Lessons I'm Learning from the Dog Parks

Not everyone knows how to raise a dog.  Our dog is by no means "well trained", and often has some bad leash aggression.

Sloopy & a park full of Beasties

That being said, she loves the dog park.  You can water ski behind her if she thinks she's going there.  She will figure out every possible way to get there and lead you there on a walk.

I'm learning some clues, though, when it's best to not take her in there.  We're a big Dog Whisperer fan, and if you know who "Cesar" is, you know what I mean.  He is constantly talking about owners who transfer their fears through their leash.  I'm getting to the point that if I see someone leash there dog at the sight of ours coming into the park, I'm not going in there.  They don't have a clue and there's no sense in trying, in the short time we're in there, to change their mind.

Sloopy & Misha

Dogs work things out, and dog parks are wonderful examples of that when owners can take a deep breath and let dogs play, sniff, and pee everywhere.  It's what they do.

Sloopy & Lola

The other thing is certain breeds with "their" balls.  If I see a Jack Russell in the park doing retrieves with their owner, I'm out.  Those little guys are incredibly possessive, and our poor little Boston just sees "a" ball, not "their" ball.  That took two times of her getting scraped up by those little maniacs to learn that lesson.

Dog Parks are two things, the dogs and their owners.  Make sure you can get a feel for them both before you put your baby at risk.