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Permalink Reply by Jane on March 10, 2012 at 12:29am

I would work on getting her calmer before she even enters the park. Luke gets really excited too, so I usually walk him around the parking lot for a few minutes until he calms down and will pay attention to me. If he barks or gets crazy at the gate we go back and walk some more, then try again. Usually I bring some treats in my pocket and we will work on some basic obedience while we walk around just to get him in a calmer state of mind.

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Permalink Reply by Jackie (Lilu & Loki) on March 10, 2012 at 1:24am

I've seen this happen a lot at the park. For some reason, dogs just got nuts when they're outside the gate, but once they're inside everything's fine. And then there are the dogs inside that will start barking and go up to the gate as a welcoming committee... It could just be something about the barrier being between them that freaks them out until they get inside, and then everyone's on equal footing.

But if you are really concerned about it you could maybe try bringing some bitter apple spray with you to the park and kind of keep the bottle in your pocket or hang it off your belt. I recently put one of my dogs Loki through a board and train program (we're continuing with private lessons now), and one of the behaviors they worked on with her was barking. She's definitely a talker (or just definitely a corgi!) and will just bark at anything and everything that goes past. This is not good because I live in an apartment. Anyways... at the program they taught her "quiet", so she knows what that means or you could use "shh" or however you normally try to stop your dog barking and spray the bitter apple in their mouth/face. Then as soon as they're quiet they get a "good girl, good quiet". It works pretty well for Loki and will get her to stop... even if only briefly.

But ya bitter apple might be another training option to bring to the park because I think most parks have rules about not bringing treats. And if you have treats in your pockets inside the gate you'll definitely be the most popular person in the park, with the other dogs.

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Permalink Reply by Emily & Cooper on March 10, 2012 at 10:01am

I think she will warm up after a few visits. Cooper and I go to the local dog park at least four times a week and we know the sweetest couple with two mini Aussies, one of which barks incessantly in and outside the fence. She is not aggressive and the other people who frequent the dog park know that. She just likes barking when she gets excited. Our dogs love her and so do we. I agree that calming her down beforehand might be helpful, not necessarily for the other people at the dog park, but for Leena herself. She can cope better with being introduced to a bunch of strange dogs if she has gotten her initial excitement out of the way. My Mini Aussie, Zero, gets overly excited too (he doesn't bark but sometimes wants to jump on the other dogs and people) so i always jog him and Cooper around the track nearby a few laps before I take him in.

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Permalink Reply by Bradly and Jenny Boesen on March 10, 2012 at 5:57pm

Thanks, everyone, for the advice.  I guess it was just a matter of taking her a few times.  She was barking only a tiny bit before going in, and once she realized she was going to be able to get in there to play, she was fine.  So awesome to see her romping around with other dogs!

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Permalink Reply by Beth on March 10, 2012 at 6:43pm

I would try to take her when it's quiet and just practice approaching the gate calmly.   Hold a treat right in front of her nose at first if you need to.  You might even take her, walk her around outside, and then leave a few times so she does not get so keyed up.  

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