Big dogs in TV
 

My biggest concern about moving to TV in the future (we own a home but only get to visit it for vacations right now) is my Golden Retriever. Is there a place he can run? He can't go to dog parks because he's not "fixed". It doesn't look like there's many places to walk him. I am interested in what other owners of big dogs do.

I rise to the occasion to reply! See my photo for pic of Emma, my boxer. I take her in the car to places I have carefully selected for her to run free. It is an effort, and she is worth every moment.
I do not allow her to go in other residents yards, although most, I think, dog owners here do that with their dog on a lead. Much depends on exactly what terrain and property is near your home. Nothing but a culdesac, near us, is ok for her toilet on.
In order to allow her freedom to run and use her nose, not to be deprived of that great sensory input, I take her to:
A retention pond with fencing, where nobody has ever been there when we were.
A huge county park with trails, where few people or dogs go, and if there are other dogs, I put her on lead.
Golf courses under construction.
It is challenging, but doable.

I decline to share the location of these places, as the point of the post is to encourage you that you will find ways to honor your beloved pet, and so doing, to retain the solitude Emma and I enjoy.

I respect you and your post, kitty. But I must express some mild disagreement with this one statement. There are certainly those who do that dastardly deed, but I wouldn't say "most". I think they are in the minority. (At least I hope so! :) )

We do most of the same things you do with our medium size dog. But sometimes we walk her in the neighborhood. We keep her on the street and/or sidewalk (temperature permitting of course) until we get to an appropriate place to let her do her business. Then we pick it up and go on our way. Of course picking up is an important part of the process, or it still wouldn't be appropriate. :)

We have two large dogs each 75 pounds, an English Setter and a Gordon Setter. We pay $30 a month and take them to a private dog park called Doggie Doo Run off of 466. It has acres and acres of fenced area for the dogs to run. You put orange flags where the dogs poop and they clean it up. It is a fabulous park and the dogs are exhausted for the day after their morning run.

Thanks for this post. This has also been on my mind. I think my 2 dogs will largely determine where I live, or I will at least try to live near a dog park.

But you cannot go there unless your dog is neutered, and OP said her golden is not.

We take our golden to the 125 acre field behind the Rio Grand pool. Lots of dogs. Most off leash. He loves it. We don't take him there in the summer though. Too hot. We walk him in our neighborhood early in the am.

I hope your neighborhood differs from mine, where few observe the sanctity of neighboring properties. My comments come both from observing n eighbors and also from the poop posts on totv over two years duration.

Many think their dogs should absolutely always be allowed in neighboring yards. Many vehemenTly object to that, some sneak and try to deny where the dog went. My opinion is that, at least in my neighborhood, few dog owners have sufficient control to say where and when the dog may toilet.
I had a neighbor whose dog he habitually toileted in my yard and after his landscaping was done, posted a sign "no pooping" in his own yard.

Wow, thankfully (at least for me :) ) our neighborhoods appear to be very different. Actually, there aren't that many dogs in our immediate vicinity. But the owners in general are well behaved.

Hi Barefoot: As in anything/everything there are those who just don't care. I've seen some dog owners walk the courses early morning and some who find out of the way public locations to use so they don't have to pick up. Their facial expression are saying dog hurry up so we can get out of here undetected. fortunately most residents are very responsible and respectful

We have a 100 pound english lab.We are fortunate to live in a court yard villa.The back yard is good for him to run a bit.hes old 9+ years as from our vets orders to not let him run to often.It is bad for his bones that are starting to deteriorate.Hes a people dog and doesn`t do good around other dogs.He was attacked by a dog when he was 7 weeks old.That has stayed with him hence his dislike for other dogs.

Next to the ladies, dogs rule the world...men are down the list...it's not fair to a large dog to not let it run...We ran a spay/neuter clinic in Mexico for several years. Some of the Mayans did not want their male dogs turned into girls!

I agree with this. Further, I would never let my golden off leash on trails in parks, or anywhere near water or construction sites or woods. Wild boar are in this area and could easily kill hi., And who knows what other kinds of things he could get into in the woods. Not to mention fleas, ticks, and other biting insects that are more prevalent in those spaces than they are in cleared dog park fields.

If OP's golden is anything like the two we've had, it most likely looooooooves to get into wild "stuff" and chase after small animals. It's just not safe, and having a good recall training on your dog may not work when their choice is coming back to you or going after, say, a bunny rabbit.

wag more bark less

I guess a lot depends on where you live. I've been told of a place on the far north side behind the Baptist Church where you can let you dogs run off leash. I hear it is about 50 acres and is fenced. I have not been there so I am passing second hand information.

Yes like the person who lets his collie take care of business behind the landscaping at the south entrance to the Village of Glenbrook on Tally Ridge...

As much as I like to see a dog running and having fun, rules are rules and from my experiences it's the person that creates the pet problems. My dogs were spay and neutered at 12 weeks per my vets advice since we had no intentions of breeding them. Curious as to was it a health or personal preference for not doing this with your dog.

Well there is never just one can of worms open at a time. To the OP, I regret that my boxer was neutered before I rescued her. i would have loved to allow her the pleasure of puppies.
It is your choice to neuter or not, and and I respect the choice you have made. Your question is one that shows your priority in loving your dog.

I am a Floridian with 62 years of experience with swamps, woods, and water, alligator sightings, boar chases. I make judgement calls about of freedom versus risk in the environment. IMO, most people unfamiliar with here are as terrified as I would be on snow and ice.

I have a shrub-lined courtyard off my designer home for quick, off-lead dog potty. When I first moved to TV, I considered buying a couple of acres for my dog. I simply do not enjoy the stress of not knowing how animals and owners will behave at a park or anywhere! Dogs do not like every dog they meet. If you visit or decide to move, I would be happy to show you a few appropriate places.

Well, dog parks aren't for anyone whose dog is not socialized. That's why "puppy kindergartens," obedience and good citizen classes are so essential if you plan to exercise your dog with other dogs.

If you're planning to breed your dog and cannot neuter him/her, then you have to live with that decision. I've been coming to Florida for 30 years, and I know and have a healthy respect for what lives in the woods, by the ponds, and even on the ground (fire ants, for example). I've been taking my dogs to dog parks for over 20 years. They are safer, and if your dog has all its vaccinations, healthier than running in the wild, IMO.

BTW, I never heard of neutering a dog at 12 weeks. That's a new one for me. I've heard of having it done at 6 months, and that seems young too, and vets are starting to shy away from it for fear of health issues down the line.

Doggie Do Run Run is wonderful to learn about. Thanks for sharing. We are moving to TV with our 15m/o neutered lab right after Labor Day, and I was worried about him having the opportunity to run and play. We've already had our yard underground fenced since we're on a golf course and, of course, close to neighbors.

Dog restrictions.
 

Carefully read your Declarations of Restrictions relating to area you pick in The Villages. Orange Blossom Gardens restricts only one dog. Some areas, no more than 2 animals. Others state no larger than 40 lbs. As you drive around many don't pay any attention to the restrictions.

I go there sometimes, right up the street from me. First off I would like to thank church for there kindest to dogs and I showed my thanks with donation. The area not fenced in, fenced on two sides, open road with traffic entry on the other. I never allow my dog off leach. She's predator focus breed and will not stop once she locked on something. For this reason for her safety can't be off lease. There are lots of big dogs off lease. Yes I pick up after her EVERY time.

There is even a little pool at DDRR in a fenced-in area surrounded by pavers to prevent muddy conditions. Granted it's not very big, but our 86-lb golden loves it.

:BigApplause:And you bring up a good point. Know your dog. Ours is totally traffic stupid and would not even get out of the way for our car coming into the driveway while he's out on his line. No way would I let him loose in an unfenced area. We won't even put him on the line if one of us is out.

OP now has good information to make an informed decision, thanks to the forum.

Walking the dog, not a problem, there are plenty of sidewalks and multi-modal paths to walk them and most of the residential streets are quiet enough that walking on the side of the road is not a problem. I walk our two Goldens in the early morning hours when there are less people, no traffic, and much cooler. We've covered most of the streets and roads south of 466A all the way to Brownwood and Belle Glade with the only issues ever being with the small dogs who get nasty with the big dogs.

Letting them run is a problem outside of the dog parks definitely not a good idea. I did let mine run a little in some of the neighborhoods that were under construction when we first moved in. NEVER AGAIN. There are lots of alligators in the lakes and they move between them in the evenings and mornings. You never know when you will come upon one.

If you've not purchased yet, I suggest you find a courtyard vill end and/or corner unit, they tend to have large enough yards for the bigger dogs like ours. This was our choice and with the addition of a doggie door it has been great for our two.

I would go by the Mulberry dog park to get to the church. Mulberry is great. Clean, lots of grass, friendly people and dogs. I think the Paradise dog park does not have enough grass. Our yellow lab is gray after we have been there.

I know this is not on topic, but it would be great for a dog park with a pool for the dogs. Maybe two or three feet deep. Just enough so the dogs could swim.

What would this site be without second hand information?!?:icon_wink:

I also have a Golden although he is altered and have worried about the same thing. We will not be there full time for another 2 years but I am concerned about his walks and unfortunately he is a barker who protects his property. Just a little added stress for my move.

There is a small pool at Doggie Doo Run Run, the private dog park.
Not large enough for swimming, more of a dunking pool to cool off.
CFrance has a large Golden and he pretty much fills the pool by himself.
Dogs are allowed in one area of Flagler Beach. Your dog can swim in the ocean, no gators!

Boxers are my favorite dogs by far and still to this day 6 years later miss Max.