my experience in dog parks with Emma. upside is where there are wide spaces. playing with dogs, running in water. That same park has had a least one death dog on dog.
downside:
--about half the foofoos run up at Emma and bark, which the owners don't generally object to, and my large dog is expected to stand there and be nice, which she does.
--a growling pit type charged me and the pom I was holding. Emma rolled him over and then let him up without biting when he submitted.
My opinion is that owners don't and can't always control or predict animal behavior. The worst example I have is that a highly credentialed trainer was standing behind me with her german shepherd when the dog lunged and bit me several times. She did not have the animal under control and was shocked. This person trains police dogs and has an excellent reputation.
During a trial meet with Emma and her dog, a dear friend sat on the ground trying to use her weight to stop her dog's charge. The woman is an excellent horsewoman, but could not control her dog.
Emma was bitten on the hip and still has a scar.
I'm not dissing socializing and mixing dogs up for no reason. My dog is better behaved than most of them and doesn't deserve that kind of confrontation. She is regal and I wish I carried myself with her humility and dignity.
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