[Geetiill]

I was at the pet store earlier buying toys for my 4-legged princess, and got to talking to a woman there about the indestructible toys and how our dogs can easily destroy them. I asked what kind of dog she had - a boxer/pit bull mix. I figured as much.

We were talking about our dogs and she said

"well, it's a shame but I can't really bring my dog to the dog park anymore because he tries to attack children. And then there was this other incident. My dog was playing a little rough with another dog, but the other dog's owner didn't mind, and this woman came over and grabbed my dog's collar and yanked him away from the other dog, and my dog bit her. She called the police and my dog had to be quarantined and ended up being put on a registry. Completely unfair because she had no business grabbing my dog's collar."

and then...

"So now I try to go to the dog park only when there aren't a lot of other dogs or children there."

EGADS, woman! I told her that dog parks are a terrible idea, especially for pit bulls, because like she saw no matter what the pit bull is going to get blamed.

And she starts saying how she only takes him to areas where there aren't other dogs or a lot of other people, and I told her again to NOT take her dog there. She seemed so distressed and asked me how I possibly exercise my dog if we don't go to the dog park. Um, we walk about 6-8 miles a day, I run intervals with her, we play a lot, and on weekends I take her to a friend's backyard to run around. A dog doesn't NEED offleash running. It's nice but it's not a necessity.

What a freaking loon. When did people get this idea that they have to have off-leash time for their dog? And that dog parks are for everyone? Not to mention if her dog has been put on a registry that means it's been declared dangerous/vicious and should not even be out without a muzzle.

GAHH. These are the morons that make other people want to take my dog away from me. WHy???

[frequensearules]

People become SO dependent on dog parks, because it allows them to be lazy! They don't actually want to WALK or play fetch with their dog when they get home from work, you know

That woman sounds like a basketcase and a half!

[Geetiill]

I play fetch inside with Amy. It's not ideal but after about 15 minutes she's pretty pooped.

And honestly it's not hard to walk 6-8 miles a day. Granted I have no kids but that's like an hour before work, and hour after, and a shorter walk before bed. It's become my time to unwind and relax, and we both look forward to it.

[AnIInWon]

Aren't there meds for that kind of stupid yet? I mean, it's 2012 FFS!

I agree with Teal. Dog parks seem to be a very popular way to lazily, exercise your dog. Just go to the park, get a coffee and sit on the bench and chat while it runs around.

Attacks children... wtf??!

ETA - 15 minutes of inside fetch poops Amy out?!? You are one lucky woman! lol Hades just went for a 45 minute intense fetch/tug/heel session off lead, every throws a good 100 feet and he could do it again... probably 5 times over before he'd bat an eye and tongue spoon. He's got spectacular stamina and a touch of crazy to keep him going that extra mile!

[Geetiill]

Aren't there meds for that kind of stupid yet? I mean, it's 2012 FFS!

I agree with Teal. Dog parks seem to be a very popular way to lazily, exercise your dog. Just go to the park, get a coffee and sit on the bench and chat while it runs around.

Attacks children... wtf??!

They're kind of a new phenomenon, aren't they? I don't remember ever hearing of a dog park when I was growing up. Then again I grew up in the suburbs and a lot of people in the neighborhood just let their dogs meander around without a leash. But it was a pretty quiet neighborhood. I'm not THAT old though - I was born in the 80s for crying out loud. When did dog parks become all the rage?

Yeah....wasn't quite sure what to say about the children thing. My guess is the dog growls at children. Probably not a very stable animal.

[frequensearules]

Gah! I SO miss having a dog who would rather die than stop playing fetch! I'm pretty sure I'm as obsessed with fetch as some dogs

One house I lived at in Portland, we would play fetch up and down the stairs leading into the basement when the weather was icky... Now THAT is a way to tire out a dog! (it's the only house I've ever lived in with indoor stairs... I thought it sounded weird if I didn't point that out LOL)

[AnIInWon]

Gah! I SO miss having a dog who would rather die than stop playing fetch! I'm pretty sure I'm as obsessed with fetch as some dogs

One house I lived at in Portland, we would play fetch up and down the stairs leading into the basement when the weather was icky... Now THAT is a way to tire out a dog! (it's the only house I've ever lived in with indoor stairs... I thought it sounded weird if I didn't point that out LOL)

Uhm, is that safe to do with a dog that goes down the stairs normally so fast that it falls (he falls going up sometimes too...)? Did I mention that this is Hades? The dog that runs into things, whacks his head off of door jams and trees, trips and falls poolside, and one time, it was classic, he was carrying a long, thick branch and tried to run between two trees and that weren't wide enough apart and he pulled the cartoon dog squish-into-itself-like-an-accordion-stop?!?!

It sounds like great exercise on a rainy day for a dog with a brain and an understanding of; If I fall I could really hurt myself! Bhahahaha, and that's NOT Hades!!

[Geetiill]

Yeah...Amy's not very good at fetch:

[grosqueneen]

I wish I could get Callie to play fetch

Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

[frequensearules]

Uhm, is that safe to do with a dog that goes down the stairs normally so fast that it falls (he falls going up sometimes too...)? Did I mention that this is Hades? The dog that runs into things, whacks his head off of door jams and trees, trips and falls poolside, and one time, it was classic, he was carrying a long, thick branch and tried to run between two trees and that weren't wide enough apart and he pulled the cartoon dog squish-into-itself-like-an-accordion-stop?!?!

It sounds like great exercise on a rainy day for a dog with a brain and an understanding of; If I fall I could really hurt myself! Bhahahaha, and that's NOT Hades!!

I asked myself the saaame thing the first time Ruger took off at full speed, and made it down three steps before just flying and tumbling the rest of the way down But he DID learn to moderate it... he's definitely of the "with a brain" variety LOL

---------- Post added at 09:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:10 PM ----------

I wish I could get Callie to play fetch

Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

I got Zealand to bring the ball back three, count em THREE, times today before he finally said he'd had enough of my silly, pointless human game lol

[AnIInWon]

Hey! Now THAT is a lazy persons ideal dog to exercise. You just have to throw the ball once or twice and she exercises herself!

If I don't throw the ball immediately upon it's return, and can ignore the screaming that ensues, he'll eventually quiet down and settle for destroying whatever expensive fetch object was thrown! I will trade you any day for Amy's low key fetch skillz!!!

On topic! Do you think the woman honestly meant the dog attacks kids, or just jumps on them or something? Stay away from wherever she walks her dog!

[Rwujnezq]

Fuck wits man.....

[Geetiill]

Hey! Now THAT is a lazy persons ideal dog to exercise. You just have to throw the ball once or twice and she exercises herself!

If I don't throw the ball immediately upon it's return, and can ignore the screaming that ensues, he'll eventually quiet down and settle for destroying whatever expensive fetch object was thrown! I will trade you any day for Amy's low key fetch skillz!!!

On topic! Do you think the woman honestly meant the dog attacks kids, or just jumps on them or something? Stay away from wherever she walks her dog!

Oh yeah that's exactly what it's like with her. I toss the ball a few feet and she's good to go. When we're on walks she'll find a stick, wrestle with it, and then toss it in the air to fetch it. She's hilarious. But off leash I end up having to find the ball a lot because she never brings it back

My guess is that the dog doesn't really attack children but maybe growls or gets uncomfortable? Could be he jumps. I was honestly at a total loss of what to say to her about anything.

[Jellowstrom]

I meet up at the dog park sometimes wit a few select friends of mine and their dogs but no one is ever at our dog park except one other person sometimes so its not a huge deal for me. I feel bad for u guys that live in big cities where ur dog parks are overrun

[Geetiill]

I meet up at the dog park sometimes wit a few select friends of mine and their dogs but no one is ever at our dog park except one other person sometimes so its not a huge deal for me. I feel bad for u guys that live in big cities where ur dog parks are overrun

The one this woman was talking about is right by my house and is enormous. It's 1/4 mile long and narrow, with several spots of water access for the dogs to swim. On weekends I have seen literally hundreds of dogs there at once. It's insanity. I brought Amy there once before I knew any better and she quickly got overwhelmed.

[BronUVT]

What a stupid woman.. first off I would stop bring my dog there if it jumped and "attacked" children.. thats a big lawsuit waiting to happen.. but then the idiot kept going anyways and the dog bit someone! She is lucky the dog isn't dead and she is taken to court.. dumb dumb dumb

I took Bauer once to the dog park.. he paid no attention AT all to the other dogs.. but then I became smart and stopped going.. now I have 5 acres of my own for my dogs to run on!

I don't ever remember dog parks at all when I was growing up.. seems like in the last 5yrs or so? Seems almost like they became popular when Cesar Milan came about.. hmmm I believe he is a big supporter of them

[grosqueneen]

Yeah...Amy's not very good at fetch:

i love amy's ears

[Geetiill]

I took Amy when I first got her because all I kept hearing was "socialize her! socialize her!" and thought it was the best thing for her to play with other dogs.

DOH!

---------- Post added at 10:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:57 PM ----------

i love amy's ears

Thanks! They sold me on her. When I went to meet her I was like "oh damn, this is a pit bull, I don't think I can handle her" and then she turned to me and cocked those ears and I was a goner. They're so expressive

[usacomm]

Uhm, is that safe to do with a dog that goes down the stairs normally so fast that it falls (he falls going up sometimes too...)? Did I mention that this is Hades? The dog that runs into things, whacks his head off of door jams and trees, trips and falls poolside, and one time, it was classic, he was carrying a long, thick branch and tried to run between two trees and that weren't wide enough apart and he pulled the cartoon dog squish-into-itself-like-an-accordion-stop?!?!

Oh my God that is Bear LOL

Just yesterday he was doing his "Imma bronco!" thing and he went down and bucked up and his head caught the glass top of my coffee table and he and the table glass went up about 2-3 ft and then he ran and the glass slammed down onto the table, didnt break thank God, and he stopped dead and went to check the table, because you know that just couldnt have possibly been him that made that happen

[Voitramma]

Boo does the "buckin Bronco" moves too! When she is just beyond herself happy she cow hops all over before going into speed mode.