After a couple not-so-great experiences with poorly socialized dogs at our local dog park, we really never go there, choosing instead to let our dogs run around with a small group that meets in a quiet area of a regular park. However, both of ours like to wander off and eat rather than play, and the dogs meet in an unfenced area, so it's less-than-ideal.
I was happy to hear of a new dogpark opening in a neighboring suburb. We went a couple weeks ago and had a nice time. Great view, chairs for the people, a large grassy area and lots of tennis balls plus only a few dogs made for a nice time.
We returned this afternoon and I was reminded why I don't always like dog parks.
First, a stunning Harlequin Great Dane kept trying to mount Maddie. Maddie's a bigger Corgi at 28 pounds but still, a 120 pound Great Dane is a bit much for her to handle. She snarked him away a good half-dozen times in quick succession before I finally stepped in. What was the owner doing, you may ask? Why, just standing there of course! I know humping is normal dog behavior and normally I let the dogs sort it out themselves, but if Jack is going after a miniature poodle or something I generally haul him off to avoid injury. One would think an ounce of common sense would tell the owner that a 12-inch Corgi can't fend off a Great Dane who is ignoring her protests.
Then there was a dog that looked like maybe a cross between a Blue Heeler and a lab, though who knows what it was. He ran into and over everyone and every thing. He barreled into me twice, and ran over every dog in the place multiple times over, blissfully unaware that within five minutes, every dog would tuck its tail and flee when it saw him coming (except of course for one goofy lab who was oblivious to it all, in typical lab fashion).
Not only did he run over the top of everyone, he also stole every ball or frisbee anyone else had. He could have just ran for a ball and if you threw another one he would drop his, run over the top of the chaser and grab it. If he did not get there in time, he would steal it right from the other dog's mouth. The owner meekly said on one occasion that he wants anything anyone else has, and then sat quietly on the sidelines the rest of the time. All the dogs breathed a visible sigh of relief when he finally left.
Why can't people jus tell when their dogs are being awful?
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