Please do not take your new puppy to dog parks!

[Anonymous]

I was at Shirlington dog park this AM and it was already getting crazy at 830. I had to get my large 2-year-old dog out of two bad situations (in both cases a pack of dogs swarmed around him and were aggressive). Someone was there with an adorable puppy and shared that it was 13-weeks-old. I am all in favor of socializing puppies as much as possible but a busy dog park is the wrong place to do it. Given the behavior I observed at the park a puppy would be at serious risk of ending up in a frightening or dangerous situation that could have long term consequences. Dog parks are great in many ways but also need to be approached with experience and caution.

[Anonymous]

Pretty sure that dogs without their shots, including rabies, are not even allowed in dog parks. And that puppy wouldn’t have them all yet. I remember that we didn’t take our puppies for like 6 months until the shots were done and I think you wait a month after the rabies is given the first time.

And yeah, I’m with you. Same with people who bring their toddlers to dog parks. That’s just super dangerous. Someone had a 2-year-old there the other day running around. Insanely bad parenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure that dogs without their shots, including rabies, are not even allowed in dog parks.

yeah like the animal control department is watching and checking all the dog parks for scoflaws...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was at Shirlington dog park this AM and it was already getting crazy at 830. I had to get my large 2-year-old dog out of two bad situations (in both cases a pack of dogs swarmed around him and were aggressive).

Your dog was attacked by swarms of puppies? If not then it doesn't sound like puppies are the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was at Shirlington dog park this AM and it was already getting crazy at 830. I had to get my large 2-year-old dog out of two bad situations (in both cases a pack of dogs swarmed around him and were aggressive).

Your dog was attacked by swarms of puppies? If not then it doesn't sound like puppies are the problem.

No. She is saying if the same aggressive dogs that went after her large adult dog had gone after a small puppy, the could have killed it in a instant. She is looking out for the puppy.

[Anonymous]

Might be nice to pull the owner aside and alert them that it’s dangerous for their puppy not being protected with their shots. May not know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was at Shirlington dog park this AM and it was already getting crazy at 830. I had to get my large 2-year-old dog out of two bad situations (in both cases a pack of dogs swarmed around him and were aggressive).

Your dog was attacked by swarms of puppies? If not then it doesn't sound like puppies are the problem.

No. She is saying if the same aggressive dogs that went after her large adult dog had gone after a small puppy, the could have killed it in a instant. She is looking out for the puppy.

Then the answer is, "everyone else control your damn dogs" not "don't bring your puppy".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure that dogs without their shots, including rabies, are not even allowed in dog parks.

yeah like the animal control department is watching and checking all the dog parks for scoflaws...

The one in Reston used to routinely have an animal control officer come by and ask to see proof of rabies vaccinations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was at Shirlington dog park this AM and it was already getting crazy at 830. I had to get my large 2-year-old dog out of two bad situations (in both cases a pack of dogs swarmed around him and were aggressive).

Your dog was attacked by swarms of puppies? If not then it doesn't sound like puppies are the problem.

No. She is saying if the same aggressive dogs that went after her large adult dog had gone after a small puppy, the could have killed it in a instant. She is looking out for the puppy.

Then the answer is, "everyone else control your damn dogs" not "don't bring your puppy".

I challenge you to come to Shirlington Dog Park on a weekend morning and try to do this (asking others to control their dogs). Half the owners aren't even paying attention, others thing it is cute that their dog is humping other dogs, others think that dog that are clearly exhibiting aggressive behavior are "just playing." There are plenty of free puppy playgroups in the area (Woofs!, PetSmart) that there is zero need to bring an impressionable, not-yet-fully-vaccinated puppy to a busy dog park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was at Shirlington dog park this AM and it was already getting crazy at 830. I had to get my large 2-year-old dog out of two bad situations (in both cases a pack of dogs swarmed around him and were aggressive).

Your dog was attacked by swarms of puppies? If not then it doesn't sound like puppies are the problem.

No. She is saying if the same aggressive dogs that went after her large adult dog had gone after a small puppy, the could have killed it in a instant. She is looking out for the puppy.

OP here - thank you for interpreting correctly (aggressive adult dogs, not a pack of puppies). It was a madhouse. My dog couldn't wait to get out of there and he is about the most social dog you'd ever want to meet. I felt for the puppy's owners but it was a good place for any dog at that time, much less a puppy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was at Shirlington dog park this AM and it was already getting crazy at 830. I had to get my large 2-year-old dog out of two bad situations (in both cases a pack of dogs swarmed around him and were aggressive).

Your dog was attacked by swarms of puppies? If not then it doesn't sound like puppies are the problem.

No. She is saying if the same aggressive dogs that went after her large adult dog had gone after a small puppy, the could have killed it in a instant. She is looking out for the puppy.

Then the answer is, "everyone else control your damn dogs" not "don't bring your puppy".

No. The general crowd of dogs are older dogs that can socialize. Puppies and small purse dogs who cannot socialize with larger dogs need to go at less crowded times. This is a CAVEAT EMPTOR type situation. You know that there are going to be a crowd of larger and possibly more aggressive dogs and you bring your small dog or puppy there at your own risk. Not very smart.

You are like the mothers who bring their 12-18 month old toddlers to the playground after school and try to play with them on the 2-5 year old equipment and get upset when the bigger kids want to use the playground equipment and not wait their turns for you while you walk your child through the playground equipment. And then think it is the other kids who aren't being taught correctly.

[Anonymous]

Dog parks are always a bad idea. I wouldnt take any dog to one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was at Shirlington dog park this AM and it was already getting crazy at 830. I had to get my large 2-year-old dog out of two bad situations (in both cases a pack of dogs swarmed around him and were aggressive).

Your dog was attacked by swarms of puppies? If not then it doesn't sound like puppies are the problem.

No. She is saying if the same aggressive dogs that went after her large adult dog had gone after a small puppy, the could have killed it in a instant. She is looking out for the puppy.

Then the answer is, "everyone else control your damn dogs" not "don't bring your puppy".

No. The general crowd of dogs are older dogs that can socialize. Puppies and small purse dogs who cannot socialize with larger dogs need to go at less crowded times. This is a CAVEAT EMPTOR type situation. You know that there are going to be a crowd of larger and possibly more aggressive dogs and you bring your small dog or puppy there at your own risk. Not very smart.

You are like the mothers who bring their 12-18 month old toddlers to the playground after school and try to play with them on the 2-5 year old equipment and get upset when the bigger kids want to use the playground equipment and not wait their turns for you while you walk your child through the playground equipment. And then think it is the other kids who aren't being taught correctly.

+1 (and great analogy, though I think risk is much greater to puppy at a dog park than a toddler at a playground)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dog parks are always a bad idea. I wouldnt take any dog to one.

Weird. We go every day. My dogs run and retrieve balls for 20 minutes and are wiped out. Yes, an occasional situation with an aggressive dog or two, but mostly fine and my dogs are well-socialized because of it.

And yeah, the dog park in Reston has had an animal control person there on more than occasion checking tags.