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by VeroHera on 09 January 2012 - 00:01
I have a really small pack of 2 dogs : 3yo boxer male and 9 mo GSD female. The trainer I refer to when I have questions tells me that my GSD needs to interact with other dogs in dog parks. Dog parks are okay for my boxer. But my GSD doesn't go well with other dogs when she's off leash. Sometimes she finds a big guy she plays with but they are pretty rare. The sessions at the dog parks are really not pleasant for me. My dog barks at other dogs and don't let any dog approach her, she ran after dogs and she is aggressive. So the sessions at the dog park : I call her, correct her when she barks or if she tries to "eat" another dog, she stays besides me most of the time and wait to go back home. And I don't mention when a too big guy approaches and she's afraid...that is when the boxer arrives to "save" her...
When I walk her on leash, she's good. She don't bother other dogs. She is good with my kids, my guests, my neighboors. She is good with other kids. She is getting good at obedience. She is a good watch dog. She goes well with the boxer too. She is well mannered in the house.
So my question is : does she really need to interact with other dogs like the trainer said ? Do you interact with other dogs outside your pack ? Can just walking on leash and "meeting" other dogs is okay for the interaction thing ? (my trainer said no to the last question...)
Thank you to share your experience with me.
When I walk her on leash, she's good. She don't bother other dogs. She is good with my kids, my guests, my neighboors. She is good with other kids. She is getting good at obedience. She is a good watch dog. She goes well with the boxer too. She is well mannered in the house.
So my question is : does she really need to interact with other dogs like the trainer said ? Do you interact with other dogs outside your pack ? Can just walking on leash and "meeting" other dogs is okay for the interaction thing ? (my trainer said no to the last question...)
Thank you to share your experience with me.
by dutchnmal on 09 January 2012 - 00:01
Socializing your dog is a good thing but dogs parks are NOT the way to do it. Dog Parks where the dogs run loose with each other is an accident waiting to happen. I have 7 dogs (4 Dutchies, 2 Mals and a Chi/Pom mix). All are good together, most are good with others (I take them down trails and places like Petco, PetSmart, etc) but I do have a couple that tend to be dog aggressive. Any dog can do well with others but there is going to be that one time that they are having a bad day (just like we do) and something is going to trigger a fight. Not worth the risk for your dog, the other dog or the stupid person that tries to pull them apart. Hope this helps :)
by gsdlvr4life on 09 January 2012 - 01:01
I have a just turned 1 yr old female. That i have resolved to the fact that she does not like other dogs other than dogs in her pack.
I have now focused on making her understand that i am okay with her not liking other dogs BUT she will tolerate them because I say so.
She used to be horrible when we were walking. I would walk on the other side of the street. Now after finding a great trainer she will walk right by them when i say "leave it".
I would have liked for her to be able to"play" with other dogs. But she is at a point where she can ignore them. Which is good enough for me at the moment. I can still do sports with her around other dogs its just a little more training. And maybe she will surprise me and as she matures she will be okay with them.We do work on this daily and its been a good 2 months in the making to get her to this point of where i feel comfortable passing other dogs.
My only concern with her is that she is a "liability" Should she attack another dog etc. So basically she is always leashed when out of y fenced yard. That way i can control whats going on.
I have now focused on making her understand that i am okay with her not liking other dogs BUT she will tolerate them because I say so.
She used to be horrible when we were walking. I would walk on the other side of the street. Now after finding a great trainer she will walk right by them when i say "leave it".
I would have liked for her to be able to"play" with other dogs. But she is at a point where she can ignore them. Which is good enough for me at the moment. I can still do sports with her around other dogs its just a little more training. And maybe she will surprise me and as she matures she will be okay with them.We do work on this daily and its been a good 2 months in the making to get her to this point of where i feel comfortable passing other dogs.
My only concern with her is that she is a "liability" Should she attack another dog etc. So basically she is always leashed when out of y fenced yard. That way i can control whats going on.
by muttlover25 on 09 January 2012 - 01:01
I don't like dog parks either for socializing in our area they are used by lazy owners who just want a spot to let their dogs run wild. Dogs get picked on and bullied and the owners most times aren't even aware its happening. I don't have a problem letting dogs socialize but I like to know the owners and the dogs. Its more important to me that my dogs follow my commands/leadership and definately not start trouble. If you have friends that have a dog that she would like to play with then so be it but I would advise against using the dog parks for your shepherd.
Amy
Amy
by hunger4justice on 09 January 2012 - 02:01
Dog parks are horrible and risky.
You can expose in a controlled way and perhaps the most you might get/expect is a dog that is obedient enough to ignore other dogs when you say so, out when you say so and looks to you and ignores her own urge to react to strange dogs. If you can do that, you are doing well.
Too many idiots in dog parks that bring dogs they cannot control. Not fair to the dog.
You can expose in a controlled way and perhaps the most you might get/expect is a dog that is obedient enough to ignore other dogs when you say so, out when you say so and looks to you and ignores her own urge to react to strange dogs. If you can do that, you are doing well.
Too many idiots in dog parks that bring dogs they cannot control. Not fair to the dog.
by Vixen on 09 January 2012 - 04:01
We don't have Dog Parks in the UK, and even if we did I certainly would not use them. We do have lots of public areas where dogs are able to be off leash (Public Parks and Woods etc). Although I expect my dogs to be well-mannered when passing other dogs, I will not encourage interaction with a strange dog - it is my job to protect my 'Pack', who will ultimately protect me if needed. Neither would I want my dogs to assume to rush up to any and every dog they meet. Owners who tend to say; "He/she only wants to play" - seem to be the ones who cannot recall their dogs - their dogs have left them, before they have even discovered what the other dog may be like, or whether the Owner welcomes the attention of the other bounding dog into their 'respected space'.
However, if and when I am walking with a friend, and therefore know the dog, then the dogs will walk together first either on or off leash, and then move together more freely. Even so, we would always still be aware of their interaction - no different to keeping an eye on children playing together - if the interaction were to be escalating, then warning reminders would be addressed to settle themselves! Dogs playing/interacting should not be a reason to ignore and let them 'get on with it'!
Regards,
Vixen
However, if and when I am walking with a friend, and therefore know the dog, then the dogs will walk together first either on or off leash, and then move together more freely. Even so, we would always still be aware of their interaction - no different to keeping an eye on children playing together - if the interaction were to be escalating, then warning reminders would be addressed to settle themselves! Dogs playing/interacting should not be a reason to ignore and let them 'get on with it'!
Regards,
Vixen
by jc.carroll on 10 January 2012 - 00:01
I was lucky to have several dog parks near where I used to live; the smaller of which was 33 acres, and the largest was over 60.. I used to go during "off hours" when most people were still at work, or during less-than-ideal weather. There was a small group of us who would come to work our dogs, but we avoided "ammature hour" as we called it, when all the people with untrained dogs would come and let them loose. I think dog parks can be wonderful, but like anything else, it depends on the people who go their. I had a good batch of sportsmen and other dog-smart folk with trained animals where I was.
by alboe2009 on 11 January 2012 - 04:01
All responses are right on in my eyes. First, what is the dog's purpose? For me, my dogs are service dogs or in training for service dogs. For me, what is the trainer's definition/reasoning for "INTERACTION" with other dogs? My four get everything they need from me or each others. Now once in a while depending on the situation, a friend with their dog, then they might get to spend "time" with them.
My male, Reiker, ten yrs old next month, when in training at times was around other dogs. I would never go to a dog park, for the reasons stated and because my dogs are too important for a knucklehead not watching their dogs and for something to happen or go wrong.
The Service dog, Ginno, when working knows that he needs to work and if there are other dogs around that he needs to work and can't be sniffing, investigating, checking out, playing or be distracted by another dog. Same for the girls in training; Anastacia and Arabella. The idea is if there are multiple dogs at a scan then they are not trying to check every other dog out or have any problems amongst them. They are there to work. As soon as they come out of their crates they are "working" even if other dogs are around, near, or in the area. Of course most of the time all the dogs get along but once in a while there are issues.
My male, Reiker, ten yrs old next month, when in training at times was around other dogs. I would never go to a dog park, for the reasons stated and because my dogs are too important for a knucklehead not watching their dogs and for something to happen or go wrong.
The Service dog, Ginno, when working knows that he needs to work and if there are other dogs around that he needs to work and can't be sniffing, investigating, checking out, playing or be distracted by another dog. Same for the girls in training; Anastacia and Arabella. The idea is if there are multiple dogs at a scan then they are not trying to check every other dog out or have any problems amongst them. They are there to work. As soon as they come out of their crates they are "working" even if other dogs are around, near, or in the area. Of course most of the time all the dogs get along but once in a while there are issues.
by 3Shep2 on 03 February 2012 - 01:02
I do not take my dogs to the local dog park-neither do I permit other pet owners to bring their dogs up to mine as it is totally unnecessary-most owners can not read body language and have no idea how to react if something should arise. I have five acres-I have five German Shepherds-they get plenty of excercise as we take several walks a day and they have plenty of interaction among themselves-when I do take them out, they are expected to walk at my side, obey the "no sniff" command-ignoring other canines or objects that might spark their curosity. The times we go up to the local training center-classes are usually crowded so again they are expected to focus on me and not worry how close the other dogs might be and they do wonderfully.
by Donnerstorm on 03 February 2012 - 01:02
If you go to a public park you don't like everybody there nor do you feel the need to run around and play with everybody, why in the world does your dog have to like everybody?
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