Very sad :(

I guess we're lucky where we live. Most of the dog parks have a big/small side. The one we go to always has so many different small breeds which gives Lilee a really good meet and greet opportunity :) She loves it!

Ok, that was funny :D

On a serious note, it is so sad and heartbreaking to hear of any pet being killed by another with irresponsible owners.
I'm not comfortable taking mine to dog parks where there are dogs we aren't familiar with. We have a non leash dog park here and I decided to take mine one day on a mid day when not many use it (its within a county park system, and has a fee). Well, before I even got down to the spot to park, I saw two labs (or mixes) fighting and the owners running over to pull them apart. Turned around and left. No way!

That poor little dog. He was so cute. There would be no way I could take mine to a place with big dogs running around, too. No way! At least once a year I read of these things happening. I guess I'm glad I don't have to worry about it. There aren't dog parks here and I don't need one anyway!:D

This is aweful and for the owner to not give the right number is terrible.

That is HORRIBLE!!! My parents dog was attacked by a pitbull! He is a border collie and BARELY survived, so the poor yorkie def didnt have a chance! I feel soooo bad for the family for the yorkie. I cant imagine watchin my princess being attacked! :( I will be praying for this family!

I have stopped taking mine to the dog park.So many people are bringing their dog agressive dogs now and letting them attack other dogs ,it has become a free for all there and my dogs are not safe even in the small dog area ! I have been told by these owners that if my dogs can't handle being attacked then we shouldn't be there !:eek: There is no supervision ,no park rules. Its use at your own risk.A guy here in Kelowna is trying to locate the owner of three great danes that attacked his dane at the dog park, it took several people to get the dogs off of his dog.While he rushed his dog to the vet ,the owner of the three danes loaded up his dogs and took off.:thumbdown Tia was attacked by a dog about her size in the small dog area ,the owner stood there and laughed ,sayed his dog loved to attack fluffy white dogs.
So no more dog parks for us !
Eileen

One of my biggest fears:(.

I wouldn't let this deter you away though. Check out your local parks, scope them out, see if they're good... you could be missing out on a ton of fun. I have a blast at the dog parks. I've been to 3 different ones.

This is my biggest fear at any dog park. I was warned by a trainer that you pick your dog up until you are comfortable with the other dogs and if you are not comfortable, leave.
If we are walking Starr we always pick her up, even passing a fenced yard. If Starr was like the two Doberman's I used to have, Angel and Satin, it would be different, they knew how to defend their selves. These toy breeds have no defense except for us.

and the socialization aspect is awesome!

Derby knows when we get near a park! he freaks out in excitement like a kid at xmas.

Yup! :thumbup: Jackson has never had an issue with ANY other dog, never started a fight, he goes up happily, sniffs, greets and I fully think it's because he's so comfortable and used to going to the dog park. Without it, we wouldn't have the opportunity to meet all the new doggie friends that we know! Jackson's got more friends than me :p:D

I know!

Today we took Derby and he is always running around playing with dogs and always finds lots of human friends too! He runs up and sits on their laps, and stuff like that. A lot of people were laying around on blankets while their dogs played and there's Derby going around and introducing himself...lol

We joke that he has doggy ADHD because he's can't sit still and is bouncing from person to person, dog to dog. He runs around like a maniac with his tongue hanging out or flopping over on his belly when he greets every dog the the "rub my belly" attitude! What a character.

We saw the cutest Yorkie there, and I was fawning over it! Derby wanted nothing to do with him. sniff sniff, nice to meet you, you don't want to play? ok see ya later.... I won't lie, I really do love those cute 5 pound Yorkie faces.

How sad. My heart breaks for Maran to watch her little Presley being
attacked and there was nothing she could do. I can't imagine seeing
that big dog destroying my fur baby.

Such a cruel ending for a beautiful animal, and so traumatic and devastating for the owner that story was hard to read.

I do agree with many of the posters here, however, although there are risks, they are manageable. I always hold my guys until it looks safe, and I don’t go into the big dog side either. One of my Yorkies is very aggressive to bigger dogs, because he’s afraid I suppose. He gets along pretty well with little ones, and does well at meet ups with only an occasional outburst of bad behavior. But what I worry about is if he were to act aggressive towards a big dominant dog, he’d be in mortal danger. There are a pair of German Shepards that are on a walk route we take frequently and when we pass that house, he starts to snarl and bark, and those Shepards go crazy, I think they feed off of each other’s emotion. If they are in their yard, I always pick Gatsby up and carry him, but still I worry one could jump over the fence and attack. I have read that most big dogs won’t even bother with little ones, but that has not been my experience, especially when the little one acts aggressive. Several years back, a German Sheppard grabbed a neighbor’s dachshund out of her arms and nearly killed her, so even when you are carrying your little Yorkie you still are not guaranteed safety. Be aware of your surroundings in a dog park and even on a walk, and be especially carefull if your little one is very defensive like mine. :thumbup: