Is it worth the risk?
 

There is one dog park where I live, and its not a very good one. It's really a large fenced-in reservoir that they turned into an official "dog park". I was happy to finally get one so I could take Lacy to a safe place for her to run around off leash. My backyard is super tiny and not enough room for her to do much out there.

The park has problems though...it's a reservoir so it gets muddy easily when it rains. And there are two "ditches" running through it that always have water in them...nasty water that I don't want Lacy to drink. The main problem though is that there is no seperate small dog area. I took her several times without any problems, but once a boxer pinned her down and bit her next to her eye..and a blood vessel actually popped so that a corner of her eye was red for a day. Luckily she was okay. I hadn't been back since that happened until last weekend.

I remembered there are two seperate entrances...most people stay on one side. So I took Lacy and Rylie to the side that is normally empty. I just wanted a place for them to walk/run around without other dogs being there. A couple dogs did come over to visit and luckily were nice. You just never know though... I keep seeing so many little dogs getting attacked by bigger dogs...it's just taking such a risk. I ran around with Lacy some (Rylie just stood there) for about 30 minutes when I was about ready to leave. Two greyhounds started coming toward us and all I could think about was that story of the yorkie getting ripped apart by that pack of greyhounds...so I picked Lacy and Rylie up and decided to leave.

I think its supposed to be a nice weekend and I'd love to take Lacy and Rylie to the park again, but I'm scared to. I don't want to take a chance on them getting hurt :( I can take them to other parks on their leashes, but I want them to be able to safely run around off leash.

I don't do dog runs.. both small and large dogs can be nippy or bite. It sucks if you don't have a yard for them to play in though.

You would think a place like that, they would make it to where big dogs are to be on one side and the other side small dogs. I don't think we have any of those around here, but, the back yard is over an acre that's fenced in, so, they just go out there..oh what the heck, get on a plane in Dallas and bring her here, she can run in the back yard here..:)

Is it worth the risk? In my humble opinion no.:) I know Lacy means the world to you and you just never know what could happen.

We have a dog park that I go to. It has a separate area for small dogs and I always get nervous taking Bella and Chloe. Not that anything bad has ever happened, I guess I'm just over protective.:rolleyes:

It's so hard with little dogs! They like to run and play just like any size dog but there is rarely a place just for them.
I don't know if I would chance them going to a park like that, unless there is a time of day you could go when there is no one there or mostly empty.
If you do decide to go I would get some dog mace and maybe a bar or stick, just for your piece of mind!
I know what you mean about all the videos and stories where all the small dogs are getting maimed or killed. Its hard not to be paranoid.
What ever you decide I'm sure will work out fine! You can always take a road trip and come to the beach with us! The weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend!

Michelle,

Sometimes a good idea isn't implemented, simply because no one has brought it up! Perhaps you could talk to Parks and Recreation, thanking them for the addition to the city by making dog people feel more at home - and, while you have their ear, suggest that it could be even better by dividing the area so smaller dogs can play safely, too.

You can bring her here to Ohio and she can run in the yard, the field,:D :D
bless her heart she has no where to run? I do not think I would go to a dog park I would be to afraid.

That's a good idea. The park headquarters is actually very close to my house so I'll have to go by there. It would be so easy for them to just put up another line of fence to separate the dog park into two areas...there are already two entrances.

Well, she runs in the house (at pretty amazing speeds) but I know she likes being outside too.

You never know if a dog might snap and off leash parks just do not seem like a place to take a small dog. I will never take Jeter to a dog park because of all the bad things that I have read on YT about their dog getting attacked. Thankfully I have a decent yard for Jeter to get exercise and als My mother has a big back yard that he can go visit and play with her 2 yorkies.

I wish that they had a better set up so that Lacy and Rylie could have fun but the risk just does not seem like it would be worth it.

haha she's never been to the beach! Is it fenced in or do your dogs just stay right there by you?

We have 4wd so we go really far down and let the dogs run.That way no traffic, or people to mess with us.
Addy likes to chase seagulls so my bf runs with her but Brady like to stay close with me!
Amazingly they are not afraid of the surf and they will wade around and bark at the waves! It is the cutest thing!
If you are down this way for spring break let me know we can plan a beach play date!

I say no, especially if you are going alone.

If your two are like met two, they would be in two different directions the entire time and just to hard to keep up with.

yeah, Rylie just kind of stood in one spot most of the time. He didn't know what to think about the dog park. Lacy was running up and down the fence line and tried to go over where all the other dogs were a couple times so I had to chase her down and bring her back..

I was asking myself this same exact question this morning, after I saw that post about the Chihuahua being mauled by a Pit Bull.

The thought of EVER not having Franklin brings tears to my eyes.. I would love to be able to let him out and about but I just don't think I'd ever be able to take that risk. At least if he was on a leash, I could pull him in and scoop him up if needed. I think it just depends on the park and the types of people who go there.

I think all YT members should start toy breed only dog parks in each of our respective states! How awesome would that be?