She is finally fully vaccinated (it's a more drawn out process here in the US) and can go to the dog park! I am so excited to let her run her little heart out ... she is going to be in doggy heaven.
Re: Get to take Rue to the dog park for the first time this weekend! Great. I hope it goes well, and she has a pleasant experience and meets loads of lovely dogs.
Re: Get to take Rue to the dog park for the first time this weekend! [quote author=JulieT link=topic=8310.msg117374#msg117374 date=1413497591] Great. I hope it goes well, and she has a pleasant experience and meets loads of lovely dogs. [/quote] Thanks! Do you have much experience with dog parks? Ever had any problems?
Re: Get to take Rue to the dog park for the first time this weekend! We go to dog parks a lot. Mostly everything is great and the dogs are just fine and are well socialised. I often see puppies at the park and they are having a nice time. Just be prepared to step in and pick her up if she seems a bit intimidated by any dog. Don't accept the 'he's just playing' or 'they'll work it out themselves' statements you may get. Hope you have lots of fun
Re: Get to take Rue to the dog park for the first time this weekend! Yes I agree with Rachael,enjoy yourselves but trust your instincts ,if you aren't happy with anything step in.Let us know how you get on x
Re: Get to take Rue to the dog park for the first time this weekend! Great, keep us posted on how Rue gets on.
Re: Get to take Rue to the dog park for the first time this weekend! Wish we had dog parks here, Hollie would love it
Re: Get to take Rue to the dog park for the first time this weekend! Update: the first visit did NOT go well. Rue wanted nothing to do with the other dogs and wanted to be held whenever one was around. And then just as she was getting comfortable, three giant dogs came over and started chasing/pouncing on her. She was absolutely terrified ... I felt awful! They were playing, but she doesn't realize that yet. I immediately ran over to pick her up. She has been around other dogs a handful of times, but always in a controlled setting, so there have never been any issues. I know I don't need to baby her, but I also don't want her scared for her life! Any tips? Short trips for now to ease her into it and get her more used to it?
Re: Get to take Rue to the dog park for the first time this weekend! Aw, that's a shame about the big dogs... I'm sure she will be ok though. I'd take her back soon and have her in your lap if there is anywhere to sit down or just hold her if there is nowhere to sit down. Then she can experience the environment from a safe vantage point. If you do put her down make sure you are within a metre of her all the time so you can be ready to pick her up.
Re: Get to take Rue to the dog park for the first time this weekend! Good advice from Rachael...I'd also choose your times and go when you can guesstimate it will be quieter ..... I'm sorry it wasn't so good as I know you would have been excited to take her but it won't be like that all the time.good luck,for your next trip x
Re: Get to take Rue to the dog park for the first time this weekend! Aw! I'm so SORRY she had a bad experience! I'm looking forward to getting Luna into a dog park eventually myself once she has had all of her shots. Why don't you start her out with a doggy daycare first? She probably just doesn't have enough confidence yet to freely run around with other dogs without much supervision. A doggy daycare will have staff in a smaller, confined area that they can allow the dogs to play without letting things get out of hand. They usually split the dogs up by age/size as well. They may be a good place to start so that she can built that confidence around other dogs.
Re: Get to take Rue to the dog park for the first time this weekend! Another update: we were out and about this morning for some garage sales, and I decided to drive by a different dog park in the area to take a look as I had read online that it had a good sized small dog area. Well, there ended up being only a handful of people in that area, so Rue and I went in for a bit. And she had an absolute blast! She was shy at first, but by the time we left, she had really started warming up to the other dogs and was even playing with them! No tail tucking/crying today and she ran and ran. Completely different attitude from yesterday. There was one dog in particular that she took a liking to -- it was adorable. The few dogs/owners that were there are regulars and go every Saturday morning. Their dogs are all friends and get along great. Very nice people. They also mentioned they'd never take their dogs back to the park we had a bad experience at yesterday, as they found the dogs way too rough there. I'm so glad we had a much better experience this time! [quote author=lunasmama link=topic=8310.msg117888#msg117888 date=1413634735] Aw! I'm so SORRY she had a bad experience! I'm looking forward to getting Luna into a dog park eventually myself once she has had all of her shots. Why don't you start her out with a doggy daycare first? She probably just doesn't have enough confidence yet to freely run around with other dogs without much supervision. A doggy daycare will have staff in a smaller, confined area that they can allow the dogs to play without letting things get out of hand. They usually split the dogs up by age/size as well. They may be a good place to start so that she can built that confidence around other dogs. [/quote] Definitely want to start taking her to doggy daycare a few times a month. We looked at really great one, and it required she be spayed. Not sure if this is the norm.
Re: Get to take Rue to the dog park for the first time this weekend! Sounds like the second park was really good for Rue it is so nice to see them playing nicely
Re: Get to take Rue to the dog park for the first time this weekend! Oh that's great! So glad you have found a nice group of people and dogs
Re: Get to take Rue to the dog park for the first time this weekend! That sounds like a much more pup-friendly place!
Re: Get to take Rue to the dog park for the first time this weekend! You must feel SO much better now you have found that second park - well done!
Re: Get to take Rue to the dog park for the first time this weekend! Oh that's lovely to hear after your previous disappointment x
Re: Get to take Rue to the dog park for the first time this weekend! Good news - so glad you have found a good place ;D ;D
