Dog Socialization

[ka jowct]

Davester, the dog runs where I live, and probably dog runs in most urban areas. are not very big. One over-excited, poorly controlled dog can create big problems. BGnR's advice is very sound for the only dog parks with which I am personally familiar.

The dog run closest to me is pretty good, in terms of people keeping an eye on their dogs, but it isn't very big. And while the dogs get a certain amount of exercise there, the people tend to just sit. In most cases, a long walk would probably be better for both dog and person.

One of the reasons I have started doing some dog walking is that it provides both me and the dog with some healthy exercise.

[ka jowct]

They have even hung out with each other in the same yard. No problems thus far. That is as long as the other dog doesn't keep on sniffing him after he starts to walk away otherwise he will snap.


You should probably work on that, with both dogs on leashes. Correct your guy for snapping, and if the other dog's behavior is more than just sniffing, in other words, if it's an attempt to dominate, correct the other dog, too. Don't shout at them, just calmly and assertively redirect their attention when they start to engage in undesirable behavior.

[kap]

BGnR,
Rarely that I don't walk our dog on the weekend at the early A.M hours. Going to a dog park is an afternoon activity after we complete our weekend errands

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Davester,
I wish dog parks around here were acres of land. Most are the size of someone's small front yard.

I think BGnR's suggestion is to tire a dog so that it will not have excess energy to get riled up.

Kap

[BigGuynRusty]

[quote davester]BGnR, your one size fits all statement is not applicable to any of the dog parks where I live. In fact, the concept of walking the dog "before" going to the dog park seems patently absurd. We walk our dog for an hour when we go to the local dog parks (which cover many acres). What's a dog park in your neighborhood...somebody's front yard?
I could sit here and type till I am blue in the face, and link to thousands of lines of data from experts that will refute your methods, but I will boil it down to one question.:
How do you "walk" your dog?
1. On a lead, being relaxed, not allowing the pack to wander in front of me, and not allowing the pack to choose what it wants to do.
2. Scampering around, no lead, no guidance, allowing the pack to dominate and mark territory.
3. My dog is on a lead and he walks in front of me, free to choose what he wants to do, guiding me along.

BGnR
One of those answers, and only one makes you a calm assertive pack leader, the other two makes you the pack, not the leader.
Answer if you dare.

[$tevie]

I am sure you mean well, BGnR, but the fact is that there are many, many people with perfectly fine dogs who have never seen that guy's show. I understand that you would like Kap to learn more, because Kap comes here with frequent questions regarding his dog and it seems he could use a good resource. But you seem to assume that nobody on the planet understands dogs except you and Cesar Millan and it's getting sort of repetitious -- or perhaps I mean insulting.

[davester]

[quote BigGuynRusty]
I could sit here and type till I am blue in the face, and link to thousands of lines of data from experts that will refute your methods, but I will boil it down to one question.:
How do you "walk" your dog?
1. On a lead, being relaxed, not allowing the pack to wander in front of me, and not allowing the pack to choose what it wants to do.
2. Scampering around, no lead, no guidance, allowing the pack to dominate and mark territory.
3. My dog is on a lead and he walks in front of me, free to choose what he wants to do, guiding me along.

BGnR
One of those answers, and only one makes you a calm assertive pack leader, the other two makes you the pack, not the leader.
Answer if you dare.
Easy. None of the above. It depends on the situation (how many cars, dogs or pedestrians, how big an area) how I walk my dog...sometimes I take him running and he's on a flexileash, free to wander within the confines of the leash, sometimes he's off leash (but always under my control, never "running with the pack"). If your dog needs to be on a leash, how assertive of a "pack leader" are you? Like I said, your one size fits all response seems to fit a very rigid and limited concept of dog parks, dogs and owners. Your perceived universe does not include mine.

[BigGuynRusty]

[quote $tevie]I am sure you mean well, BGnR, but the fact is that there are many, many people with perfectly fine dogs who have never seen that guy's show. I understand that you would like Kap to learn more, because Kap comes here with frequent questions regarding his dog and it seems he could use a good resource. But you seem to assume that nobody on the planet understands dogs except you and Cesar Millan and it's getting sort of repetitious -- or perhaps I mean insulting.
I can see where your "Pack Mentality" IQ is.
And yes, you are insulting, thanks for admitting it!
I see dozens of those "Perfectly Fine" dogs everyday, and I just shake my head.
Oh, and next time I need your input, I'll snap your lead.

BGnR

[$tevie]

Don't be an ass.

[kap]

Com'on now everyone. Calm down please. I am sure we are here to share and learn from each other's diverse experiences, skills and knowledge. We don't have to like each other but can we just respect our differences at least? I always welcome solicited suggestions and I will use whatever will work for my own situation. Peace!

Kap