[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Dogs who take smaller dogs as prey should not be at a public nor at a private dog park. Sport had an experience like that in the Summer of 2007 where a Weimaraner named Jesse James ran him down mistaking him for a rabbit at the big dog section of Doggie Doo Run Run. They banned Jesse James as an aggressive dog and that IMHO was the right decision. You cannot have dogs viewing other dogs as their game at a private dog park nor at a public one.

That's true. And I question if the dog that maimed the Yorkie was a pure golden. Their genetic makeup is to retrieve, with a soft mouth, things from the water after hunters shoot them. The soft mouth is so they don't destroy the carcass. That's why you can stick your hand in a golden's mouth while roughhousing with him and not even get clamped down on.

What you're describing, Tal, is called prey drive, and retrievers do not have a high degree of it.

[duffysmom]

Irishlass, what a horrible story. I feel for you and the trauma you suffered losing your beloved Yorkie. It's not uncommon for dog owners to ask if their dog can greet another dog so please do not feel guilty, the Golden's owner should have known his dog was aggressive and declined. My 4 lb Maltese tried to attack a police dog in the airport; they have big hearts and small brains.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by taurus

There is a reason why small dogs are suppose to go on one side and large breeds on the other, as some dogs view a little 10 pound furry thing running around as prey and it triggers their hunting instincts. Now while I admit the dog should not have growled, I believe you need to take some responsibility for this issue and just keep your dog on the other side where he will be safe.

Keep little dogs safe in the "under 30 pounds" area?
The five-acre fenced area at the back of DDRR with the hanging swings is for the enjoyment of all dogs and their owners.
Aggressive dogs are not permitted iat DDRR.
No dog should ever be taken to a dog park if they will attack a smaller dog or view them as prey.

[Bonanza]

IrishLass' post was not at a dog park, as many of recent posts indicated. She was speaking about an incident somewhere in the great unknown.

However, the posts are all good. When with our dog(s), we should take into consideration our surroundings and who is where.

Most of all -- know the temperament of your own dog!

[taurus]

Yes, you should not take an aggressive dog to a dog park - ever. But dogs are... dogs. Sometimes you do not know how they will react in situations until they are in them, and if you do not understand that small, furry animals sometimes triggers certain dogs that are normally NEVER aggressive... well.. not sure what to tell you.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by taurus

Yes, you should not take an aggressive dog to a dog park - ever. But dogs are... dogs. Sometimes you do not know how they will react in situations until they are in them, and if you do not understand that small, furry animals sometimes triggers certain dogs that are normally NEVER aggressive... well.. not sure what to tell you.

You are so right, taurus. I am so sorry about what happened to the little Yorkie.

In the cottage we rented in Key West for many winters, there was a little Yorkie around the corner who loved to play with the owner's black lab mix. So the Yorkie's owner thought he would like to play with our first golden. Well, he wanted to "kill" him. Very aggressive, snarling, teeth bared, rushing the fence.

So after that golden died and we brought down the second one, we thought we'd give it a try again. Same thing. We always kept the picket fence between the two dogs, so no harm done. The Yorkie's owner was so embarrassed and apologetic, but I said Don't worry. Dogs are going to be dogs, and we'll never know the reason why her Yorkie didn't like our goldens. Maybe he thought the goldens were appropriating his black lab's space.

Best to play it very safe at first till you find out what the situation will be.