Dog Parks?

[JustinEason]

What do you guys think of them? Ever let your chows use them? Dr. Gonzo got his last set of shots and his vet suggested I take him as often as I can. The past 3 days I have taken gonzo and he cracks me up. I let him off his leash since the park is for dogs and fenced in, he doesn't seam to interested in the other dogs or perhaps he is scared of them but he tends to stay out to the sides near the fence away from the big guys. He will go up to all the dog owners and demand they pat him on the head, then its off to another human. However last thursday there were 5 or 6 little dogs in the under 25lb area, I took him in and he began to run and play like I had never seen before, so im thinking he is still a little young and all the pits and other large dogs in the main area make him nervous. Any thoughts on parks or my situation?

[Michael's Maggie May]

My last vet in Florida who I have been friends with for over 30 yrs told me thats the best place to pick up diseases. You know everyone that goes there does not keep up with all the vacinations, everyone does not pick up their dogs feces,not to mention the ones that bring very aggresive dogs. To have her off leash and some mongrel chews her up while i'm at the other end of the park
is not going to happen.

[JasonandNat]

Dog parts are a necessity for one very important reason - socializing!!!

Some chows will also get exercise. Ours do not, unless the dog number is few and the other dogs are willing to be 'prey' and run! We exercise ours through countless ravines and trails. Where they also socialize and chase other dogs, squirrels, rabbits, chippies, etc..

[chowhuskylass]

Unfortunately we do not have specific dog parks but my friends and I have a dog breakfast club where we meet up and let our dogs play together....It is something that has always disappointed me we have parks and beaches some are dog friendly but nowhere do we have a promoted place for dogs and owners to go freely and it be secure with dog poop bins provided, in turn its stifles our dogs opportunity to be social and continuously learn about themselves and hone their social skills at the same time. We would love a dog park dog beach but here its not a reality yet! we do everything we can to have our dogs off lead and be social

[Victory]

The thing you have to watch out for especially as he gets bigger and develops more of the charateristics of a chow is that some dogs will take one look at him and attack. Chows smell different than other dogs, even most humans can smell the difference, those straight back legs give them that stilted gait we all like, but to another dog that gait spells aggression, add to that the mane and upraised tail that all look aggressive and some other dogs take exception to it. Encounters between chows and other dogs should be done only when you have full control and the other owner has control as well. Also remember chows play rough, very rough and that too can set off fights because many other dogs don't get the play growls that chows use. I've had other canines take one look at my chows from across the street, (my chows ignoring them and going about their own business) and start growling at them, or even charging at them!

Also keep in mind that even a neutered male chow may not submit, even my female will not submit to another dog, this also can cause issues. Also as someone else has mentioned, not all dogs in a dog park have all their shots or are well taken care of, fleas, mange, and other parasites for which there are no vacines or pills can be passed along during interactions.

I'll admit that I'm not a big on on socializing among canines, I myself don't socialize much with other humans and as long as my chows don't START trouble, I don't care if they play with other dogs or not, I'm content with them simply ignoring other dogs, just like I ignore most other humans. I'm an introvert, my chows are introverted, we get along just fine and are quite happy in our pack.

[Sirchow]

Like chowhuskylass says we dont have dog parks over here but I personally wouldn't take Bramble if we did. She either plays a ittle too rough with smaller dogs or is terrified of bigger ones. I prefer her to socialise in a calmer atmosphere where other people have control of their dogs. Even on leads not everyone can controls their dog or even try to. We meet a collie on its lead every morning on our walks and every time it lunges at Bramble and every time the owners make ineffectual tries to stop it afterwards but never take evasive action before. This has made Bramble really frightened of this dog. I would hate to meet that collie in a dog park as Bramble would just run blindly away from it with her tail down like she does on her walk. I think that taking her to classes and shows has allowed her to meet a much nicer more under control dog that has made her more confident and also taught her a lot about how to behave nicely and with manners in company.

[chowpups]

I must agree with Sirchow, Nikki was in puppy social classes and on up until she was 2 yrs. (different classes). But it was a controlled socializing and training.. Iam not a big fan of dog parks. Seen too many fights and have seen the results.. maybe they are different other places but I have taken Nikki and just watched (never put her in) and its too crazy for my liking..

[Tippsy'smom]

I personally don't like dog parks. I've seen and heard too many bad things about dog parks.

[Swerve]

Yes there are risks etc, but it is the best thing for your Chow to be socialized. It needs to learn how to meet and greet other dogs from a young age. Again your dog will react different on a leash to when not, Duff our 10 year old chow X will act all aggressive on the leash, but off leash doesn’t care the slightest, has a bum sniff and off to the nearest tree.

I suggest you watch the group carefully and work out if there are any aggressive dogs and then just becarefull. I have had two dogs in the past who were not socialized and it is just painful walking as they get excited, anxious, aggressive when they see another dog on a leash.

Winston out 9 month old smooth chow just has a great time, at the park when he gets rumbled, or5 told off for trying to be alpha male, just goes submissive and the issue stops, he also realizes to leave that dog alone etc.

Any vet, dog club etc will advise your dog needs socialization with dogs and humans. YES, go for it !!! But as always be careful

[DOHMAN]

My chows love the dogpark. Allie could care less about the other dogs but loves the human interaction. She will chase some dogs but mostly she just loves smelling and walking around. Teddy can run for 1-2 hours straight without stopping. Its really crazy how fast he is for a chow.

[myboys]

I take Butch and Sundance to a dog park and it has been "mostly" a positive thing.
They absolutely love it...no question about that but I have learned to watch and access the situation before I go in.
I learned the hard way that some pet owners are not responsible and when their dog becomes overly agressive they do nothing.
Others will lease their dog immediately or remove him/her from the park.
So I just learned to be more careful and always alert to what is happening around us.
I hate to deprive them of the absolutely, positively fabulous time they have there though!!

[Auddymay]

As others have attested, it's a mixed bag. Lily is the one who could benefit from the social aspect, but like yours, is a perimeter checker and could care less about other people or dogs. She will hang out with some dogs, but they have to meet her list of criteria. I also have a dog beach I use in the summer and that is even more risky and also rewarding. Oddly, Lily gravitates to the sled dogs, because they are not over-bearing. She was once attacked with kisses by a young Cavalier King Charles spaniel. That was the funniest thing I ever saw. Lily did not know what to do with the kissing pup!

[Oscar rules]

We don't have doggy parks here, but too be honest, I don't think I would let Oscar go there as to some dogs he appears quite intimidating and they immediatlely attack him, Oscar is such a placid little monster but as soon as they show aggression towards him he immediately gets his own back and I don't think the other dogs know what to make of it.

If he was off his lead away from me and another dog attacked, well I wouldn't like to see the outcome of that because even the biggest dogs don't bother him, he just goes on protecting us.

He has his own friends whom he has grouwn up with including his little girlfriend Bonnie (he has protected her so many times when other dogs attack her) and I think this is enough to make sure his social behaviour is acceptable.

But saying that, each to their own, if you have found a doggie park that you are completely confortable with, then wonderful, after all it is keeping our dogs safe that matters, doesn't matter where that is as long as they come first.

[Swerve]

But saying that, each to their own, if you have found a doggie park that you are completely confortable with, then wonderful, after all it is keeping our dogs safe that matters, doesn't matter where that is as long as they come first.

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