dog park- tips on socializing?

[PeanutsMom48]

so yesterday was our first attempt at the dog park. we have this great park by us with 2 fenced in areas one for small dogs and one for big dogs. peanut hasn't really been exposed to many dogs, just some dogs in our building, and one puppy meetup. me and my boyfriend both work and it's been so cold out that finally the nice day yesterday let me bring her out. she just got spayed about a month ago too which was a concern for me. anyways when the other dogs left her alone she would walk around, not too far from me but be fine. she would laso just sit between my legs and watch the other dogs play and seem interested. but once dogs came over to say hello, she would freak out run away, hide behind me or jump onto my lap and scramble up my shoulder. is it just a matter of her getting used to being around dogs? any suggestions of what i can do, should i keep bringing her and gradually let her play on her own time?

[rbelland]

Yes, socialization is the key. My Harley will do the same but after a while he is more into the other dogs. I am a little leary with dog parks due to the size of other dogs(even in the small dog side!) They all love to play but our dogs are only 6 lbs and Harley is only 4 pounds. It's not that I think other dogs would harm them on purpose, I am just afraid they will get playing harder. Other people I know have had lots of luck with dog parks. Mainly I think if you just keep introducing other dogs she will eventually be ok. Good Luck!!!!

[JoeyP]

Yorkies sometimes can get freaked out if there are two many dogs around all at once if they haven't been well socialized
it's all about getting them used to being around other dogs
Dogs ahve a specific way of greating each other
and if your dog gets to understand this "How do you do" dogwise he'll be much better in the park
get some doggy palydates under your belt before you jump headlong into the doggy pool
and have a friendlyu dog come meet you and your pup outside too
have him come over and let them smell each other
if you pup seems skiddish have the dog stay a few yards away at first and slowly bring him closer and closer

[Potter]

Once they get used to the other dogs and discovers how fun it could be, they would usually be off. I am still searching for dog parks within my living area that separates the big and small dogs. Right now we are sticking to playing with the neighbourhood Yorkies.

[PeanutsMom48]

thanks for all the great feedback! i wish i knew some fellow yorkie owners close by so i could gradually get peanut used to dogs, but we have been going to meetup groups so hopefully a few more of those will help. the dog park was pretty packed so maybe a few more times when it isnt so packed will help. it was the first nice day so everyone was out! we're thinking about getting another one sometime over the summer once peanut gets to be a year old so getting her socialized i hope will ease the transition of a new permanent friend.

[my2yorkies31]

Where do you find them ?I live in NEPA and I know of none! I would love to take peanut and precious to a park to socialize them, we have thier little brother up the street and they say hi now and then but omg Peanut squeeks like a mouse when he tries to sniff her!!!! its the most amusing thing ive ever seen! she backs up runs behind me and squeeks !!! and precious is just runing circles around me when he tries to get near her and they are litter mates! But I have no idea where to go or how to get other dogs to make them more social , i also think that would help with the aggressive stuff peanut and precious go thru here at home and the power struggle!

[PeanutsMom48]

i just looked up dog parks online, and for the meetups i went to meetup.com and there are a ton of different puppy/small dog or yorkie ones you just have to look near your town.