[Immampdah]

So I was curious if any of you have had any personal horror experiences at dog parks. I've only taken my pup to them a few times and I really do hate them. Never want to take him back and while my story isn't the worst out there figured I'd share anyway.

So the first time I went with him, he was playing around with a few dogs and thats fine. Then this white dog, maybe a lab or bully mix not sure comes in and is going to town on Simba. It keeps RAMMING into my boy and thankfully Simba didn't fight back. I was like O.O and the owner is brushing it off, saying he always plays that rough. Oh, so that's playing? With its hackles up the entire time specifically zoning in on my dog who was trying to avoid him at all costs. Simba is on the ground, dirt and mud all on him from his tumbles and I'll admit I try to avoid confrontations but I was ripped when he said my dog was fine. I was like "No he's not." got him and told my dad we're leaving. Ugh.

So what's yours?

[royarnekara]

My experience with dog parks is limited to the forums. There wasn't one near me when I joined and by the time the powers that be opened a couple within a short drive I knew better than to go there. There were so many horror stories or near horror stories here and at my other bulldog forums that I learned from others mistakes.

[HilaryNidierer]

If you read the Pit Bulls & Dog Parks thread there are many who had to learn the hard way. I personally don't have an experience with them personally and never will.

I just learned how bad they are, especially for this breed here when I joined.

[HcMkOKiz]

There's only two actual 'dog parks' in my city, both are a good 20 min drive away, and awful places. All the dogs are out of control. We only went to one once. There are a lot of 'off-leash zones' in parks or wooded areas near me though. While they aren't dog parks, dog owners do tend to congregate there, but they tend to keep a closer eye on the dogs. I usually walk my dog (not a pit bull type) through one at some point during our walk, but we rarely stop and greet the other dogs.

Last time I was walking through, there were about four dogs with their owners there. Three of them were on their own trip, each chasing their own ball or practicing obedience. One little yorkie-mix was with an elderly couple, and every time another dog came near it, it exploded, yapping and snapping at them. Since the only dog not already occupied was clearly not friendly, I kept my dog's leash on and kept walking, but the little dog came up to us. She seemed to not like being sniffed/paid attention to, so I put my dog into a sit and kept a short leash. Little dog sniffed mine all over and all seemed fine. The moment she turned her attention away, we continued walking, but that movement was enough to set little dog off. She did make contact with my dog's leg but no skin was broken and fortunately I have my dog under enough control that she didn't retaliate. My conversation with the owners went a little something like this:

Me: "You're lucky all of the dogs here are friendly or under control, or yours would be toast."
Them: "Yeah, I don't know who she thinks she is! She's a quarter their size. Silly Muffin!"

...like it was their dog's fault... Some day that little dog is going to bark at a dog that won't take any sass, and it'll be lights out. The majority of dog owners are some of the stupidest people in the world.

[xquFzpNw]

a long time ago, when dog parks were new in Minnesota, I had a wiemaraner pup that I brought to one, to check it out. Well, it went great the first couple of times, she got to play with some dogs, and run off some of that weimaraner energy. They had ponds for swimming and everything. She loved it. Well, one day we went there and a guy was there with a pack of beagles, and he was smoking a nasty, stinky cigar. Well, his beagles, all 6 of them, ganged up on my Lily, and I asked him to get them from her, and he argued with me saying he didn't have to, and blah blah blah, waving his nasty, stinky cigar all around. Well, I got Lily from them, and we left. Well, didn't learn my lesson that time, and brought her back. She had fun, ran, played, etc. Brought her back a few times. Well, it happened again, one day, some lady with a chow was there. The chow and Lily sniffed, and then the chow attacked her. The lady started screaming, and yelled at me! She told me that her dog had never done that before, then that it was my fault and my dog must have done something. She was rude to me, and it was all my fault, blah blah blah. Other people saw the fight and agreed with me on what happened. I left, and have never and will never be back at a dog park. Since then I have learned more about the evils of those places, and had I known then what I know now, I would have never brought her in the first place. Hell, I was only 17 when I brought her there, so, still young and stupid.

[tigoCeree]

I used to pretty close to 1. No horror story though. I would take my young (6 m to 1 yr) old APBT to them to help socilaize them. but once they turned about 1 or showed a bit to much interested in other dogs I would stop going.

The dogs at dog parts do tend to be out of control. the only issue I ever had was with a beautiful pit bull. The dog would not leave mine alone. I think it would have become a problem. I was going to collect me dog and leave but the other APBT owner came up and said " my dog never acts this way" and left with their dog.

I do not go to dog parks anymore. I find other avenues for socilization now. Obed class is an awesome place for it LOL.

[highattainlet]

I have never taken my dogs to a dog park. However, I went to see one in a nearby town (without my dogs). It was absolutely beautiful! As I was checking it out, I noticed a cane corso chained to a picnic table in the middle of the park. He was Out Of His Mind with aggression/frustration. The thought that that BOMB was sitting in there waiting for a dog to rush up to him made me feel sick. It was an accident waiting to happen. Then, near the entry gate, I saw a woman being dragged around by a pit bull type dog. She got the leash off just as she entered. The woman said her dog was getting harder and harder to control was was getting more intense with other dogs. Her dog was about a year old. A great age for "something" to "happen." Then, a pack of labs on "e" collars came in. Owners were hollering and stimming their dogs. I just left. The park was well-designed, large, and ran along a river. It was an amazing place. And it was insane. I know for a fact that my male would have fought with at least two of the dogs and I suspect my female would have been killed by the chained dog in the middle.

[Atmotteenrift]

Never gone to one and never will. The only park we've gone to is a people park. Dogs are allowed but they are anal about them staying on leads and people are really great about it. Never had a problem and there's so many paths that you can go and go and not run into another dog. Of course there are days that there are so many people there I don't take my guys just because the risk of something happening goes up. They were talking about putting a dog park where dogs are allowed off lead and a friend of mine with an agressive bully mix is so excited to go I will be avoiding that at all cost.

[cafeviahe]

I don't have any. I have enough sense not to go!!!!

[mas-dkt-sive]

I use to visit our dog park on a regular basis with my lab and Gauge my 11 month old APBT X. My dogs really enjoyed the park I never really had any problems I went about the same time everyday, most days the same people and dog set were there. It's a smal enough dog park that is closely regulated by our local animal control (Animal control faces the dog park).

We don't go much anymore however due to the cold. When i did visit we went when the regular group of people was there and only then.

OUr dog park is one that is not really put to use, I don't think I've ever seen more then 5-6 dogs there. With animal control always watching people tend to avoid the dog park here.

[actifadepette]

I will never go to a dog park again. I had a poodle that was nearly killed at one just for entering and minding his own business, and that is all I care to really say on the matter.

[barsikjal]

call me crazy but I have enough common sense not to take a dog created to fight other dogs to a place where there are dogs running loose

[seperalem]

I've only been to one. We were on a drive with the dogs and saw one. There was one Boxer puppy in it. Rosie is great with puppies, and it's owners were cool with us bringing our dogs in. DH held Nick outside, since he's not cool with other dogs. I took Rosie in and she played with the puppy for a while, showed it how to go thru the tunnel, etc. When the puppy got tired, they left and DH brought Nick in. Nick & Rosie ran & played for a quite a while. Then we saw anohter dog walking down the sidewalk so we leashed up and left.
There aren't any dog parks near us. I just take my dogs to a private beach and let them go crazy there.

[MortgFinsJohnQ]

I've never been to one, and I have no desire to ever set foot in one either.

[BodeOmissemia]

Never would I go to a ''dog park'' with my dogs!!! Most of my dogs are dog selective/dog dominant,and would tear up a dog who got too cocky or picked a fight with them. Even if my dogs weren't the way they are,other people's dogs might be. I hate dog parks.Accidents waiting to happen.

[MormefWrarebe]

Well, every dog I've owned would either not put up with another dog's shit or was outright DA. So I never had any inclination to go anyway with my other, non-bully breeds.. I do like to sit by the dog parks though and watch the chaos. I've witnessed many fights, one where I stepped in because the owners were doing nothing but hitting the dogs and screaming. I do not know why public dog parks are legal..

[indentKew]

I went long, long ago when I was about 15 (maybe younger). I had Ivan and some Boxer jumped him and he tore into the dog. The Boxer's owners grab Ivan by the neck and lifted him off the ground, so I punched them in the face, got ivan, and left the park.

More people aggression then dog, haha.


Now the only 'dog park' I take mine too is way out in the boonies where I have seen one or two dogs, but usually none. It's just a nice place to let them run free. Now will I bring (older) Bowser or the new APBT pup, negative.

[Catieliecutty]

I've never been to a dog park.

Before getting a pit bull I never went because the idea of hob-nobbing with a bunch of strangers didn't appeal to me. Plus I was always paranoid about the dogs that my dog came in contact with; like were they sick, did they have fleas, yadda yadda.

[Hlennisal]

Be never been to a dog park, I have a fenced in 8 acre field that they get to run around in once or twice a day.

[highattainlet]

There is very little I wouldn't do for 8 fenced in acres... I only have one.