advice for playdates?
Could folks suggest advice or gudielines/how to's for an excellent, nonstressful play day? Should all the dogs go for a walk together before they get off leash? Best ways to introduce, etc.
Thanks.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Natalie, Lance &Tucker on
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Meeting in a neutral territory first, if your meeting at someones house. Going for a walk beforehand is a wonderul idea!!
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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Honestly it depends on the dogs. Mine have routinely played with dogs they never met before, and if both are well-socialized it's often not a problem. More cautions need to be taken if you are on one dog's home territory, and then walking together is good. Also if either dog is not terribly well socialized it's best to get them used to each other with a walk.
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Permalink Reply by Vee Luther on
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And the walk can be a short one, right' Or is the idea to tire them out a bit before play time with no leashes? And would "neutral" territory be somewhere the dogs have never marked?
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If any of the dogs tend to get wound too tightly, not understand a "back off" from another dog, or rarely get to play with other dogs (in which case they might be over-excited) then a longish walk to take the edge off is a good idea. When you walk them together, the idea is no sniffing, no eye contact, no greetings.
If all the dogs are usually ok with other dogs, then a short walk together just to see how they do can be fine. To be honest, though, many dogs are better at greeting off-leash than on. My girl can be a bit snarky on a leash so I usually do the opposite and let her loose to meet bouncy dogs. Still, a first-time meeting should probably not be with a dog that hasn't had a long walk in a week and is raring to go!
Neutral territory does not have to be somewhere the dogs never marked. It just should be somewhere all the dogs think of as "common ground." Mine mark wherever they go. They walk in a park by us daily, but to them that's neutral as they know they always see other dogs and people there so it's not "their" territory. The spot across the street where we take them to pee, on the other hand, they think is "theirs" and they will territorially bark from the house if they see other dogs there. Ditto for the road next to our house.
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So maybe a play day at someone's house (like mine, for instance!) should begin with a walk in the park? I',m trying to organzie a play day with folks driving an hour or so and using my 3 acres (all fenced, safe, etc.). But the roads around us are all places where my dogs walk and mark and probably consider theirs as much as our own fenced in acres.
However, if we meet up at the park, it's another 5 minute drive to our place. afterwards. Maybe we should do the walks along our roads anyway, before we go off leash in our fenced acreage.
Your thoughts? These would all be dogs that are new to each other, but probably well exercised.
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I would probably err on the side of caution and walk them all together in the park, and after a bit of a walk stop somewhere quiet and hang out for a few minutes and let the dogs go through their greetings. I would also make sure to put away any high-value (to your dog) toys or treats before the visitors arrive.
When everyone gets back to your place, I'd also make sure to warmly greet both humans and dogs personally so that my dogs picked up the cue that these critters were welcome and not a threat. If everyone is socialized it will likely be just fine.
Sounds like fun! :-)
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All of this makes sense. I've planned to make sure that there are no treats or toys around, although that stuff is in the house, not out in the dog park acreage. Fortunately, it's really big...3 acres fenced in and there have been lots of other dogs visit to play.
I like the idea of a "parallel" walk first along the road and then a parade inside on leash with one dog at a time dragging her leash. I'm wondering what my boys will do at that point and imagine them pulling a bit so they might have to sit through most of this part, or sit and walk, sit and walk, etc. We've been to obedience classes with 30 + other dogs so I know we can do that. I might try walking them on leash inside the dog park a few times just so that they have experienced that.
Thanks a lot for all the advice.
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I would throw out one other thing: the first play date is probably not the best time to bring out high-drive toys like frisbees or tennis balls. You don't want two dogs that both really really want that frisbee getting there at the same time if they just met! I would let them play on their own for a time or two before introducing any toys.
It sounds like a blast.
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I've never had toys around when other dogs visit. frankly, there's enough space, including a stream and hills and woodsy parts, that the dogs just run around a lot. It's really great to have so much room. Our fence is only 4 feet high so the deer do jump in and leave "deer candy" around, which, of course, the dogs LOVE. Haven't seen a snake yet in 5 years but we've had one porcupine and a few feral cats now and then. It's lots of fun to watch the dogs explore.
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Permalink Reply by Virginia Mazelin on
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Siana is used to going to play care with 15-20 other dogs. They do a controlled meet and greet with arrivals, then let everyone play together. A spray bottle or 2 might come in handy if anyone gets overly wound-up.
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