Dog Park Etiquette
 

I am fairly new to the dog park world. I have a small 8 lb. Dog who loves to play with everyone, including probably some that are too big or strong for her. Everything is fine until that dog gets rough, pins her down and my dog yips as though she is being hurt. There is one particular Boston terrier who is like that, when I brought it to the attention of its owner she became quite angry and said I didn’t know anything about dogs and that is normal play! Is it? It’s ok when my dog yips in pain? I asked her to stop her dog from doing that and she said get your own dog out of here. Several of us at the dog park feel this way but she won’t be reasoned with. I’d love your opinions. Is there someone to report to if we feel the dog is too aggressive and the owner won’t be reasoned with?

Villages' dog park? Doggie Doo Run Run? Other?

IMO you and your dog on your own. Been few incidents at dog parks lot worse. I just go at different time when bully dog and it’s bully owner not there.

Air horn may distract dogs and allow them to disengage. Siren may also work. Use the tranquilizer gun if air horn or siren doesn't work. Not on the dog. On the owner. Or both. Jmho.

Doggie Doo Run Run's owners will usually try to address problem pooches. They often stick them in the agility area or remove them from the park if the dog is causing too many problems. It has been open about 20 years and I have taken a dog there since 2007. Present dog has neck problems so stopped taking him there last year.

Borrow a big dog, and sort the Boston Terrier out.
See what the owner says about normal play then. :shrug:

Some of the big dogs are afraid of the much smaller ones. There was an adorable Chihuahua/Pin Min mix named Jon Snow who would break up fights between much bigger dogs while at Doggie Doo Run Run. The owner is a big Game of Thrones fan.


All of the Villages' area dog parks I have been in have separate areas for big and little dogs. They could intermingle at Doggie Doo Run Run the last time I was there by choice while the dogs go through the big dog section to get to the 5 acre field.

Villages dog park

with all due respect, please don't use dog parks. you have no idea who the stranger's dog is, what they have/had or how they 'play.' imo you take your pet's safety in your hands unless you already know all the dogs & it's a great place to pick up parasites, too. i arrange play dates for the Pug, with friends we already now & she enjoys being with. they're just like kids.

Which one? I quit going because of some of the dogs and the owners are worse. I started going to Lady Lake dog park. It is for members only. Must provide proof of shots. Village dog parks do not. You really don't know who is there and if their dogs have shots. Lady Lake dog park is off Rolling Acres near the driving range and is golf cart accessible.

I would try different times and different dog parks if you have some close to you. I noticed some of the Southern Villages dog parks are close together.

Some of the people seem to come about the same time every day or so.

I suggest finding another dog park. I've been taking dogs to dog parks since 1995 and never picked up a flea, parasite, or injury. I have picked up a lot of friends. My dogs are bigger, get along with everyone. If an aggressive dog comes in (which is extremely rare in our Wildwood Bark Park), they are either sequestered by their owner into an empty smaller park within the park, or one time we left. Most of the people there are Villagers, but many from the Wildwood area too; all of them are good owners and nice people. We do other stuff together (dinners, celebrations, concerts, etc.) You just have to find the right place for you and your dog.

I have checked out that dog park. A little small but had friendly people and shade.

It is smaller than Doggie Doo Run, but bigger than the one over on Rolling Acres and bigger than most TV parks, plus has more seating and shade than any of them. It is big enough, though, that if my beagle/hound mix does not want to play with the other dogs, she can go to another part of the park and do her thing (which is stalk squirrels). And it's ten minutes from my house in Tamarind Grove.
But that's my point: find what works for you and your dog. I know you have, Tal.

The biggest menace and problem dogs at most dog parks, are dogs who don't go to dog parks regularly and learn how to be "dogs". Dogs that don't socialize with other dogs on a fairly regular basis, just don't know how to be dogs ... it's like raising a child and not allowing them out of the house until they're 18.

Dogs are generally "pack animals" and it's hard to learn how life works, when you're in a "pack of 1".

Owner('s) is/are alpha (or should be) and direct/teach and reinforce acceptable behavior. Dog sees owners as pack leaders. Kids can play rough, but bullying should not be tolerated, kids or dogs.

Big Cat! @ 700lbs! And hungry, very hungry. Baston terriah, on a Ritz.

Many dog lovers would never take their loved one to a so-called "dog park" and expose them to the trauma of being forced to interact with other unknown and possibly dangerous animals. In addition, many are concerned with disease spread and parasites, along with urine and feces in abundance in a closed-in area.
There are so many other choices to treat your loved pets in a positive and loving manner.

Pear Park dog park in Leesburg on South Highway 27 has a large dog park, small dog park, and even a dog park for disabled dogs.

Many so-called "dog lovers" are determined not to let their dog, be a dog.

It's like refusing to allow your children to leave the house to go to school, meet other kids and learn how to interact in the wild. They just grow to be people who sit home in the house and play video games alone on their phone and have a phobia about being outside in the sunshine, interacting with their peer

Thank you all for your input, lots of good points!

Your dog is like some cups of coffee I’ve known: not big enough to defend itself. It’s a wimp. It’s up to you to watch over it in situations like that or keep it on a leash. There are certainly dogs that don’t belong in some dog parks, and dogs shouldn’t be pinning other dogs to the ground, but your dog is puny and weak and doesn’t know it. It’s a toy or a lap dog. It would be nice if there were a separate little area for dogs like that.

I had a 50 lb dog that would use the little ones as a toy. Rolled them around with her nose like a ball. The 20-30 lb dogs she’d pin down and hold them there with her paw until the owner came to get it. But only when the little ones came up and challenged her. Owner of the other dog said it’s no problem, some dogs just don’t bond well. Issues like this are the responsibility of both owners.

Very sad. They shouldn't have dogs. They should have "Teddy" bears. They can dress them up, have tea parties, play dates with other Teddy bears, take them to restaurants, store, on planes (no cages or quarantine required), and imbue them with any human qualities that they fantasize their dog(?) has. The best emotional support animal is one that doesn't have emotional or physical needs of its own. Quit torturing a living animal.
Get a "Teddy", or a few. They never need walkies, but will be happy to go with you, it you want to go. They will never have "an accident", but will gladly take the blame for yours. Teddy Bears. And they are not on the endangered species list, like the chocolate mousse.

Start with walking your dog outside the fence line around the perimeter of the dog park. This will provide security for yourself and your dog plus it will get your dog used to being around a pack of dogs. This may take a few visits. Then when you're ready ... keep your dog on a leash when you enter the park. This will allow you the ability to protect your animal and show leadership among the pack. If you're not comfortable with that ... I strongly suggest a professional trainer to help you become a better pack leader.

Entering a Dog Park with a Dog on a Leash is a recipe for disaster, which is why most every Dog Park in the world, has a "2 part entrance".

You certainly wouldn't be welcome at any Dog Park I've ever been at.

Teddy don't need no stinkin' leash, but will happily wear one just for you.
Teddy also don't need to go to no stinkin' dog poo park, but would gladly accompany you to any other destination you would enjoy visiting.
JMHO

Boy do I disagree with this. Walking your dog outside the fence line is going to incite every dog in the park to run the fence in a frenzy. It will not be pretty and may cause fear or aggression in your dog as a response.
Entering a dog park with your dog on a leash renders him unable to defend himself and incites aggression in certain other dogs. Dogs can sense the vulnerability of a dog on a leash when they are not . Many parks have rules forbidding having your dog on a leash inside the park. That's why there's an airlock area as you enter, so you can safely let your dog off leash before entering the park.
At the shelter where I volunteer to take dogs out into the play yards, one of the rules most stressed is not to let them run the fence with the dog in the next yard.

WOW! Just like visiting the space station. Cool!
👨*🚀👩*🚀👽🧑*🚀

I have seen dogs gang up on a dog on a leash at Doggie Doo Run Run.

It is a very bad mistake.

Doggie Doo Run Run does have an agility area just over a fence on their parking lot where they often put problem dogs or those just starting out there. You may have to wait your turn to get in there. Very nice owners and you need to show the medical records of the pooch indicating the usual shots are current.

Only because Dog Park Etiquette was the title of the thread ... & it happened twice today at the Wildwood Park.

The quickest way to cause problems and lose friends at a dog park, is to bring dog treats. Doggie Do Run Run has a sign that prohibits bringing in "treats". All dog parks should have a sign reminding people that's it just plain stupid and dangerous.

Heh. My brother UpNort has a miniature doberman-looking thing, 10-15 pounds maybe, that regularly stands up to larger dogs. At a family get-together in Milwaukee a couple of years ago there were about five dogs, all bigger than my brother's dog, but my brother's dog ruled the roost. It would growl and nip other dogs when they got a bit too rowdy.

My brother claims his dog chased a timber wolf off his property a few years ago. My brother does tend to exaggerate from time to time.

Does your brother live by timber wolves? It probably had to get away from laughing too hard at the pin-min's Napoleon complex.

That's funny!

I recall a yard worker of some kind here in the Villages had a wolf hybrid of some kind in his pick- up bed. I kept a very long distance from it. Probably peeked at it though a few inches of front door. And it was tied up. It was the man's pet. His other probably did not want to stay alone with it at home. She/he could become lunch.

Actually, in the world of animals the "Napoleon" complex serves many very well. Ever hear of a Honey Badger? Small but can put even the king of beasts in his place. A good (very apparent potent) offense is the best defense.

Most dog parks have two gates. The idea of this is to let your dog off leash before it enters the park. Leaving your dog on a leash makes it feel vulnerable. I would not recommend this.

I wonder how the dogs would behave if they were all muzzled and could not nip or bite? Would they still chase and wrestle?

Yes. Muzzling is a preventative measure, not a calming one.

True. But knowing that dogs use their mouths like we use hands, would they still play if they could not bite or get bitten? How would they react and adapt? I don't know, but I wonder. Would the aggressive become less so? Would the shy become less so once they realize they won't get bitten?
Thoughts?