Thoughts on Off- leash parks - Page 3

I'm obviously too stupid to learn from my mistakes the first time around but second time I have, as others have said it did put my training back a little and it's also unnerved my dog for the timebeing.

I did a little editing on a photo at the time of the first incident, it might lighten the mood on the thread a little, I hope so anyway.

"This discussion seemed to be a little one sided."

Because pack instincts and mentality are what they are.

Hate them, would never take a dog to one. They are not a substitute for formal training as many people sesm to think. I know of no serious breeder of any breed who would recommend an off-lead dog park.

What about a private park that has areas separated for small/large dog? I like to work with mine off-leash but don't really have a safe place to do it, so we are looking into this. Of course there is a monthly fee (which will deter a lot of people), they also require vacinnations on file and a certificate of completion from a basic obediance class. They also have a doggy wash to use. Has anyone used one of these before? It seems it would eliminate a lot of the problems with the public parks. I won't take my dog to one.

"I like to work with mine off-leash but don't really have a safe place to do it..."

Why does it have to be a park; wouldn't virtually any large, grassy area work?  If safety is a concern and you need the security of a fence, you probably aren't ready to work the dog off-leash just yet.

My vet calls dog parks job security ;-)

I guess I'm the dissenter in the group :).
There is a place for good, off-leash play. My husband and I own a private dog park. All members are evaluated prior to membership, and the park is supervised. Members know the rules and they are enforced. All of our dogs, plus all the members in our Schutzhund club use our park. It is a great place to teach obedience under distraction. Our Schutzhund field is at one end of the park and many of our park members have learned all about the sport from hanging out and watching training when we work. I hate to jinx myself, but in the 4+ years since we opened the park we have never had an actual fight, a squabble or two over a stick type of thing, but that's about it. And on the occasion that has happened it turns into a learning experience for the park members. 
I realize that not everyone has access to a park like ours, but when available a monitored off-leash area is a very useful tool.

@ Keith ~ I have problems with people interfering (wanting to pet, etc) other people with unleashed pets, distractions (which we are working on), etc. Also, we have a leash law so technically we aren't supposed to be off-leash except for in a gated park.

IMPO and experience, not a good place for intact males.  Too much risk in meeting another one and ending up trying to sort out who's the "Master of the Universe"  Laso, there are some ddolts who think their dominant, dog agresive intact pooch is innocent because it only started acting out when it saw your dog.  I now try to find a fallow, empty and remote field to do that kind of off-leash physical exercise.

I had a 3 yr old male who was ok with othet dogs I had taken him there ot was only us then all the suddon like 6 people all showed up.. One lady came on with a Pitt watching the dogs posturing and such at the gate I knew he wouldbe trouble so I was just about to leave when she let the dog off leash the dog ran for me not my dog and just before he got to me my boy plowed him over so o get to my dog they are both holdong each other I outed my boy he did and the Pitts owner just stood there I lept telling her to grt her dog and she still stood there finealy someone elae grqbbed jer dog I went into the devider fence checked my boy for problems she pfcoarse sqid the dog has never done this before and she would pay any vet bills involved. It tooke a year tp gety bot to beable to walk down the road wo growling at any dogs he sqw... Sorry for typos typed on my Droid