it. A few years ago I took my old (12 yo or so) neutered female GSD to the local dog park. A man there had a fairly young Rottweiler. The dogs started barking at each other, and it looked like they might become aggressive. He waded in and started kicking at my dog. I said, "Hey, you kick my dog and I'll kick you!" He said, "put 'em up" ( yeah, kinda corny, but that is exactly what he said) and raised his fists into what he thought was a fighting stance. I thought about it for a split second, went 'screw it' and slammed the jerk up against the fence. So, yeah, dog parks can be dangerous, not just for the dogs either! BTW, he then decided that neither he nor his Rottie really wanted to fight after all.
What I hate the most is when their dog is attacking someone else's. They're too afraid to break it up because they're worried their dog might bite them. Never in your life should you be scared of your own dog, and your dog should NEVER bite you, even if it is 'riled' up. But please people, control your dogs.
There are a lot of dogs that are not suited for dog parks, and many dog parks are overcrowded, at least in part because they are such small spaces. In NYC a lot of the dog parks are no more than a postage stamp fenced in. There are parks here with off lead hours but they are before 9am and after 9pm. That leaves the entire 12 hour day with no space in which to let a dog run free. Dogs were not meant to be leashed 24/7. If you can find places where your dog can run in a great stretch, it's hard to deny that. Many dogs do have needs that even engagement with us does not satisfy. Not every dog is a Malinois. Also, shockingly, when outside, even if the engagement training is done in increments, there are dogs that at some point will lose focus because 1. They see us all the time and 2. Food is not their primary motivator once outside. I do believe in walking up to other dog owners and arranging introductions for dogs that enjoy meeting other dogs and running with each other. I also do believe in training so that your dog will ignore your dog in favor of you, but it's not as easy as training with food all the time. So, what to do? Tether them forever? It's tough. I have a kelpie and he's naturally focused on me, and prefers walking with dogs he's known forever, or just playing with me. Playing with other dogs is NOT any desire of his whatsoever. A lot of people think he's "missing out." Yeah well, tell that to my dog. He cares not for such things. Other dogs really get a lot out of parks. Depends. th-cam.com/video/SF5FhJQgrJI/w-d-xo.html
I only go super early in the morning and walk the one way trails very fast. I know my dog will not react but I don't know how other people's dogs will. It's a bit like driving a car, you can obey the rules and drive safe but other drivers.....
I think dog parks are one of those "At Your Own Risk" things. It's your choice to do or don't with dog parks. Many dog owners are INCREDIBLY ignorant of how much high-strung or aggressive their dogs really are, and take them there anyways, out of sheer ignorance or because they think everyone should put up with Fido's biting/mounting because "he's just a dog, damn, don't be so upset. It's natural behaviour, deal with it or leave" People often treat these places like daycares. They have dogs so mentally under stimulated, they don't want to focus their energy on their own hands, so dumping them to their own devices at dog parks happens. They let the dogs antagonize people and other dogs alike, and look the other way because they don't want to deal with it. Then you have people who impulse bought highly driven working breeds for the fad or status and can't handle or train or socialize it right and also do the same as stated above, although these end with maulings on smaller dogs or even people. This is why some dog parks have "No Bull Breed", "No Rottweilers", "No *insert breed or breed family here" signs. Remember that OWNERS had this put in place first of all, so while people fuss and gripe their local dog park discriminates against their breed, it was irresponsible and careless people who did it all along. I don't blame when the dog parks have "No Pitbulls Allowed" signs, because I know it was stupid owners who caused this to be enforced. In fact, if I went to a dog park, I'd rather go to one that does have breed restrictions. I have nothing against these breeds, but I am ALWAYS wary of EVERY dog owner until I see how well they handle their dog in person, and how well socialized their dog is. It's not discrimination, it's safety. My top priority is keeping my dog's safety in check, not putting on kid gloves and giving ass pats to lackwitted owners who are too ignorant or sensitive of people "being racist of their breed". If people properly train and socialize their dogs and know when to step in to handle a situation, we'd see better dog parks and less breed restrictions. If your dog is reactive or highly timid, do not take it to a dog park! This energy feeds off on the other dogs and they will gang up on your timid dog, prod them around, nip and growl and chase relentlessly until your dog fights back or they attack it. Dogs at dog parks act like kids, and you always have some kids who like to tease and antagonize the kids who are shy. Dogs feed off the energy of others, and negative energy creates horrific results. Not all dogs are meant to romp in the grass and chase with a crowd of dogs. Many dogs like to be at home with you. Some dog parks divide their sections according to size, so you get a small dog area and a big dog area. While this makes it safer, there are always these risks. Especially if it's a s dog park that states it's sectioned to size but has no actual divider, so big dogs can come barreling in to trample the little guys. I'm not against dog parks, but it's not a place to treat like a daycare, and it's not a place of pure safety. Always be on your toes, and always expect that if it can happen, it will. Keep your dog in sight, know basic dog body language and know when to step in to break up negative reactions. Proper dog ownership and knowledge will make way for better experiences at dog parks.
I had a dog that hated dog parks so I stopped taking her. I'd be throwing a ball around for other people's dogs and she'd be in the shelter on someone's lap getting petted so I stopped taking her. Your dog may not even want to go to a dog park.
I agree for the most part, except that people with high drive breeds didn't necessarily impulse buy them. If all your research tells you that "pitbulls are super sweet and misunderstood dogs who just need love", then I don't blame you for believing it. Sadly, there are not enough sources of honest information about different breeds, so the only way for people to figure it out is through experience (often a bad experience they regret). The people who write about specific breeds are usually the ones who love them, and so the information tends to be biased. It makes sense, since someone who doesn't particularly care would have no reason to write informative articles, even if they do have more experience. This does not just apply to the terrier and guard dog breeds, which are prone to dog aggression. Labs also have issues that nobody ever wants to talk about (like a tendency to be extremely clumsy, which makes them less ideal for families with children than everyone likes to pretend they are.)
You Dumb B!tch... All dogs can be aggressive you dumb stupid b!tch. Restriction should be “all dogs that are not trained or are aggressive.” One day a dog is going to bite you. And its going to be a dog breed you’d least expect.
Nature Calls Yes, all dogs can be aggressive. Just like pencils can be used as a lethal weapon. However, you are more likely to get injured by a knife than you are by a pencil, just like a terrier is more likely to cause a fight than a spaniel. It is not black and white. Not ALL spaniels are friendly, and not all terriers are dog aggressive. However, certain breeds are more likely to display certain behaviors (and sadly, the breeders and owners of these breeds have a tendency to excuse these behaviors). Pit Bulls themselves are not even the most problematic breed. Many of them are actually quite trustworthy. However, their owners are the worst group of owners, as they will often refuse to admit the problem even if it does exist, because they are so obsessed with trying to prove that they have the friendliest dogs (even when their dogs are clearly not friendly). I find German Shepherds to be much less trustworthy than pit bulls, but the owners usually keep them under control, or straight up avoid situations where their dogs could start fights.
I am glad to hear you say this as its my experience as well. My dog was attacked at a dog park when he was a puppy and i took him back a year later and he tried to attack. I decided he is a big and dangerous dog, who can not be experimented with depending on who comes through the gate. I also need to realize I am responsible for those teeth and claws he has. He is well trained and is a service dog, but dog parks are too unpredictable. I take him to dog day care once a week where he can play with dogs who he comes to know, and who are controlled by all the staff there. Its working great. We ignore dogs all of the rest of the time. I also got another pet dog for the home, and resist all urges to go to dog parks by remembering what it was like when he was attacked or when he started to attack. Thank you for your expertise.
I know this is an old thread, but my dog was attacked by 3 large agressive labs at a dog park. After that, my dog decided that no other dog would do that to him ever again. He was a huge muscled rottweiller coonhound mix. He got really aggressive if a dog showed any kind of dominant stance.
This video was very interesting and helpful! Im a dog trainer myself and I have seen a lot of instances at The DP that have made me quite nervous. I have a 14 week old pit bull puppy, who I will be keeping intact to eventually show. So this has been a question for me as well, whether or not I should bring him to the DP. As I said before I’m a dog trainer so Im starting my training super early and I’m getting him to greet a bunch of different dogs and people. He’s doing super well! He is really responsive to training and learns quickly. But there is always something about the DP that makes me worried. I have taken my other dogs before I had my pup. I have seen my fair share of scary events. For me it’s the other owners who don’t respond and stay engaged with with dogs. I saw this one women who had a toy poodle with a limp leg, she put him in the run with the big dogs and I just cringed. The other dogs were trying to over power him and the owner of the limp dog got mad at everyone else for not controlling their dogs. But she should have known better then to put a small dog, with a hurt leg, in a run with a bunch of large dogs 🙄! I’m definitely rethinking the whole DP thing, because I think it can be a place for trouble.
Great video I think more dog owners need to view. My dog who did well with other dogs was attacked by another dog at a dog park. The lady who owned the other dog let it happen and said "I guess your dog is not as submissive as you thought she was." Sadly that has scarred my girl and is now very anxious when an off leash dog approaches her. I do not take her or my new pup to dog parks anymore. We only socialize them with friends with dogs.
I agree. My dog gradually became more aggressive at dog parks and I stopped taking him. He is a hunting dog mix and only likes dogs he knows. Thanks for these tips.
I took my newly adopted dog to a dog park once...too many irresponsible owners. People showing up and releasing their dogs and not doin anything to control them. I will only go there when no one else is there.
I have a large and fairly dominant dog and came to realise that dog parks could be dangerous places to be for all the reasons you stated. I therefore stopped attending to avoid potentially aggressive / situations where I wasn’t in control. I realise now that engagement is the key as you have said before entering in them. I also find the nearest dog park far too crowded, the owners not especially attentive nor in control and many of the other dogs when I have attended in past, highly strung.
MW: any damage a dog does or that is asserted may lead to a police or legal complaint. You may face a well-to-do person with a lawyer and their complaint toward you gets a judgement in court. Dog parks are not worth it.
I have a large poodle/lab mix, athletic, confident, easy-going and well socialized. We've been going to dog parks since he was a puppy. He plays appropriately with old dogs, puppies, small dogs and big dogs. Never any problems. On rare occasions we'll leave if the vibes feel wrong. I suspect people get wound up too much about this. He's not a kid, he's a dog. Sometimes he gets run over, sometimes he does the running over.
In Europe where I come from, there are no such thing as fenced dog parks. There are sometimes lose dogs at city parks or on trails, but such dogs are usually obedient and don't harass anyone. In USA where I live, dogs must be leashed at all times, as a consequence most dog owners don't bother training 'em. Only place such dogs get to blow off some steam, is at these fenced in dog parks - Riot! I now have a 2 year old Border Collie, and I never visited a dog park before she had a spotless recall. I visit a park with regulars once or twice a week now; and if things get exciting, I call her and leave. She's not aggressive, but will feed off others' emotions, and excitement escalates rapidly if not defused. If people took the time to train their dogs reliable obedience, there would be a fraction of the incidents.
well put... a dog is a lower animal that is owned by a human. get the dog trained since it is YOUR dog and responsibility. Pro handlers all agree that a dog park is trouble and you get no value from it. You may get a dog badly hurt and/or traumatized.
Yes, some people don't realize their dogs go into defense mode at dog parks. I literally saw this happen the other day at a dog park. My dog is 65lb American Staffy. All the dogs ganged up on HIM and a fight broke out. It was the other gos being aggressive towards Taco. We are never stepping foot in a dog park again unless no one else is there. Instead, we'll do drills there.
That's the problem with "dangerous" breeds. When they do get into a fight, their chomp can do a lot of damage, so they rightfully take the fall. It is the owner's responsability to ensure such fights do not happen. Avoid off-leash interaction with stranger dogs, always keep an eye on body language, and be prepared to restrain your dog before confrontations escalate. You agreed to this challenge when you chose a mastiff. If you wanted a mellow companion that plays and gets along with all, then mastiffs aren't the answer.
I so agree with you because we have had big problems with out of control dangerous dogs attacking my pup and he is aggressive when a strange dog runs towards him now so we walk the beach and let him off only with certain dogs he trusts his best friend is an entire male dog I feel better now I have listened to your video thanks
In Los Angeles, and most other urban communities it is against the law to take your dog off of a leash anywhere except your own back yard. Most back yards are not very big. If you want to let your dog run and play fetch, the dog park or dog beach are the only places it is legally allowed. Unless you are a fantastic athlete and can run as far and fast as your dog, you will not be able to exercise your dog as much as it needs. That is the reason for these areas to be designated as off leash dog parks.
Dog parks can be a problem I agree, my issue is every where I go there are Hipsters with dogs and they let their dog run free. The dog runs up and the person yells " he wont bite". I need my dog to be social and able to tolerate other dogs. I look at dog parks surfing, you look out over the ocean If the weather is bad if its dangerous I do something else that day, if the weather looks like its turning bad I paddle in. The trick is to make the choice before it gets bad. To have a plan or know what to do if there is trouble. The biggest problem I see are young intact male dogs and owners who are to lazy to train their dog. Every dog fight I have seen is a young male and a stupid owner. sometimes there are dogs that correct each other this is not fight when to dog have to be broken up that is a fight. In all the years I have owned dogs I have never taken my dog to the park, in the last few months I have been going and some of it has been really good trying for my dog. I was his 3rd home he was reactive to everything, few months latter he loves the park. He enjoys playing with other dogs and he will approach people it has really helped him settle and become more confident. I do have to be very careful and not afraid to leave. I have gotten good at spotting a dominate dog and I have also worked hard on recall so I can control my dog and get him back. even with all that recently I messed my knew protecting a dog from a problem dog. This problem dog has been in multiple fights. The owner said his mom taught him when playing if he got in trouble she would not help him so he is applying that logic to his dog.
Went with my 12 month Am-bully 1nce and haven't been back since. He was attack 2wice and retaliated both times, but not to really hurt them because I don't train him to be aggressive. Didn't get him for protection,but he be ready,LOL. Honestly, there are TOO MANY dogs/different personalities there so it's automatically dangerous
Where i live there is a pitiful small fenced dog park that no one or mostly small dogs use. Others usually use the park near it to let the dogs let off some steam. Their attention is fully on the dogs. Usually the reactive dogs are leashed and being trained. After being a couple of times i know most. I want my puppy to be socialised with lots and its working since shes made friends with other puppies too.
+Beerrunner81 yes I agree for the most part. There always seems to be one dog that shouldn't be there though, but for 99% of the dogs it's fine. I have seen a couple fights, but nothing terrible...yet.
My dachshund is now aggressive towards pitbulls because a pitbull was aggressive towards him. I guess I have decided not to take him to a dog park unless they are on a leash.
@@beerrunner8153 Omg please do not let your dog do that any more at the gate. Call your dog away from the entrance and let the other dogs get into the park before allowing your dog to greet them. I am surprised your dog has not been attacked yet. Entrance crowding and dogs on leashes are the 2 main things I see cause dog fights and then the 3rd is toys.
I’ve take my dogs to the dog park since they were 12 weeks old for socialization with people and other dogs. I’ve had only one bad experience at the park and that was a Pittbull that the owner had on the leash in the park.(against the park rules) my 9 year old Keeshond Rudy sniffed the pittbull and he attacked him but only got a mouth full of fur luckily. The Pitbull owner was sternly invited to leave the park. My dogs go to the park every day when we can and they look forward to it as they have their favorite people to go get pets from. Most dogs at the park I go to are passive,friendly,and their owners stay pretty close to them always. One thing though,I take my dogs to the small dog side where the dogs are easy going and calmer. The large dog side does have more quick fights among them. They tend to run in packs and seem to have more prey instinct. I go over there when there’s nobody on the small dog side and have never had any aggression issues but I stay right with my dogs religiously,unlike many others that are more interested in talking with other owners and don’t pay enough attention to their dogs. Then when a fur ball starts up they have to run over and get in the middle of it to get their dogs out. Owners should stay with their pets always to control their behavior.in the 5 years I’ve been taking my dogs to the park I’ve only seen a couple fights where there’s been any blood drawn and they weren’t bad except one. I think for most the benefits out weigh the risks,my dogs are very socialized and great around people and other dogs.
@@abbie5998 it states in the rules by the entrance gate that dogs are supposed to be off leash within the park. This particular pit bull was maybe 6 months old and hadn’t been socialized much. I was surprised that he reacted that way because he had a bunch of small dogs swarming around him and he went after my Keeshond who is as non aggressive as can be.
I would love to see Leerburg to put his prejudice aside about dog parks and do a dog park safety video like I will be doing here soon for my channel. I look at dog parks like letting your kid play sports, at some time and point your kid is most likely going to be injured. Do not get me wrong dog parks are dangerous, but there are things you can do to drastically decrease the danger.
I dont know your name, but the safest way to keep your dog safe is to just not go to a dog park. If you are a reputable dog trainer you would be honest with your customers - and trying to tell people that you have the magic bullet on making a dog park a safe place is just wrong.
@@LeerburgDogTraining I think you need to reread what I wrote. No where did I say I have the magic bullet to make dog parks a safe place. How ever there are things you can do to make dog parks safer when people do go. And that is what I would like to see you do a video on that is if you can put your prejudice about dog parks aside, but it does not sound like you can. Hope im wrong though.
@@LeerburgDogTraining and just so you know there is no place you can take your dog that is 100% safe that is if you are honest about the matter. I have seen more dog fights outside of dog parks than I have inside. Some parents allow their kids to play dangerous sports and some do not. Regardless of what side you are on there are things we can do to help prevent injures when they do dangerous things.
I agree with you on this one Ed. As much as we all like to see our dogs getting to run around acting goofy. Taking them to the dog park makes the assumption that they'll get along with everyone. But if you think about it, do we (as humans) get along with everyone? No, definitely not. So asking an ANIMAL, who doesn't rationalize...to do what we ourselves can't do is crazy. I can't begin to count the times I've seen people in the park, that have aggressive dogs. Both dog and human aggression. Bottom line is, if you take your dog to the park you're placing it's safety in the hands of every other owner there. Hoping that they've done the correct training/ socializing to prevent any possible problems. And if that was the case then fine people like yourself would be out of business.
I have a 2 yr old male fixed pit rescue ( from the street) who loves people. I take him to the park so both he and I csn enjoy his flatl out racing. It is a treat to watch all that muscle generate some speed .( he's not the fastest but he does love running). My issues: 1. He loves to run tbe fence (separating the big and little dogs or dogs walking outside the park) barking crazily and it is super exercise for him becz he can be exhausted when done. After watching tbese trsining videos I am suddenly fearful i am training him to be aggressive? I have seen him, however, run the fence with a dog, and then have that dog come into the section of park my dig is in and after a sniff they both lose interest in each other....which tempts me into thinking that wildly running the fence is not a bad thing. Puzzled 2. My pit can have good days in tbecpark and then he will have a day in the park when he targets anither dog - most often bigger than him- and he will harass that dog by shadowing him and provoking him to .... I think play rough with him.......OR he will try to climb up or hump the other dog - sometimes he will stand over top of the target dog straddling the dog and then walk awsy after 10 seconds. Man, I would hate to give up the dog park and his great exercise opportunities. Gratefulnful for any thoughts.
My 65lb American Staffy has done #1 too. Its normal, he likes it and its no threat to anyone. He tends to be a loner as an only dog. Unfortunately. We won't be going back to dog parks unless they are empty. Too many unpredictable dogs and owners who don't understand dog behavior. It's all fun and games until their pup gets hurt or the owner does.
My personal opinion is that a dog park is fine if 1) you are vigilant and aware of other dogs, people and activities, and 2) small, medium, and large dogs are all separated by fences or some type of barrier. I have small dogs and would never let them in where bigger dogs are. Too risky. Also beware the owner who brings his LARGE dog in with small ones and proclaims: "He is harmless and just loooooooves to play with small dogs!" Happened once. I did not appreciate it. Nothing happened but my dogs were a little uncomfortable. I did not let them get close and kept my distance.
Unfortunately, not everyone is vigilant and aware of what is going on around them. It only takes a moment for a fight to happen and a dog to get seriously injured. Let's say a normally vigilant and responsible person is entering the dog park and the dog gets the leash wound around his leg - in the time it takes that person to bend down and untangle the leash, the dog (or the person) could have been attacked - and the person's attention was on his dog and his leash, not the other dogs or the surroundings... These things happen THAT FAST. We are not saying that every dog in every dog park will get attacked or injured, we just don't think the risk is worth it.
Thank you. Will be following your website and channel to learn. This is some of the first info that's made sense to me. Everybody keeps talking about socializing with every random dog and person you can find. I'd just thought after watching another of these dog park mess videos that the owner should just have the attention of the dog in all situations and not completely comfortable with any dog or adult it runs into. Is this what people teach their kids...to be completely comfortable with any stranger they run into and not pay attention to their parents?
It was already mentioned but I'd like to emphasize I was afraid of 'not socializing my dog' and thought it would be a good idea to bring him there daily. Well, in hindsight this did so much to damage our bond and engagement, because even now, months later after we stopped going, he will drop all his focus on whatever I'm asking and fixate on other dogs. He starts dancing around after we leave/the dog leaves and is super happy, but it is awful and I don't recommend it. Further, his excitement is so high he will initiate in a way that is totally offensive to other dogs. Going to the dog park didn't help socialize him. What it did was allow him to seek out submissive dogs that will allow his humping. He stopped playing in general in these parks and only became a nuisance to other dogs and ignored the ones who wanted to play nicely. We are still working to undo the damage this did to our training and he still thinks he can meet every dog he sees. I know it doesn't make much sense as a new owner but listen to Ed when he says being outside the park and using it as a training tool is more helpful.
I've found the dog park to be pretty well self-regulating as far as irresponsible owners go. The people that bring aggressive dogs, or really passive ones don't tend to keep coming very long. I have an under 2yr old Husky and it's pretty 'rambunctious' and enjoys playing rough....but only with dogs that enjoy it. I've had to ride herd on him with smaller dogs and particularly larger puppies and in just a few weeks he's learned to leave non-interested dogs alone.
"Self-regulating" you said it... and that's not okay. They refuse to follow the rules that have created an expectation in dog handlers like myself and the uploader of this video. Responsible dog handlers too often refuse to stick up for people that want rule-regulations enforced. They just want to follow the crowd -- and it's a rough one.
I normally like leerburg material particuarly michael ellis' work but the reasoning behind this is ridiculous. It is up to the dog owners to not bring aggressive dogs to the park and yes, there are stupid owners. But there are stupid people all over the world and it doesn't stop me from going out to public places in fear of confrontation. I don't avoid the beach because I'm afraid of shark bites even though yes, theoretically if you go to a place with more sharks, your chances of getting bit are higher.
But you get to avoid the stupid people. You get to make that choice every day. Nobody takes you to a fenced in area and makes you interact with stupid people. That's what you do when you take your dog to a dog park. You make them interact with idiot dogs; you don't give the dog a choice It's like taking your kid to exercise in the state prison exercise yard. "Well, most of the inmates are well behaved." (cue stupid look on face)
Well it's 2018 and Dog Parks are actually being closed down more and more each year. It turns out that having a dog on a leash in a public park is actually a pretty good idea.
I think dog parks are a challenge for trainers and their dogs. Where i live i would love a dog park, in the whole country we don't even have one. That's why i'm starting one. And the first thing i did was making sure my dog knows that he's always with me, that he came with me and that we leave together. So it really comes down to knowing your dog and being able to handle him at a park.
I think you missed Ed's point, even if you can control YOUR dog, there will always be the question of OTHER dogs, which is something that is out of your control. You owe it to your dog to MINIMIZE the likelihood that it might be involved in a dog fight. My males aggression is primarily a result of encountering other males at dog parks. We could only go there because most of the time it was empty. They would be on long lines and we would have to carry big sticks with us in case we needed to chase off other dogs, those of which are owned by people who have no concept of control. We don't go anymore.
I'm planning on opening one, the first one and i know what he was saying i just think that the lessons you learn at a dog park are just tests to see how you handle certain situations.
It's been two years since your first comment. How have things gone? I hope you make rules that out-of-control dogs will not be allowed, and that the staff has the authority to kick them out. Just this one simple rule would make a huge difference to the quality of the place. I'm baffled as to why there are very few dog parks that have this rule. After all, dog parks are a place to have fun, not to get injured or killed.
I saw this video 3 years ago I have a cocker spaniel no problem cause is the small dog park,I got a second dog 51 pounds no more small dog park.the trainer is right what a dangerous place. You’re talking a chance .there is a sign a the dog park enter at your on risk.
In Australia they have 10 small dogs and 1 huge as bullarab all the time that hates playing cause he’s jaw power is to high for pugs so he just sits there all sad and lonely
I appreciate your opinion and your point of view regarding dog parks. I have not had such negative experiences with my own dogs at our local park. Perhaps it is one of those "enter at your own risk" kind of places. Me and mine really enjoy going to the dog park on a Sunday afternoon.
Leesburg, I have an unrelated question about dogs, I have a year old herding dog/ working dog mix with some pointer thrown in for good measure. He was a shelter dog who was adopted at 4 1/2 months and was actually mislabeled as a lab mix. When I first got him, he wouldn't walk on a leash, was terrified of people and dogs, and wouldn't let anybody touch him. Now he is a lot better but I am having some other things I need to work on with him. When we are out walking in the neighborhood, he gets really excited and sometimes wants to go say hi to people. However, when the person he is saying hi to tries to pet him(especially the top of his head)), he gets nervous. I have been having people feed him treats so that he will associate food with good things but that still doesn't help with the petting. How can I teach my dog to enjoy petting from myself and other people? All the best, Erica.
Seen your pages of dog bites. Not pretty! Best advice possible...it is INCREDIBLE what people think with regards to their dogs, and how they let loose at their heart's content. Some great dogs...some real "specimens" (not intended nicely). NOT worth the risk.
Yes! Dog Parks can be dangerous places; no question about it. Not every dog is a dog park dog. That being said, they can also be great places to bring your dog. I have a 7 year old male Airedale Terrier and a 3 year old male Treeing Walker Coonhound and I take them everyday to the park. I’ve been taking them both for years now and before we got the Coonhound we had 2 male Airedales. I’ve had Airedales for over 50 years now. In all the years I’ve been going to the park I’ve only seen two dog fights and one was when a man brought a large male pit bull to the park. The guy wasn’t even there for a minute when he threw a ball and his dog chased it and a female GSD ran after his dog and bit it from behind on its rear leg and the dog needed 12 stitches to close the wound. Our local ACO fined the owner of the GSD and she is banned from the park.
I agree. I have met some wonderful dog owners and some real jerks too. Been there when people have been attacked on big dog side. Monitor all people and dogs, members and law abiding patrons too. Always have my phone in handy, pet corrector, water bottle & gloves
This was incredibly informative. I'll be looking on your website soon and learning as much as I can. Thank you for giving me an idea of how to engage and such, I've just finished doing some with me GSD pup
After a few visits to the dog park I realized that the sum of the 'unknowns' was not worth the fun my dog might have. On one of the initial visits my dog was bitten by a Weimraner and left with a permament scar. My dog's crime? Sniffing the Weimraner.
I've had weimaraners for 40 years. Everyone I had was dominant with other dogs. About a third would go after other dogs if they had a chance. No dog parks for me.
I am in awe of the dogs that drag their stupid owners around on the leash. Get a dog that you can control or stay the heck home. Too many dogs, and too many dogs and people getting injured, time for civilized dog owners to contact their local township to get some rules in for the owners who cant find their way out of a paper bag. You are correct about the bigger breeds!
Our county just opened a dog park near us. It is fantastic, with separate large and small dog sections, Our lab/pit-mix rescue socializes well one-on-one (we just keep walking if there are more than 2 already there), and adding one or two more doesn't bother her. Three issues we have: She won't share the water dish. She is leash-aggressive (can't stand meeting another dog if she or the other is on a leash). She has a nasty snarl, sounding like she is ready to rip throats. Living in the burbs (where off-leash is not an option) this is the best option for unrestrained exercise.
Ideally, every dog should be up to date with their shots before getting a permit to a dog park. The problem is other dog owners whose dogs are totally out of control and use the dog park as an outlet for the dog to misbehave! terrible!
My wants to be left alone. He’s usually in the water minding his business and here comes other dogs causing trouble. And of course my dog doesn’t like it. As soon as my dog comes out of the water, other dogs approach him and that’s where dog fight starts. Please owners keep an eye on your dogs!! Don’t leave your dogs alone. But thankfully my dog hears my command .
I love taking my dog to the park. She's really attached to me, so at firsts she always stays near me, but then she will go play with the other dogs. But tbh, if I see a pitbull there I will probably leave.
What about a doberman or a rottie or a german shepherd? They have just as bad a rap as pitties, just 20 - 30 years prior. I find the most aggressive dogs at the dog park are unfortunately the small dogs. Napoleon complex! I have never met an aggressive pit at a dog park.
My experience and the stories I've heard are just the opposite. Pit advocates act especially contrary to the rules cause they think they got something to prove. Just today, an self-appointed dog trainer [pimple-faced, poney-tailed girl] planted her year old aggressive pit bull inside the "Small Dogs Only" enclosure and she refused to leave, just sat down pinning her pit to the ground, while "pitty-the-pit" dummies marched their Chihuahua's up for the obligatory sniff the pit was entitled to. I got my dog to the car and -- it took me a while -- started the almost impossible process of stirring up some Parks&Rec guys to get her out of the park (she flipped them off driving off with her pit [typical bully owner]). That's why I'm on this site, getting advice.
Debby Ledbette Do you honestly believe that most of these people struggling with their dog aggressive pits PURPOSELY TRAINED them to be aggressive? If so, then you are delusional. They got the dogs because they believed the lies you spout, that "all dogs will be friendly as long as they have good owners". No. Dogs will do what they were bred to do. If genetics didn't influence behavior, our ancestors wouldn't have developed job-specific landraces, and we wouldn't have dog breeds today. I've never seen owners of hunting dogs denying that their dogs have prey drive, and I've never seen owners of herding dogs denying that their dogs love to herd. So why is it so difficult for people to accept that fighting dogs will fight?
Famous sentences repeated by pit bull owners: 1) I swear he’s never done that before. 2) My pit bull sleeps with my children. 3) It’s not the breed...it’s how you raise them. (My favorite) 4) Your dog started it. 5) It can’t be my dog that did that. He’s so sweet at home. 6) Those stories you hear in the news...they’re all raised by bad owners. 7) I rescued him when he was around 2 years old...I don’t know what happened to him before that.
I only go into the park if all the owners are paying attention. If there are too many dogs or too much going on or i see too much risk we go for a walk instead. My dog park has been pretty tame. My puppy is 6mo old and watching training videos has showed me how many cluless owners there are.
Dog parks are for people who have a lazy relationship with their dog. They don't want to have a close relationship with their dog, or don't know how. I want to be the most important creature in my dog's life at all times, not other strange dogs For those proponents of dog parks: Watch how your dog treats you after they go to the park. You have to recover the bond (if there is one) between you and your dog after you get home, and that can take a day or two. It screws with the dog's brain; it confuses them. Taking a puppy is even worse 90% of people who go to dog parks should really have a cat instead, and dog parks prove it Put a cup of kibble, or cheese, or treats (or whatever your dog loves) in your pocket and go work your dog. It's exponentially more rewarding for you and your dog. Develop that bond between you and your dog. That's why you got the dog in the first place, right?
I honestly have no idea what you're talking about. I take my dog to the dog park often because she loves playing with other dogs. She runs and plays, and we also do agility together at the park. When I bring her home she's tired and satisfied and shows absolutely no difference in how she relates to me.
@@abbie5998 It depends. If you're going to cut your dog loose with other dogs that you don't know, I wouldn't . Most people at dog parks are there because they don't know what to do with their dog other than to cut it loose in a fenced area and let it burn off some energy. I've done it. I stopped when another dog tried to chew my dog's ear off. Then I did some research and found that having a dog is more than going for a walk and feeding her. It's up to you
@@mustardketchup my dog is still being trained in basic obedience so being off his leash outside of the house is out of the question for now. I don’t think I’ll ever bring him to a dog park unless it’s empty. He’s a frustrated greeter so I’m not sure how to socialize him yet.
Why people have dogs if they have nothing to do with them, just only take them into some dog kindergarden, which doesn't work? I teach my dog agility, fragrance work, sevice help dog training etc. We are meeting in park no dog park...but park dogs. But only one by one and those whom I choose him to meet. No all. All dogs aren't good company for your own dog because they can teach your dog bad habits.
i think dog parks are fantastic - yes there are scurmishes/ fights- but the vast majority of people/ dogs have a blast and learn about dogs and people. before dog parks arrived on the scene 20 years ago- dogs didn't have much of an opportunity to interact with other dogs. yes people are just primates and often uneducated about dogs- a potential solution is having a smart set of rules to follow when at a dog park- for instance NO toys allowed (including fetching toys) and dogs showing aggression need to leave asap. and if a person is not fit in temperment or strength to control their dog they should not be in the dog park. and dog parks are NOT about exercising the dog- do that before you get there- its about socializing them!
Many people are not so lucky. Dog parks are a terrible idea. Many have had dogs mentally stomped, severely hurt, some killed, and many learnings bad behaviors.
JG congratulate yourself on good fortune and shut up, since you are gambling with your dog's safety ... you are not more of a dog expert than Ed Frawley, if you even know his name.
The video gives the impression if you take your dog to a dog park it's going to get mauled. Our school systems have bad kids, that fight and bully other kids. I guess everyone should have there kids home schooled. There is dangers in driving a car, when I go threw a light maybe a drink driver is going to run the light and crash into me. Life is dangerous, should I just stay in my home. The big problem with dog parks people go through the gate and let there dog lose and go sit down. There may be dogs there you may not want your dog to play with. Pay attention if you see an unsafe situation take your dog to the other side of the park or just leave. Dog parks are play grounds for dogs. Just like football, basketball, hockey, baseball, when people just like dogs get over simulated they may fight. I love dog parks.
dog parks are unsanitary. if any dog is sick and can transmit through saliva, guess what. your dog is doing to touch the dog drool with its nose when its sniffing around.
I totally agree that dog parks are dangerous. I hav had a dog on a leash at a park and had another dog come all the way across the soccer field to attack my dog. people are unwise to let their dog off a leash
Kallista Metropoulos your dog needs help ASAP , you should be able to be around people with your dog ,if not it can be very dangerous and cost up money in future
My neighbor and I both have intact dogs. Hers is a Doberman so you can imagine. We never take them to the dog park! Always be selective who your dog plays with so there are no bad experiences. Also instead of castrating I recommend a contraceptive which is a much healthier alternative for a teen boy. Fixing should only happen when it's medical.
leatherandlace7 castration prevents cancer and undesired pregnancy. Same goes for females. NO dog is that special that they need to procreate. The dog does not think the same about procreation that people do. It's selfish not to fix them.
You’re literally increasing the chances of your dog getting cancer by 70% by keeping your dog intact. It literally helps them to be neutered because it keeps hormone levels in check.
So what cancer does spaying and neutering prevent? Ovarian? Uterine? Testicular? Well no shit. If you remove those organs, they won't get cancer. Who would have thought? And if your remove their lungs they won't get lung cancer either. That's an idiotic argument. Also, how does spaying/neutering keep hormone levels in check? You are literally removing the organs that produce those hormones. If you're gonna spay or neuter your dog, you should probably at least wait until it is sexually mature and is done growing. I wish the professionals would just tell the truth when they urge people to fix their pets. It's really not that bad to say "We just don't want them to contribute to pet overpopulation."
lol omg you have no clue, about the different procedures there are for neutering and spaying. So I won’t even debate with you. At least active animal had some knowledge about what they were talking about.
My friend and her dogs were attacked during a leashed walk by a dog who had escaped its yard. I knew a person whose dog was attacked in their own yard when the neighbors dog broke through the fence. There is danger everywhere. If you want to keep a dog in a sterile bubble to keep them away from any danger, you will cause more psychological damage. And super shitty sound mixing btw.
Get real. I see people buy dogs ALL the time with not even a hint of intention on training their dog and those that do give up pretty quick. In my small village I can always tells when someone bought a dog recently. They are out walking it. Pretty soon you never see it again because its tied up in the backyard or living in the house or both. The initial thrill is gone. This is NOT all dog owners, but some.
I'm interested to know what you recommend for socialization then? I used to frequent the dog park with my dog all the time, she has become a little bossy or intense with some greetings but is happy to play right after (which has slowed my attendance a great deal) has good recall and obedience while there as I often would practice inside the park on slow days.
Puppy classes and daycare facilities can be just as uncontrolled as dog parks. Chances of finding a good one are about the same as finding a dog park that isn't frequented by morons (unless you live in New York, in which case you might as well give up). The ideal scenario would be that you have a bunch of dog savvy friends who will cooperate with you. In real life though, the only option for many people is to just not let their dogs play, and instead actively teach them to ignore other dogs. While playing can be fun, it is not socialization. "Socialization" is supposed to prepare your dog for everyday situations that you can't, or don't want to, avoid. In other words, "socializing a dog to other dogs" means teaching your dog to stay calm around other dogs and continue paying attention to you.
ActiveAnimals that just contributes to a non socialized dog. Dog daycares and doggy camps are amazing, if you find proper ones, that build on dogs confidence and keep separation anxiety to minimum. Dogs should be able to socialize with other dogs.
xXholicxX Clover I agree for the most part. However, the sad reality for many people is that there are no good places where dogs can interact with each other in a healthy way. Additionally, dog daycares only take dogs that are already well socialized, so they can't be used to socialize a dog that actually needs it. (They also often only take dogs up to a certain size limit, and they generally require dogs to be sterilized at an age that is way too young to be healthy!) I also don't agree that playing with other dogs is an integral need of dogs. Yes, it can be a good way to fulfill their need for social interaction, as well as mental and physical stimulation, but it is not the only way to achieve these things.
ActiveAnimals well I guess that’s where I opinions differ because I do think its integral for dogs to interact with each other. For daycares it’s also not about size and I’ve seen ones that work with poorly socialized and dogs over 150 lbs. most veterinarians say that a pup should be neutered/spayed at 6 months, anymore than that you are risking about 70% chance of your pup getting cancer due to engrossed hormone levels.
Too many lazy dog owners at the dog parks. Majority of these owners don't exercise their dogs enough and bring them here. Ignorance is bliss. I used to think most owners were responsible. Once I started reading and learning about behavioral science and dog training methods, I started noticing how most owners don't have control over their dogs.
Christopher Gonzalez yep, most dog owners are horrid, especially females
WhG about the dogs? Has anyone every thought that maybe the problem is dog ownership in general? How do you manage “responsibility” among owners to make our communities safer and cleaner.
@@Jonnybarbs why do you say "especially females", assuming you mean female dog owners and not bitches?
@@daniellepiana Don't take it personal but he is correct. There are exceptions. But thar statement should have to be said. If you are not one of them. Don't worry about it.
@@colecole3352 men are generally more confident with their dogs women are not. That being said i am a single woman with a Great Dane. I have had to learn lots especially with not baby talking in the beginning etc… he is a year old now and could definitely take charge of me if i let him.
My local dog park has been excellent, it may be an anomaly but the owners are responsible and the dogs have a fun time interacting. Once in a blue moon, there may be slight aggression but this is quickly dispelled and forgotten. Great friendships have been formed here with both dogs and owners.
Antoinette Novella I actually agree with you! Most of the time I find my dog park is great people are very nice and all the dogs get on most of the time, but yes once in a blue moon some aggression might happen. Plus you can get good things out of it too I've made good friendships with people at dog parks and knowing people too, the dog burns alot of energy off too interesting with his friends :)
I have been at a number of dog parks. When I talk to people who go a lot they all have stories of new visitors with irresponsible owners whose dogs attack other dogs. It all comes down to "YOUR OK UNTIL YOUR NOT".
A Belgian Groenendael and its owner came with its ball from home. I saw trouble coming and asked them to wait a while I left. The owner ignored me, let her dog in and threw the ball. My dog looked at the ball and the shepherd ran away from the ball towards us, flipped, pinned and bit my dog hard enough to make him scream and leave bruises. As my dog was screaming in pain I ask the other owner to control her dog. She said, "He is only trying to get his ball," and went back to the game on her phone.
Ive found that the root of problems at dog parks are people. Those who let their dogs rampage, and those who expect dogs to me programmed machines. Dogs need to be socialized and trained, but yeah theyre still dogs. Not letting them socialize is psychological torture.
My husky is very sweet, loves people and other dogs. She loves going to our local dog park. She really loves meeting other huskies. There is one woman that brings her four untrained huskies and ruin everything. Now when I see her coming, I leave immediately.
I took my dog to a state park. I waited for her attention to be on something else and I would hide behind a tree or bush and she would come and find me. Gave her lots of love and praise for this. when I stayed at the truck she would go off and come back when she was ready if I did not call her. So as long as I was moving she watched me and did not wander off. I don't know if it was her instinct or just something we blundered into. My point is that for the most part people who take their dogs to a dog park just sit on a bench and watch their dog interact with others instead of with the owner. So the owner needs to socialize their dog when meeting other dogs and owners and being there to teach their dog what is acceptable behavior.
I live next to the nations largest dog park. All dog owners are required to register and pay 150 per dog per year and are required to wear special tags and lanyards. I can tell you that in what I would consider the very best example of an off leash dog park (230 acres on the beach) We have had to pick our times that we go because there are so many problem owners. Our dogs are young and still building skills and the last thing we need to do is expose them to a spectrum of bad examples. Even after very minor interactions with aggressive dogs and isolating and calmed down my dogs will exhibit mimicked aggressive behavior within a couple hours of getting home and cooling down. Unfortunately I agree with this. The reality is that people are clueless. The dog park should be a good experience for both owner and dog and even in my utopian example there are bad owners that are not attentive... You will probably just find yourself rewatching this video and reminding yourself why this is right. I have to say the attitude that you would not leave your house because there are bad people is not a good analogy. My dogs go with me all sorts of places off and on leash. Heck we even go to the closed "dog park" after hours and risk the coyotes. I hate to say it, I would rather throw a rock to scare a wild animal than have to interact with some of the dim wits that think their dogs just teaching my dog the ropes.
IQ 0 or are a gov plant so much land make puppy parks adult park ban or muzzle aggressive dogs
Usa lots of yap yet never stand up protest demand spineless cowards heroes in movies only
I had one bad experience at a dog park today and after talking to one of the humans at the park I will never take another dog to a dog park as long as I live. Its not dogs id avoid its other pet owners.
John Valentino humans???
I too hate humans haha
I think you are right. The dog owner is the biggest contributive problem with exercising your dog in the dog park. They are also, at least the one near where I live, far too crowded.
@@Thorganby001 😅🤔John, are you alien...
Lol tell us why
I usually only take my dog to the park if it's dogs and owners whom Ive seen before and I trust. Otherwise we won't go
Dog parks can be dangerous. Here is a story of mine to illustrate it. A few years ago I took my old (12 yo or so) neutered female GSD to the local dog park. A man there had a fairly young Rottweiler. The dogs started barking at each other, and it looked like they might become aggressive. He waded in and started kicking at my dog. I said, "Hey, you kick my dog and I'll kick you!" He said, "put 'em up" ( yeah, kinda corny, but that is exactly what he said) and raised his fists into what he thought was a fighting stance. I thought about it for a split second, went 'screw it' and slammed the jerk up against the fence. So, yeah, dog parks can be dangerous, not just for the dogs either! BTW, he then decided that neither he nor his Rottie really wanted to fight after all.
Are you Clint's brother?
You really should have walked away.
@@adventureswithfrodo2721 Nah, that's a great outcome.
Most dog parks are enter at your own risk. Whatever happens, happens.
Seen a dog being attacked at the local dog park. I turned around and left.The owner had no control. Not going back.
Micheal Langan people are so stupid. Like control your damn dog. I won’t go either. Afraid my sweet boy will get hurt. Not worth it.
What I hate the most is when their dog is attacking someone else's. They're too afraid to break it up because they're worried their dog might bite them. Never in your life should you be scared of your own dog, and your dog should NEVER bite you, even if it is 'riled' up. But please people, control your dogs.
At our local dog park there is one large "in tact " male who fights with every dog. We quit going.
There are a lot of dogs that are not suited for dog parks, and many dog parks are overcrowded, at least in part because they are such small spaces. In NYC a lot of the dog parks are no more than a postage stamp fenced in. There are parks here with off lead hours but they are before 9am and after 9pm. That leaves the entire 12 hour day with no space in which to let a dog run free.
Dogs were not meant to be leashed 24/7. If you can find places where your dog can run in a great stretch, it's hard to deny that. Many dogs do have needs that even engagement with us does not satisfy. Not every dog is a Malinois.
Also, shockingly, when outside, even if the engagement training is done in increments, there are dogs that at some point will lose focus because 1. They see us all the time and 2. Food is not their primary motivator once outside.
I do believe in walking up to other dog owners and arranging introductions for dogs that enjoy meeting other dogs and running with each other. I also do believe in training so that your dog will ignore your dog in favor of you, but it's not as easy as training with food all the time.
So, what to do? Tether them forever? It's tough.
I have a kelpie and he's naturally focused on me, and prefers walking with dogs he's known forever, or just playing with me. Playing with other dogs is NOT any desire of his whatsoever. A lot of people think he's "missing out." Yeah well, tell that to my dog. He cares not for such things.
Other dogs really get a lot out of parks. Depends.
th-cam.com/video/SF5FhJQgrJI/w-d-xo.html
Agreed... never expected my 7 month old standard poodle to get attacked by a lab...
Jamelia Mcgee labs are high energy and need a lot of exercise, this can happen with the wrong owners.
Standard poodles are pretty good at being the boss.
I only go super early in the morning and walk the one way trails very fast. I know my dog will not react but I don't know how other people's dogs will. It's a bit like driving a car, you can obey the rules and drive safe but other drivers.....
I think dog parks are one of those "At Your Own Risk" things. It's your choice to do or don't with dog parks. Many dog owners are INCREDIBLY ignorant of how much high-strung or aggressive their dogs really are, and take them there anyways, out of sheer ignorance or because they think everyone should put up with Fido's biting/mounting because "he's just a dog, damn, don't be so upset. It's natural behaviour, deal with it or leave"
People often treat these places like daycares. They have dogs so mentally under stimulated, they don't want to focus their energy on their own hands, so dumping them to their own devices at dog parks happens. They let the dogs antagonize people and other dogs alike, and look the other way because they don't want to deal with it.
Then you have people who impulse bought highly driven working breeds for the fad or status and can't handle or train or socialize it right and also do the same as stated above, although these end with maulings on smaller dogs or even people. This is why some dog parks have "No Bull Breed", "No Rottweilers", "No *insert breed or breed family here" signs. Remember that OWNERS had this put in place first of all, so while people fuss and gripe their local dog park discriminates against their breed, it was irresponsible and careless people who did it all along. I don't blame when the dog parks have "No Pitbulls Allowed" signs, because I know it was stupid owners who caused this to be enforced. In fact, if I went to a dog park, I'd rather go to one that does have breed restrictions. I have nothing against these breeds, but I am ALWAYS wary of EVERY dog owner until I see how well they handle their dog in person, and how well socialized their dog is. It's not discrimination, it's safety. My top priority is keeping my dog's safety in check, not putting on kid gloves and giving ass pats to lackwitted owners who are too ignorant or sensitive of people "being racist of their breed". If people properly train and socialize their dogs and know when to step in to handle a situation, we'd see better dog parks and less breed restrictions.
If your dog is reactive or highly timid, do not take it to a dog park! This energy feeds off on the other dogs and they will gang up on your timid dog, prod them around, nip and growl and chase relentlessly until your dog fights back or they attack it. Dogs at dog parks act like kids, and you always have some kids who like to tease and antagonize the kids who are shy. Dogs feed off the energy of others, and negative energy creates horrific results. Not all dogs are meant to romp in the grass and chase with a crowd of dogs. Many dogs like to be at home with you.
Some dog parks divide their sections according to size, so you get a small dog area and a big dog area. While this makes it safer, there are always these risks. Especially if it's a s dog park that states it's sectioned to size but has no actual divider, so big dogs can come barreling in to trample the little guys.
I'm not against dog parks, but it's not a place to treat like a daycare, and it's not a place of pure safety. Always be on your toes, and always expect that if it can happen, it will. Keep your dog in sight, know basic dog body language and know when to step in to break up negative reactions. Proper dog ownership and knowledge will make way for better experiences at dog parks.
TR... edit down your wordy rant.
I had a dog that hated dog parks so I stopped taking her. I'd be throwing a ball around for other people's dogs and she'd be in the shelter on someone's lap getting petted so I stopped taking her. Your dog may not even want to go to a dog park.
I agree for the most part, except that people with high drive breeds didn't necessarily impulse buy them. If all your research tells you that "pitbulls are super sweet and misunderstood dogs who just need love", then I don't blame you for believing it. Sadly, there are not enough sources of honest information about different breeds, so the only way for people to figure it out is through experience (often a bad experience they regret).
The people who write about specific breeds are usually the ones who love them, and so the information tends to be biased. It makes sense, since someone who doesn't particularly care would have no reason to write informative articles, even if they do have more experience.
This does not just apply to the terrier and guard dog breeds, which are prone to dog aggression. Labs also have issues that nobody ever wants to talk about (like a tendency to be extremely clumsy, which makes them less ideal for families with children than everyone likes to pretend they are.)
You Dumb B!tch... All dogs can be aggressive you dumb stupid b!tch. Restriction should be “all dogs that are not trained or are aggressive.” One day a dog is going to bite you. And its going to be a dog breed you’d least expect.
Nature Calls Yes, all dogs can be aggressive. Just like pencils can be used as a lethal weapon. However, you are more likely to get injured by a knife than you are by a pencil, just like a terrier is more likely to cause a fight than a spaniel.
It is not black and white. Not ALL spaniels are friendly, and not all terriers are dog aggressive. However, certain breeds are more likely to display certain behaviors (and sadly, the breeders and owners of these breeds have a tendency to excuse these behaviors).
Pit Bulls themselves are not even the most problematic breed. Many of them are actually quite trustworthy. However, their owners are the worst group of owners, as they will often refuse to admit the problem even if it does exist, because they are so obsessed with trying to prove that they have the friendliest dogs (even when their dogs are clearly not friendly).
I find German Shepherds to be much less trustworthy than pit bulls, but the owners usually keep them under control, or straight up avoid situations where their dogs could start fights.
I am glad to hear you say this as its my experience as well. My dog was attacked at a dog park when he was a puppy and i took him back a year later and he tried to attack. I decided he is a big and dangerous dog, who can not be experimented with depending on who comes through the gate. I also need to realize I am responsible for those teeth and claws he has. He is well trained and is a service dog, but dog parks are too unpredictable. I take him to dog day care once a week where he can play with dogs who he comes to know, and who are controlled by all the staff there. Its working great. We ignore dogs all of the rest of the time. I also got another pet dog for the home, and resist all urges to go to dog parks by remembering what it was like when he was attacked or when he started to attack. Thank you for your expertise.
I know this is an old thread, but my dog was attacked by 3 large agressive labs at a dog park. After that, my dog decided that no other dog would do that to him ever again. He was a huge muscled rottweiller coonhound mix. He got really aggressive if a dog showed any kind of dominant stance.
This video was very interesting and helpful!
Im a dog trainer myself and I have seen a lot of instances at The DP that have made me quite nervous.
I have a 14 week old pit bull puppy, who I will be keeping intact to eventually show. So this has been a question for me as well, whether or not I should bring him to the DP.
As I said before I’m a dog trainer so Im starting my training super early and I’m getting him to greet a bunch of different dogs and people. He’s doing super well! He is really responsive to training and learns quickly.
But there is always something about the DP that makes me worried. I have taken my other dogs before I had my pup. I have seen my fair share of scary events.
For me it’s the other owners who don’t respond and stay engaged with with dogs. I saw this one women who had a toy poodle with a limp leg, she put him in the run with the big dogs and I just cringed. The other dogs were trying to over power him and the owner of the limp dog got mad at everyone else for not controlling their dogs. But she should have known better then to put a small dog, with a hurt leg, in a run with a bunch of large dogs 🙄!
I’m definitely rethinking the whole DP thing, because I think it can be a place for trouble.
Intact ddogs aren't allowed at dog parks anyway
Drop off all cell phones at the front door and your going to get a better time with your dogs at the dog park
Amen to that! 🙂
Great video I think more dog owners need to view. My dog who did well with other dogs was attacked by another dog at a dog park. The lady who owned the other dog let it happen and said "I guess your dog is not as submissive as you thought she was."
Sadly that has scarred my girl and is now very anxious when an off leash dog approaches her.
I do not take her or my new pup to dog parks anymore. We only socialize them with friends with dogs.
I agree. My dog gradually became more aggressive at dog parks and I stopped taking him. He is a hunting dog mix and only likes dogs he knows. Thanks for these tips.
I took my newly adopted dog to a dog park once...too many irresponsible owners. People showing up and releasing their dogs and not doin anything to control them. I will only go there when no one else is there.
I have a large and fairly dominant dog and came to realise that dog parks could be dangerous places to be for all the reasons you stated. I therefore stopped attending to avoid potentially aggressive / situations where I wasn’t in control. I realise now that engagement is the key as you have said before entering in them. I also find the nearest dog park far too crowded, the owners not especially attentive nor in control and many of the other dogs when I have attended in past, highly strung.
MW: any damage a dog does or that is asserted may lead to a police or legal complaint. You may face a well-to-do person with a lawyer and their complaint toward you gets a judgement in court. Dog parks are not worth it.
I agree.
I have a large poodle/lab mix, athletic, confident, easy-going and well socialized. We've been going to dog parks since he was a puppy. He plays appropriately with old dogs, puppies, small dogs and big dogs. Never any problems. On rare occasions we'll leave if the vibes feel wrong. I suspect people get wound up too much about this. He's not a kid, he's a dog. Sometimes he gets run over, sometimes he does the running over.
Well said. I'd like to see a followup video on your opinion of private dog parks, which are becoming more popular nowadays.
In Europe where I come from, there are no such thing as fenced dog parks. There are sometimes lose dogs at city parks or on trails, but such dogs are usually obedient and don't harass anyone. In USA where I live, dogs must be leashed at all times, as a consequence most dog owners don't bother training 'em. Only place such dogs get to blow off some steam, is at these fenced in dog parks - Riot!
I now have a 2 year old Border Collie, and I never visited a dog park before she had a spotless recall. I visit a park with regulars once or twice a week now; and if things get exciting, I call her and leave. She's not aggressive, but will feed off others' emotions, and excitement escalates rapidly if not defused. If people took the time to train their dogs reliable obedience, there would be a fraction of the incidents.
well put... a dog is a lower animal that is owned by a human. get the dog trained since it is YOUR dog and responsibility. Pro handlers all agree that a dog park is trouble and you get no value from it. You may get a dog badly hurt and/or traumatized.
Yes, some people don't realize their dogs go into defense mode at dog parks. I literally saw this happen the other day at a dog park. My dog is 65lb American Staffy. All the dogs ganged up on HIM and a fight broke out. It was the other gos being aggressive towards Taco. We are never stepping foot in a dog park again unless no one else is there. Instead, we'll do drills there.
That's the problem with "dangerous" breeds. When they do get into a fight, their chomp can do a lot of damage, so they rightfully take the fall. It is the owner's responsability to ensure such fights do not happen. Avoid off-leash interaction with stranger dogs, always keep an eye on body language, and be prepared to restrain your dog before confrontations escalate. You agreed to this challenge when you chose a mastiff.
If you wanted a mellow companion that plays and gets along with all, then mastiffs aren't the answer.
Do you know how many dogs are vaccinated? Well, this is the reason I never walk my dog to parks.
I so agree with you because we have had big problems with out of control dangerous dogs attacking my pup and he is aggressive when a strange dog runs towards him now so we walk the beach and let him off only with certain dogs he trusts his best friend is an entire male dog I feel better now I have listened to your video thanks
In Los Angeles, and most other urban communities it is against the law to take your dog off of a leash anywhere except your own back yard. Most back yards are not very big. If you want to let your dog run and play fetch, the dog park or dog beach are the only places it is legally allowed. Unless you are a fantastic athlete and can run as far and fast as your dog, you will not be able to exercise your dog as much as it needs. That is the reason for these areas to be designated as off leash dog parks.
Dog parks can be a problem I agree, my issue is every where I go there are Hipsters with dogs and they let their dog run free. The dog runs up and the person yells " he wont bite". I need my dog to be social and able to tolerate other dogs. I look at dog parks surfing, you look out over the ocean If the weather is bad if its dangerous I do something else that day, if the weather looks like its turning bad I paddle in. The trick is to make the choice before it gets bad. To have a plan or know what to do if there is trouble. The biggest problem I see are young intact male dogs and owners who are to lazy to train their dog. Every dog fight I have seen is a young male and a stupid owner. sometimes there are dogs that correct each other this is not fight when to dog have to be broken up that is a fight. In all the years I have owned dogs I have never taken my dog to the park, in the last few months I have been going and some of it has been really good trying for my dog. I was his 3rd home he was reactive to everything, few months latter he loves the park. He enjoys playing with other dogs and he will approach people it has really helped him settle and become more confident. I do have to be very careful and not afraid to leave. I have gotten good at spotting a dominate dog and I have also worked hard on recall so I can control my dog and get him back. even with all that recently I messed my knew protecting a dog from a problem dog. This problem dog has been in multiple fights. The owner said his mom taught him when playing if he got in trouble she would not help him so he is applying that logic to his dog.
Went with my 12 month Am-bully 1nce and haven't been back since. He was attack 2wice and retaliated both times, but not to really hurt them because I don't train him to be aggressive. Didn't get him for protection,but he be ready,LOL. Honestly, there are TOO MANY dogs/different personalities there so it's automatically dangerous
I got an XL bully, and 2 pits and the scary part about our dogs retaliating to other dogs aggression everyone looks at bully breeds like demons 🙄
Where i live there is a pitiful small fenced dog park that no one or mostly small dogs use. Others usually use the park near it to let the dogs let off some steam. Their attention is fully on the dogs. Usually the reactive dogs are leashed and being trained. After being a couple of times i know most. I want my puppy to be socialised with lots and its working since shes made friends with other puppies too.
Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge! 👍
My pitbull loves the dog park. Today she played with 10 different dogs. People have to be responsible.
+Beerrunner81 yes I agree for the most part. There always seems to be one dog that shouldn't be there though, but for 99% of the dogs it's fine. I have seen a couple fights, but nothing terrible...yet.
Kevin Smith
My pit has been at the dog park since day one, and loves it. When cars pull up she has to be the first at the gate to greet everyone.
+Beerrunner81 I wouldn't let your dog near mine
My dachshund is now aggressive towards pitbulls because a pitbull was aggressive towards him. I guess I have decided not to take him to a dog park unless they are on a leash.
@@beerrunner8153 Omg please do not let your dog do that any more at the gate. Call your dog away from the entrance and let the other dogs get into the park before allowing your dog to greet them. I am surprised your dog has not been attacked yet. Entrance crowding and dogs on leashes are the 2 main things I see cause dog fights and then the 3rd is toys.
I’ve take my dogs to the dog park since they were 12 weeks old for socialization with people and other dogs. I’ve had only one bad experience at the park and that was a Pittbull that the owner had on the leash in the park.(against the park rules) my 9 year old Keeshond Rudy sniffed the pittbull and he attacked him but only got a mouth full of fur luckily. The Pitbull owner was sternly invited to leave the park. My dogs go to the park every day when we can and they look forward to it as they have their favorite people to go get pets from. Most dogs at the park I go to are passive,friendly,and their owners stay pretty close to them always. One thing though,I take my dogs to the small dog side where the dogs are easy going and calmer. The large dog side does have more quick fights among them. They tend to run in packs and seem to have more prey instinct. I go over there when there’s nobody on the small dog side and have never had any aggression issues but I stay right with my dogs religiously,unlike many others that are more interested in talking with other owners and don’t pay enough attention to their dogs. Then when a fur ball starts up they have to run over and get in the middle of it to get their dogs out. Owners should stay with their pets always to control their behavior.in the 5 years I’ve been taking my dogs to the park I’ve only seen a couple fights where there’s been any blood drawn and they weren’t bad except one. I think for most the benefits out weigh the risks,my dogs are very socialized and great around people and other dogs.
I’m confused, you said the owner had their dog on a leash. This is against the rules?
@@abbie5998 it states in the rules by the entrance gate that dogs are supposed to be off leash within the park. This particular pit bull was maybe 6 months old and hadn’t been socialized much. I was surprised that he reacted that way because he had a bunch of small dogs swarming around him and he went after my Keeshond who is as non aggressive as can be.
I would love to see Leerburg to put his prejudice aside about dog parks and do a dog park safety video like I will be doing here soon for my channel. I look at dog parks like letting your kid play sports, at some time and point your kid is most likely going to be injured. Do not get me wrong dog parks are dangerous, but there are things you can do to drastically decrease the danger.
I dont know your name, but the safest way to keep your dog safe is to just not go to a dog park. If you are a reputable dog trainer you would be honest with your customers - and trying to tell people that you have the magic bullet on making a dog park a safe place is just wrong.
@@LeerburgDogTraining I think you need to reread what I wrote. No where did I say I have the magic bullet to make dog parks a safe place. How ever there are things you can do to make dog parks safer when people do go. And that is what I would like to see you do a video on that is if you can put your prejudice about dog parks aside, but it does not sound like you can. Hope im wrong though.
@@LeerburgDogTraining and just so you know there is no place you can take your dog that is 100% safe that is if you are honest about the matter. I have seen more dog fights outside of dog parks than I have inside. Some parents allow their kids to play dangerous sports and some do not. Regardless of what side you are on there are things we can do to help prevent injures when they do dangerous things.
PDT you are a fool, so stop the commercials for your business.
I agree with you on this one Ed. As much as we all like to see our dogs getting to run around acting goofy. Taking them to the dog park makes the assumption that they'll get along with everyone. But if you think about it, do we (as humans) get along with everyone? No, definitely not. So asking an ANIMAL, who doesn't rationalize...to do what we ourselves can't do is crazy. I can't begin to count the times I've seen people in the park, that have aggressive dogs. Both dog and human aggression. Bottom line is, if you take your dog to the park you're placing it's safety in the hands of every other owner there. Hoping that they've done the correct training/ socializing to prevent any possible problems. And if that was the case then fine people like yourself would be out of business.
I have a 2 yr old male fixed pit rescue ( from the street) who loves people.
I take him to the park so both he and I csn enjoy his flatl out racing. It is a treat to watch all that muscle generate some speed .( he's not the fastest but he does love running).
My issues:
1. He loves to run tbe fence (separating the big and little dogs or dogs walking outside the park) barking crazily and it is super exercise for him becz he can be exhausted when done.
After watching tbese trsining videos I am suddenly fearful i am training him to be aggressive? I have seen him, however, run the fence with a dog, and then have that dog come into the section of park my dig is in and after a sniff they both lose interest in each other....which tempts me into thinking that wildly running the fence is not a bad thing.
Puzzled
2. My pit can have good days in tbecpark and then he will have a day in the park when he targets anither dog - most often bigger than him- and he will harass that dog by shadowing him and provoking him to .... I think play rough with him.......OR he will try to climb up or hump the other dog - sometimes he will stand over top of the target dog straddling the dog and then walk awsy after 10 seconds.
Man, I would hate to give up the dog park and his great exercise opportunities.
Gratefulnful for any thoughts.
My 65lb American Staffy has done #1 too. Its normal, he likes it and its no threat to anyone. He tends to be a loner as an only dog. Unfortunately. We won't be going back to dog parks unless they are empty. Too many unpredictable dogs and owners who don't understand dog behavior. It's all fun and games until their pup gets hurt or the owner does.
My personal opinion is that a dog park is fine if 1) you are vigilant and aware of other dogs, people and activities, and 2) small, medium, and large dogs are all separated by fences or some type of barrier. I have small dogs and would never let them in where bigger dogs are. Too risky. Also beware the owner who brings his LARGE dog in with small ones and proclaims: "He is harmless and just loooooooves to play with small dogs!" Happened once. I did not appreciate it. Nothing happened but my dogs were a little uncomfortable. I did not let them get close and kept my distance.
Unfortunately, not everyone is vigilant and aware of what is going on around them. It only takes a moment for a fight to happen and a dog to get seriously injured. Let's say a normally vigilant and responsible person is entering the dog park and the dog gets the leash wound around his leg - in the time it takes that person to bend down and untangle the leash, the dog (or the person) could have been attacked - and the person's attention was on his dog and his leash, not the other dogs or the surroundings... These things happen THAT FAST. We are not saying that every dog in every dog park will get attacked or injured, we just don't think the risk is worth it.
Thank you. Will be following your website and channel to learn. This is some of the first info that's made sense to me. Everybody keeps talking about socializing with every random dog and person you can find. I'd just thought after watching another of these dog park mess videos that the owner should just have the attention of the dog in all situations and not completely comfortable with any dog or adult it runs into. Is this what people teach their kids...to be completely comfortable with any stranger they run into and not pay attention to their parents?
It was already mentioned but I'd like to emphasize I was afraid of 'not socializing my dog' and thought it would be a good idea to bring him there daily. Well, in hindsight this did so much to damage our bond and engagement, because even now, months later after we stopped going, he will drop all his focus on whatever I'm asking and fixate on other dogs. He starts dancing around after we leave/the dog leaves and is super happy, but it is awful and I don't recommend it. Further, his excitement is so high he will initiate in a way that is totally offensive to other dogs. Going to the dog park didn't help socialize him. What it did was allow him to seek out submissive dogs that will allow his humping. He stopped playing in general in these parks and only became a nuisance to other dogs and ignored the ones who wanted to play nicely. We are still working to undo the damage this did to our training and he still thinks he can meet every dog he sees.
I know it doesn't make much sense as a new owner but listen to Ed when he says being outside the park and using it as a training tool is more helpful.
I've found the dog park to be pretty well self-regulating as far as irresponsible owners go. The people that bring aggressive dogs, or really passive ones don't tend to keep coming very long.
I have an under 2yr old Husky and it's pretty 'rambunctious' and enjoys playing rough....but only with dogs that enjoy it. I've had to ride herd on him with smaller dogs and particularly larger puppies and in just a few weeks he's learned to leave non-interested dogs alone.
"Self-regulating" you said it... and that's not okay. They refuse to follow the rules that have created an expectation in dog handlers like myself and the uploader of this video. Responsible dog handlers too often refuse to stick up for people that want rule-regulations enforced. They just want to follow the crowd -- and it's a rough one.
Communist Jihad - like I said, "it's a rough one," Communist Jihad.
I normally like leerburg material particuarly michael ellis' work but the reasoning behind this is ridiculous. It is up to the dog owners to not bring aggressive dogs to the park and yes, there are stupid owners. But there are stupid people all over the world and it doesn't stop me from going out to public places in fear of confrontation. I don't avoid the beach because I'm afraid of shark bites even though yes, theoretically if you go to a place with more sharks, your chances of getting bit are higher.
But you get to avoid the stupid people. You get to make that choice every day. Nobody takes you to a fenced in area and makes you interact with stupid people. That's what you do when you take your dog to a dog park. You make them interact with idiot dogs; you don't give the dog a choice
It's like taking your kid to exercise in the state prison exercise yard. "Well, most of the inmates are well behaved." (cue stupid look on face)
Well it's 2018 and Dog Parks are actually being closed down more and more each year. It turns out that having a dog on a leash in a public park is actually a pretty good idea.
I think dog parks are a challenge for trainers and their dogs. Where i live i would love a dog park, in the whole country we don't even have one. That's why i'm starting one. And the first thing i did was making sure my dog knows that he's always with me, that he came with me and that we leave together. So it really comes down to knowing your dog and being able to handle him at a park.
I think you missed Ed's point, even if you can control YOUR dog, there will always be the question of OTHER dogs, which is something that is out of your control. You owe it to your dog to MINIMIZE the likelihood that it might be involved in a dog fight. My males aggression is primarily a result of encountering other males at dog parks. We could only go there because most of the time it was empty. They would be on long lines and we would have to carry big sticks with us in case we needed to chase off other dogs, those of which are owned by people who have no concept of control. We don't go anymore.
I'm planning on opening one, the first one and i know what he was saying i just think that the lessons you learn at a dog park are just tests to see how you handle certain situations.
It's been two years since your first comment.
How have things gone?
I hope you make rules that out-of-control dogs will not be allowed, and that the staff has the authority to kick them out. Just this one simple rule would make a huge difference to the quality of the place. I'm baffled as to why there are very few dog parks that have this rule. After all, dog parks are a place to have fun, not to get injured or killed.
I took my 4 month old puppy and he was attacked by an older dog. The owner was quick to remove her dog, so my god was not hurt. We never went back.
I saw this video 3 years ago I have a cocker spaniel no problem cause is the small dog park,I got a second dog 51 pounds no more small dog park.the trainer is right what a dangerous place. You’re talking a chance .there is a sign a the dog park enter at your on risk.
I was also told you never know who you are playing with. Maybe someone can't afford their shots and is there to get free training advice.
In Australia they have 10 small dogs and 1 huge as bullarab all the time that hates playing cause he’s jaw power is to high for pugs so he just sits there all sad and lonely
I appreciate your opinion and your point of view regarding dog parks. I have not had such negative experiences with my own dogs at our local park. Perhaps it is one of those "enter at your own risk" kind of places. Me and mine really enjoy going to the dog park on a Sunday afternoon.
Leesburg, I have an unrelated question about dogs, I have a year old herding dog/ working dog mix with some pointer thrown in for good measure. He was a shelter dog who was adopted at 4 1/2 months and was actually mislabeled as a lab mix. When I first got him, he wouldn't walk on a leash, was terrified of people and dogs, and wouldn't let anybody touch him. Now he is a lot better but I am having some other things I need to work on with him. When we are out walking in the neighborhood, he gets really excited and sometimes wants to go say hi to people. However, when the person he is saying hi to tries to pet him(especially the top of his head)), he gets nervous. I have been having people feed him treats so that he will associate food with good things but that still doesn't help with the petting. How can I teach my dog to enjoy petting from myself and other people?
All the best,
Erica.
You can send any training questions directly to our trainer Cindy here: leerburg.com/newcontact.php?cat=QA&nav=desktopTabs&content=askCindy_05022017
this is not Q/A for you... pay a trainer to answer questions
Seen your pages of dog bites. Not pretty! Best advice possible...it is INCREDIBLE what people think with regards to their dogs, and how they let loose at their heart's content. Some great dogs...some real "specimens" (not intended nicely). NOT worth the risk.
Most of the time, is not your dog that is behaving badly, is other people dogs that are iffy, tend to stay away from dog parks
Yes! Dog Parks can be dangerous places; no question about it. Not every dog is a dog park dog.
That being said, they can also be great places to bring your dog. I have a 7 year old male Airedale Terrier and a 3 year old male Treeing Walker Coonhound and I take them everyday to the park.
I’ve been taking them both for years now and before we got the Coonhound we had 2 male Airedales. I’ve had Airedales for over 50 years now. In all the years I’ve been going to the park I’ve only seen two dog fights and one was when a man brought a large male pit bull to the park. The guy wasn’t even there for a minute when he threw a ball and his dog chased it and a female GSD ran after his dog and bit it from behind on its rear leg and the dog needed 12 stitches to close the wound.
Our local ACO fined the owner of the GSD and she is banned from the park.
I agree. I have met some wonderful dog owners and some real jerks too. Been there when people have been attacked on big dog side. Monitor all people and dogs, members and law abiding patrons too. Always have my phone in handy, pet corrector, water bottle & gloves
This was incredibly informative. I'll be looking on your website soon and learning as much as I can. Thank you for giving me an idea of how to engage and such, I've just finished doing some with me GSD pup
After a few visits to the dog park I realized that the sum of the 'unknowns' was not worth the fun my dog might have. On one of the initial visits my dog was bitten by a Weimraner and left with a permament scar. My dog's crime? Sniffing the Weimraner.
I've had weimaraners for 40 years. Everyone I had was dominant with other dogs. About a third would go after other dogs if they had a chance. No dog parks for me.
@@williewonka6694 They look so calm- I would not have expected that from that breed 😶
I have two dogs. A very agressive Maltese and an airedale. However, I only take the airedale because the Maltese does not like other dogs.
Might it be that 99% of dog owners have absolutely no control over their dogs, especially bigger aggressive breeds?
yes
I am in awe of the dogs that drag their stupid owners around on the leash. Get a dog that you can control or stay the heck home. Too many dogs, and too many dogs and people getting injured, time for civilized dog owners to contact their local township to get some rules in for the owners who cant find their way out of a paper bag. You are correct about the bigger breeds!
Our county just opened a dog park near us. It is fantastic, with separate large and small dog sections,
Our lab/pit-mix rescue socializes well one-on-one (we just keep walking if there are more than 2 already there), and adding one or two more doesn't bother her.
Three issues we have:
She won't share the water dish.
She is leash-aggressive (can't stand meeting another dog if she or the other is on a leash).
She has a nasty snarl, sounding like she is ready to rip throats.
Living in the burbs (where off-leash is not an option) this is the best option for unrestrained exercise.
We don't have a dog park in our country
Ideally, every dog should be up to date with their shots before getting a permit to a dog park. The problem is other dog owners whose dogs are totally out of control and use the dog park as an outlet for the dog to misbehave! terrible!
Only reason to take your dog to a dog park is to practice NEUTRALITY and have your dog ignore ALL THE DOGS AT THE DOG PARK
Totally agree. I want my dogs to totally ignore all other dogs and people. Wise words Ed. Needed saying. Thank you :)
Laura's Life Dog Training & Dog Vlogs so you don't sociliaze your dogs? I feel sorry for them
James Gentry difference between Radom dogs/people and family/friends dogs that are trustworthy for great experiences
My wants to be left alone. He’s usually in the water minding his business and here comes other dogs causing trouble. And of course my dog doesn’t like it. As soon as my dog comes out of the water, other dogs approach him and that’s where dog fight starts. Please owners keep an eye on your dogs!! Don’t leave your dogs alone. But thankfully my dog hears my command .
The problem isnt the dog parks, the problem is some dog owners cant train / handle their dogs.
I love taking my dog to the park. She's really attached to me, so at firsts she always stays near me, but then she will go play with the other dogs. But tbh, if I see a pitbull there I will probably leave.
What about a doberman or a rottie or a german shepherd? They have just as bad a rap as pitties, just 20 - 30 years prior. I find the most aggressive dogs at the dog park are unfortunately the small dogs. Napoleon complex! I have never met an aggressive pit at a dog park.
My experience and the stories I've heard are just the opposite. Pit advocates act especially contrary to the rules cause they think they got something to prove. Just today, an self-appointed dog trainer [pimple-faced, poney-tailed girl] planted her year old aggressive pit bull inside the "Small Dogs Only" enclosure and she refused to leave, just sat down pinning her pit to the ground, while "pitty-the-pit" dummies marched their Chihuahua's up for the obligatory sniff the pit was entitled to. I got my dog to the car and -- it took me a while -- started the almost impossible process of stirring up some Parks&Rec guys to get her out of the park (she flipped them off driving off with her pit [typical bully owner]). That's why I'm on this site, getting advice.
As a rule, it is the PERSON NOT the DOG!!! They are not born aggressive, humans teach them to be so I'd guess 98&1/2% of the time!!!
Debby Ledbette Do you honestly believe that most of these people struggling with their dog aggressive pits PURPOSELY TRAINED them to be aggressive? If so, then you are delusional. They got the dogs because they believed the lies you spout, that "all dogs will be friendly as long as they have good owners".
No. Dogs will do what they were bred to do. If genetics didn't influence behavior, our ancestors wouldn't have developed job-specific landraces, and we wouldn't have dog breeds today.
I've never seen owners of hunting dogs denying that their dogs have prey drive, and I've never seen owners of herding dogs denying that their dogs love to herd. So why is it so difficult for people to accept that fighting dogs will fight?
Famous sentences repeated by pit bull owners:
1) I swear he’s never done that before.
2) My pit bull sleeps with my children.
3) It’s not the breed...it’s how you raise them. (My favorite)
4) Your dog started it.
5) It can’t be my dog that did that. He’s so sweet at home.
6) Those stories you hear in the news...they’re all raised by bad owners.
7) I rescued him when he was around 2 years old...I don’t know what happened to him before that.
I only go into the park if all the owners are paying attention. If there are too many dogs or too much going on or i see too much risk we go for a walk instead. My dog park has been pretty tame. My puppy is 6mo old and watching training videos has showed me how many cluless owners there are.
Dog parks = an arena for disaster.
I was foolish and didn't fix my first and only dog. It's a mistake. Or was for me a one time dog owner.
How do u make a 2 year old dog not bark and not be scared of bigger dogs at dog parks how?\
plz help
Thank God for dog parks or my pitbull would never have gotten the socializing she needed!!!
This is why I only buy gear from Leerburg. Only the best!
I would never take my dog to a dog Park I will love them too much and be scared other people don’t care there are so many like that
Dog parks are for people who have a lazy relationship with their dog. They don't want to have a close relationship with their dog, or don't know how. I want to be the most important creature in my dog's life at all times, not other strange dogs
For those proponents of dog parks: Watch how your dog treats you after they go to the park. You have to recover the bond (if there is one) between you and your dog after you get home, and that can take a day or two. It screws with the dog's brain; it confuses them. Taking a puppy is even worse
90% of people who go to dog parks should really have a cat instead, and dog parks prove it
Put a cup of kibble, or cheese, or treats (or whatever your dog loves) in your pocket and go work your dog. It's exponentially more rewarding for you and your dog. Develop that bond between you and your dog. That's why you got the dog in the first place, right?
I honestly have no idea what you're talking about. I take my dog to the dog park often because she loves playing with other dogs. She runs and plays, and we also do agility together at the park. When I bring her home she's tired and satisfied and shows absolutely no difference in how she relates to me.
@@Ironworthstriking
Awesome
I wish you the best
@@mustardketchup is socializing your dog a bad thing?
@@abbie5998
It depends.
If you're going to cut your dog loose with other dogs that you don't know, I wouldn't .
Most people at dog parks are there because they don't know what to do with their dog other than to cut it loose in a fenced area and let it burn off some energy.
I've done it. I stopped when another dog tried to chew my dog's ear off.
Then I did some research and found that having a dog is more than going for a walk and feeding her.
It's up to you
@@mustardketchup my dog is still being trained in basic obedience so being off his leash outside of the house is out of the question for now. I don’t think I’ll ever bring him to a dog park unless it’s empty. He’s a frustrated greeter so I’m not sure how to socialize him yet.
Why people have dogs if they have nothing to do with them, just only take them into some dog kindergarden, which doesn't work? I teach my dog agility, fragrance work, sevice help dog training etc. We are meeting in park no dog park...but park dogs. But only one by one and those whom I choose him to meet. No all. All dogs aren't good company for your own dog because they can teach your dog bad habits.
Your dog doesn't need a kumbaya moment
This imp is a gov plant make small parks for puppys adult parks ban or muzzle any aggressive dogs usa canada have enough land to do this
dog-parks blech, would not repeat. Have not gone in about 8 years.
He right all good advice
If you're a smart owner, you can handle a dog park.
True, but just a fraction of a second of distraction on the owner's part can lead to disaster.
I take my dog to doggy daycare for socialisation where all the dogs are safe in the hands of trainers.
i think dog parks are fantastic - yes there are scurmishes/ fights- but the vast majority of people/ dogs have a blast and learn about dogs and people. before dog parks arrived on the scene 20 years ago- dogs didn't have much of an opportunity to interact with other dogs. yes people are just primates and often uneducated about dogs- a potential solution is having a smart set of rules to follow when at a dog park- for instance NO toys allowed (including fetching toys) and dogs showing aggression need to leave asap. and if a person is not fit in temperment or strength to control their dog they should not be in the dog park. and dog parks are NOT about exercising the dog- do that before you get there- its about socializing them!
Why use food reward vs praise?
This video should help explain why. In this instance food vs toy reward - th-cam.com/video/JLH8WHyaNFo/w-d-xo.html
Pull dogs hind legs if they engage
I've.been to dog parks hundreds of times with NO INCIDENT.
Many people are not so lucky. Dog parks are a terrible idea. Many have had dogs mentally stomped, severely hurt, some killed, and many learnings bad behaviors.
No incident...yet. It will happen - it's just a matter of time.
JG congratulate yourself on good fortune and shut up, since you are gambling with your dog's safety ... you are not more of a dog expert than Ed Frawley, if you even know his name.
The video gives the impression if you take your dog to a dog park it's going to get mauled. Our school systems have bad kids, that fight and bully other kids. I guess everyone should have there kids home schooled. There is dangers in driving a car, when I go threw a light maybe a drink driver is going to run the light and crash into me. Life is dangerous, should I just stay in my home. The big problem with dog parks people go through the gate and let there dog lose and go sit down. There may be dogs there you may not want your dog to play with. Pay attention if you see an unsafe situation take your dog to the other side of the park or just leave. Dog parks are play grounds for dogs. Just like football, basketball, hockey, baseball, when people just like dogs get over simulated they may fight. I love dog parks.
dog parks are unsanitary. if any dog is sick and can transmit through saliva, guess what. your dog is doing to touch the dog drool with its nose when its sniffing around.
Dog parks are a bad idea indeed
The problem with AMERICAN dog parks
Dog park??? Noooooo!!!!!
Dog parks and why they're a bad idea lol
DOG PARKS ARE A BAD IDEA lol
I totally agree that dog parks are dangerous. I hav had a dog on a leash at a park and had another dog come all the way across the soccer field to attack my dog. people are unwise to let their dog off a leash
Vonnie Banks same exact thing happened to me three weeks ago
Leash aggression. Were you maybe at a off leash dog park?
Keeping your dog on a leash is probably what started the fight. Do some research.
You should never leash your dog in a park.
@Cold German Beer No, really lol. Look it up, you'll see why it's dangerous.
Dog parks, just say no
My dog doesn't like people or other dogs, so I don't take her to dog parks. She does fine on walks if people stay 10 feet away.
Kallista Metropoulos your dog needs help ASAP , you should be able to be around people with your dog ,if not it can be very dangerous and cost up money in future
Sounds like a nice dog.
My neighbor and I both have intact dogs. Hers is a Doberman so you can imagine. We never take them to the dog park! Always be selective who your dog plays with so there are no bad experiences. Also instead of castrating I recommend a contraceptive which is a much healthier alternative for a teen boy. Fixing should only happen when it's medical.
leatherandlace7 castration prevents cancer and undesired pregnancy. Same goes for females. NO dog is that special that they need to procreate. The dog does not think the same about procreation that people do. It's selfish not to fix them.
You’re literally increasing the chances of your dog getting cancer by 70% by keeping your dog intact. It literally helps them to be neutered because it keeps hormone levels in check.
So what cancer does spaying and neutering prevent? Ovarian? Uterine? Testicular? Well no shit. If you remove those organs, they won't get cancer. Who would have thought? And if your remove their lungs they won't get lung cancer either. That's an idiotic argument. Also, how does spaying/neutering keep hormone levels in check? You are literally removing the organs that produce those hormones. If you're gonna spay or neuter your dog, you should probably at least wait until it is sexually mature and is done growing. I wish the professionals would just tell the truth when they urge people to fix their pets. It's really not that bad to say "We just don't want them to contribute to pet overpopulation."
lol omg you have no clue, about the different procedures there are for neutering and spaying. So I won’t even debate with you. At least active animal had some knowledge about what they were talking about.
Well why don't you educate me about them then?
My friend and her dogs were attacked during a leashed walk by a dog who had escaped its yard. I knew a person whose dog was attacked in their own yard when the neighbors dog broke through the fence. There is danger everywhere. If you want to keep a dog in a sterile bubble to keep them away from any danger, you will cause more psychological damage.
And super shitty sound mixing btw.
Fear mongering to sell his product, plain & simple
Your video should have been titled "the problem with idiots making videos about dogparks"
Get real. I see people buy dogs ALL the time with not even a hint of intention on training their dog and those that do give up pretty quick.
In my small village I can always tells when someone bought a dog recently. They are out walking it. Pretty soon you never see it again because its tied up in the backyard or living in the house or both. The initial thrill is gone.
This is NOT all dog owners, but some.
I'm interested to know what you recommend for socialization then?
I used to frequent the dog park with my dog all the time, she has become a little bossy or intense with some greetings but is happy to play right after (which has slowed my attendance a great deal) has good recall and obedience while there as I often would practice inside the park on slow days.
Obedience/puppy classes or daycare/boarding facilities where they highly supervised and do controlled meets/plays.
Puppy classes and daycare facilities can be just as uncontrolled as dog parks. Chances of finding a good one are about the same as finding a dog park that isn't frequented by morons (unless you live in New York, in which case you might as well give up). The ideal scenario would be that you have a bunch of dog savvy friends who will cooperate with you.
In real life though, the only option for many people is to just not let their dogs play, and instead actively teach them to ignore other dogs.
While playing can be fun, it is not socialization. "Socialization" is supposed to prepare your dog for everyday situations that you can't, or don't want to, avoid. In other words, "socializing a dog to other dogs" means teaching your dog to stay calm around other dogs and continue paying attention to you.
ActiveAnimals that just contributes to a non socialized dog. Dog daycares and doggy camps are amazing, if you find proper ones, that build on dogs confidence and keep separation anxiety to minimum. Dogs should be able to socialize with other dogs.
xXholicxX Clover I agree for the most part. However, the sad reality for many people is that there are no good places where dogs can interact with each other in a healthy way.
Additionally, dog daycares only take dogs that are already well socialized, so they can't be used to socialize a dog that actually needs it. (They also often only take dogs up to a certain size limit, and they generally require dogs to be sterilized at an age that is way too young to be healthy!)
I also don't agree that playing with other dogs is an integral need of dogs. Yes, it can be a good way to fulfill their need for social interaction, as well as mental and physical stimulation, but it is not the only way to achieve these things.
ActiveAnimals well I guess that’s where I opinions differ because I do think its integral for dogs to interact with each other. For daycares it’s also not about size and I’ve seen ones that work with poorly socialized and dogs over 150 lbs. most veterinarians say that a pup should be neutered/spayed at 6 months, anymore than that you are risking about 70% chance of your pup getting cancer due to engrossed hormone levels.