Dog Parks are Great - until they aren't

Part 3 - Dog Parks

DOG PARKS ARE GREAT….until they aren’t. “What happened to my dogs and me”

For a long time I took my dogs to the dog park. I have a large dog that loves to play fetch and a garden that barely accommodates his love of running. I had a comfortable knowledge of most of the dogs at the park. My dogs and I enjoy lots of fetch and recall practice at the dog park. We went twice weekly and to varying degrees, the same dogs and people were there every time we went. We felt safe in their company. Today, I no longer take my dogs to dog parks.

Here’s why:

One day there were two new black dogs and they were engaging with two dogs that always play together. They were a good distance away from where I was playing with my dogs. I heard barking and then saw the new black dogs leave with their person. It barely registered a thought in my mind. I threw the ball with the Chuck-it and my dog went running after it.

Out of the corner of my eye and from the direction where I had heard the earlier barking, I saw the two dogs that always play together, coming at speed up the hill. It took a moment for me to realize they were heading directly for my dog. My dog is large, white and was running at full speed after his ball.

One of the two dogs, barreled into my dog and rolled him. Before my dog could get up, the other one joined in. My dog is agile if nothing else, and he was able to regain his footing, but this was two out of control dogs, against one. They circled him and took turns darting into his space, trying to take him down. This was not a consensual interaction, and it was not play. It was a full on assault.

One dog’s person was, as usual, on the phone in the parking lot. The other dog’s person showed up. Around her dog's neck was a shock collar. She hit the button and her dog flattened to the ground allowing her to snap a leash on and take her dog away. The second owner then showed up and grabbed his dog. Both dog owners leashed their dogs and walked away without saying a word - not a single word. They did not wait to see if my dog was okay. Perhaps they were as shocked as my dogs and I were. That is me being charitable.

I wish that was the end of the assault, but unbelievably the one owner got her dog to the parking lot, and again let her dog off leash. It came flying back and took my dog off his feet again. He was snapping and doing his best to say, "go away!" Having found my voice, I asked the woman to get her dog off my dog and keep it away (not so calmly and only with words to that effect). Again, with the push of a button, her dog got flattened and this time she left. I could not guess how long the assault lasted. I am certain that it seemed to last an unbelievably long time.

Once I determined that my dog had no punctures, I threw the ball about half a dozen more times before leaving. I wanted my dog to know that “being jumped” in addition to being scary did not also mean the end of fun.

By the way, as near as I can figure, my other dog had been watching from a safe distance away. Once the melee was over she came running to my side. She is small, terrier tenacious and I am grateful she was smart enough to stay out of the mix.

Later, I rationalized that these two dogs were likely getting over-stimulated in the earlier barking match that I heard. With the departure of the other dogs, their prey drive kicked in at the sight of my big white, fast moving dog. He became their sport.

I don’t know that, of course, but dogs that spin up and become overly aroused are not uncommon.

I was angry about the encounter and pained on behalf of my dog.

I determinedly returned to the park again the next day. That was a decision born more of my indignation than sense. I was thankful neither of the those dogs from the assault were there. However, the two new black dogs were there. When they came racing up to where my dogs and I were playing, my dog chased them off with intent. I knew then that the incident of the day before had left its mark. I took my dogs home saddened to see the change in my typically happy go lucky, ball obsessed dog.

My dog returned to his daycare a couple of days later. I explained what happened and asked that he be watched for any signs of behavior change. It was reported that he was very quiet and did not engage with the other dogs that day.

I waited several more days before we tried the park again.

I was appalled to see both of the dogs that had attacked my dog there. Again, the one owner was in the parking lot on his phone. I asked the other owner to secure her dog on leash, hoping she would get the hint. She leashed her dog and when she was about 50 feet away, she unleashed her dog again. Had she forgotten the speed that her dog could cover that distance? I hadn’t. I took my dogs for a romp in a quiet spot that morning. We have not returned to the dog park since. People are just too unpredictable.

As a dog trainer and in my life with dogs, I have seen many dog fights and scuffles and have broken up more than a few. It weighs heavy on my heart that when it was my dog I felt powerless to help him. I would not recommend the experience.

Once I worked through my judgmental anger at the dog owners and mourned the loss of dog park fun for my dogs, I realized something. I owned the choice of going to the dog park, and I put an importance on it for my dogs that did not exist.

They enjoyed the dog park outings but they always chose to connect with me rather than spend time with other dogs. The dog park was just a place, a nice open space but still, just a place. One, as it turned out, that was not a safe place for my dogs.

Now, instead of the dog park we do long hikes, sniffy walks, and play fetch in the garden. For running fun, we have other options. My dog goes to his doggy day care twice a week. There he does his doggy socialization with professional supervision ,and he is back to playing happily with his friends.

Certainly things can happen at day care, on walks and simply anywhere. For all the reasons I described previously in this three part blog, I think dog parks harbor more risks for trauma and injury than I want to expose my dogs to. If dog parks are what you want to do, I hope my insights will help you be better prepared for the dog park.

Additionally, there is a great option out there if you want to give your dog some off leash fun in a secure and private setting. Reasonably priced hourly rental of varying sizes are available through ‘sniffspot’.

https://www.sniffspot.com/listings