Dog parks

[canana]

Originally Posted by Mayzoo

If your guy is good with recall (coming to you almost without fail when called even with distractions) then you do not have too much to worry about.

Some folks believe a dog park is a great place to off leash socialize a less than social animal. Then they may or may not watch their animal since the human, in reality, has no idea how to socialize them to begin with .

Agreed! Make sure Ruger has good recall. Scottie eats other dogs poop and refuses to come when he's got poop in his mouth so I can't bring him there. No idea why, but people seem to like to bring their dogs there and let the dogs play while they chat with the other human friends - meanwhile not watching when their dogs poop. Either that, or they don't care period to pick up after their dog, even with signage everywhere. Argh. Hopefully your dog park isn't as bad!

In my area, there were 3 incidences last summer where a crazy person tried to socialize their big aggressive dog by bringing it to the dog park. Three times, the aggressive dog attacked a yorkie. It was in the news each time...
The guy was clearly crazy - apparently he used fake names when he introduced himself to others at the park. Police never caught him

Originally Posted by margaritaville

...I always worry that my dogs will get parasites from a dog that has them. My dogs get their monthly heartworm and flea treatment but there is always the chance.

And yes, besides the poop, I end up not taking Scottie there because I'm worried about parasites from dogs and diseases he might pick up from poop-eating.

[canana]

Originally Posted by crazydoglade

I think it would be better to search out a group of like minded dog people. Check at your local pet store, groomers or trainer. The threat of disease is too risky for me. Just because the rules say they have to be immunized doesn't mean they are. Also what you think is aggressive may not be the same as someone else. I've had 2 coworkers lose their babies due to injuries from other dogs at the parks.

Instead I take Scottie to a local small dog meetup that I found on Find your people - Meetup A local pet store/groomer/day care with a back yard hosts a meetup every month Works out much better for us.

[ladyjane]

Even IF others are immunized it does nothing to protect your pet. Immunization is for the protection oh the pup that is immunized.

I am more concerned about viruses and other stuff that lurks.

Not to mention that I have read about too many pups who went to the dog park and ended up dead for one reason or another.

[Shicks]

Thanks to all with your wonderful advice and your personal experiences with dog parks. Ours is not ready yet. I will try & get a lot of information from the city on how the park will be run.
I'm a very protective Yorkie mom too. If I decide to take Ruger he will definitely be leashed. And, depending on our first time, he will be on a leash for a good amount of trips until I fully understand what's it all about.
Of course I will definitely keep all your advice in the forefront of my mind.
Maybe he just needs a little brother!?!

[Mayzoo]

Mario has a big brother and 1 primary acre to run on. Man o man do they run that acre. Mario hits the door and the race is on with his big brother.......... Mommy tries to just not get knocked down. Amazing how on an entire acre they manage to run into me .

When we go for doctors appointments in town, sometimes (twice so far) we have gone to a dog park. Mainly we went for training purposes so he could learn to "ignore" other dogs in close proximity prior to our taking the CGC.

[sandy simpson]

No dog park for my boys. Jojo would love it but sick dogs come and some dogs are aggressive. I would not take a chance.