Dog owners who isolate their dogs. Why?

[Anonymous]

I take our dog to local parks and it is the best part of her day when she gets to run crazily around with other neighborhood dogs. I also love meeting other dog owners. It has been great for my sense of community and belonging. But invariably there are owners who walk up, look over at my dog/other dogs and then take their dog alone to a separate area- usually an empty court- to toss a ball by themselves. These don’t look like aggressive dogs (lately I’ve seen medium sized poodles) so I don’t quite understand why the owners do this instead of encouraging socialization.

Anyone want to explain (in a non nasty way)?

[Anonymous]

My dog is overwhelmed at dog parks and I have found many of the owners at dog parks to not know how to read dog behaviors well. Many trainers also suggest avoiding dog parks. Our dog enjoys getting physical unleashed activity in our yard and also enjoys going on long leashed walks on the trails in our neighborhoods. She has people and dog friends she sees regularly on our walks.

[Anonymous]

Because just because they don’t look like something doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dog is overwhelmed at dog parks and I have found many of the owners at dog parks to not know how to read dog behaviors well. Many trainers also suggest avoiding dog parks. Our dog enjoys getting physical unleashed activity in our yard and also enjoys going on long leashed walks on the trails in our neighborhoods. She has people and dog friends she sees regularly on our walks.

Why would they need to read your dog’s behaviors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because just because they don’t look like something doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t.

Well the poodle is not going to harm my lab or the other dogs playing together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dog is overwhelmed at dog parks and I have found many of the owners at dog parks to not know how to read dog behaviors well. Many trainers also suggest avoiding dog parks. Our dog enjoys getting physical unleashed activity in our yard and also enjoys going on long leashed walks on the trails in our neighborhoods. She has people and dog friends she sees regularly on our walks.

My wouldn’t you want to help your dog learn to socialize? Did you not do this when he was a puppy?

[Anonymous]

^ why

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dog is overwhelmed at dog parks and I have found many of the owners at dog parks to not know how to read dog behaviors well. Many trainers also suggest avoiding dog parks. Our dog enjoys getting physical unleashed activity in our yard and also enjoys going on long leashed walks on the trails in our neighborhoods. She has people and dog friends she sees regularly on our walks.

My wouldn’t you want to help your dog learn to socialize? Did you not do this when he was a puppy?

Lots of people have rescue dogs. I had well socialized dogs attacked by other dogs in public including a bite from a golden retriever. I think you’re being weirdly judgmental about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dog is overwhelmed at dog parks and I have found many of the owners at dog parks to not know how to read dog behaviors well. Many trainers also suggest avoiding dog parks. Our dog enjoys getting physical unleashed activity in our yard and also enjoys going on long leashed walks on the trails in our neighborhoods. She has people and dog friends she sees regularly on our walks.

My wouldn’t you want to help your dog learn to socialize? Did you not do this when he was a puppy?

Dog parks are terrible places to learn to socialize. Ask any trainer. Dog parks can trigger reactivity when previously there was none. I take my current dog to the dog park but I will observe the vibe before we go in. If I see a lot of negative behaviors and owners not providing correction we’ll skip and keep walking.

[Anonymous]

Because not all dogs are like yours. I got mine as a 3-year-old rescue. She is friendly with many dogs but not all. She can be bossy and domineering. I discovered early on that she doesn’t do well at dog parks because she is too quick to take offense. It doesn’t matter if your dog is friendly…she may decide she doesn’t like the way your dog smells or looks or walks or whatever, and then I have to manage it, which isn’t fun for me and can be dangerous. So we play with dogs we know she likes outside of the dog park. Also, she once got kennel cough from drinking out of the communal water bowl at a dog park.

[Anonymous]

And don’t assume that dogs that dont go to the dog park are “isolated”….many of us have neighbors and friends with well behaved dogs who are friends with our dogs and play regularly.

[Anonymous]

Because I have seen too many fights and my own dog was attacked brutally at so I observe the behavior and owners very carefully before deciding to let my dog join. It is mostly not worth it. My dogs regularly sees friends for play, don't have to roll the dice with a bunch of randos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dog is overwhelmed at dog parks and I have found many of the owners at dog parks to not know how to read dog behaviors well. Many trainers also suggest avoiding dog parks. Our dog enjoys getting physical unleashed activity in our yard and also enjoys going on long leashed walks on the trails in our neighborhoods. She has people and dog friends she sees regularly on our walks.

My wouldn’t you want to help your dog learn to socialize? Did you not do this when he was a puppy?

Our dog was very well socialized as a puppy. But as others have mentioned pretty much every dog trainer and our friend who is a veterinarian are not fans of dog parks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dog is overwhelmed at dog parks and I have found many of the owners at dog parks to not know how to read dog behaviors well. Many trainers also suggest avoiding dog parks. Our dog enjoys getting physical unleashed activity in our yard and also enjoys going on long leashed walks on the trails in our neighborhoods. She has people and dog friends she sees regularly on our walks.

Why would they need to read your dog’s behaviors?

I know how to read my dog’s behavior. But many owners do not know how to read their own dog’s behavior so if it is getting over stimulated or over stressed they don’t know how to redirect their dog.

Lots of dog fights occur in dog parks because of the owners, not the dogs.

[Anonymous]

We don't go to dog parks at all because they make our dog (a rescue) super anxious, which sometimes shows up as aggression. I don't know why you would judge that.