Dog Parks & Children Noises

Every day Bailey and I head to the dog park, we see the same group of people and their dogs. Every now and then we get new visitors with their dog and we hope (and pray) that their dog is sociable and behaved.

Bailey has a good friend named Rhode (Rhodesian Ridge Back). These two are like frat brothers when they play. They try to see who they can make say “MERCY” first, they run fast, chase, wrestle and so on. They're a large breed and have a big bark, but they are also gentle and not vicious creature (don't be scared by their size). Now when these two “play”, they focus on each other and we (the owners) can control them from a distance as well. Tonight there were some problems in this area.

Most dogs when there is a lot of screaming or barking they can become upset, distracted and irritated with the situation. On the list of rules for the dog park is excessive barking is not allowed, however, excessive screaming from children shouldn’t be allowed either. Tonight there was an unusual amount of children in their running IN THE DOG PARK, screaming at the dogs, trying to command the dogs and just making so much noise that three dogs just lost it. Bailey wasn’t coming to me (and wasn’t responding when I used his correction collar), Misty couldn’t stop barking (because she didn’t know what was going on) and Rhode was responding just as bad as Bailey was.

What set me off the most was a dog owner and a five pound dog enter the park, Bailey and Rhode are just sniffing the dog and the dog starts to attack the two bigger dogs. The owner proceeds to say “Go (whatever the dogs name was) get them”. Both Bailey and Rhode started to bark at this dog (because the dog is attacking them) and yet they‘re looked at as the bad ones.

I took Bailey by the collar and we left. That sort of behavior is unacceptable at a dog park

Tips for Dog Park Etiquette

1). Pick up after your dog. Bring a bag and watch your dog. If you’re not watching your dog, do not come to a dog park.

2). If your dog finds entertainment in attacking other dogs, do not bring them to a dog park

3). If you come to a dog park and let your children run at dogs, scream at dogs and just screaming in general, do not come to a dog park.

A dog park is a place for dogs to play, not for adults and not for children to play. This is the one place a dog can be off leash and play with their friends. Let’s be respectful of other dogs and the owners.