[Tisha___]

First I'll say that Jaz loves the local dog park. We've had nothing but GREAT experiences there. But you have to have an eagle eye and realize that there are risks. Our dog park also seperates the small (and/or old) dogs from the big dogs. It helps, IMO.

But, this...

Other owners DO MIND if your dog mounts them. I personally find it offensive and in truth it makes me mad when an owner either laughs at it or watches and does nothing. People just might not say anything to you letting you believe that they don’t mind, but they do mind. One day your dog is going to try and mount the wrong dog and there will be trouble!

WORD! WORD! WORD! SO MUCH WORD! To this. Jaz has been mounted several times. Poor thing. She looks so violated afterward. And most of the owners take it seriously and help to put a stop to it right off. But, there are also some who do not take it seriously and think it's a joke. And, in my experience, those owners are usually owners of smaller dogs.

But, I digress. lol This IS a hot topic, and I'm sorry that the person who started it got offended. I think she was just seeing things she doesn't want to admit to and that's why she got upset.

Hopefully, she'll use the posts on this thread as a learning tool.

[L144S]

I think it is great if you like her in your bed. Dixie is a 70lb bed hog. I do love to have her come up and snuggle but I hate feeling her move around all night Same for DH frankly

I would still recomend continuing to use your crate when you are at home.
The situations are as follows. you have someone in your home that dosen't like dogs, you can put your pup away for a rest and have a plesent visit with out having your pup be annoying the whole time. You could be having something done in the house, packing, cleaning and need the pup to be someplace safe while you deal with other things. If your pup is use to being in her crate with you at home, you eliminate the barking/ stress.

But the big one is visits to the vet. If your pup has to stay over night for any reason, you know she will be fine. it may be a new environment, but you have worked to eliminate the stress of of just being crated with people around.

I look at raising dogs like raising kids. It is not about spoiling them, it is about the habits you create for them. keep that in mind as you choose the privlages and things you need of your pet to be a part of your life.

[sotypical]

thanks for the tip, ill work on the crate thing!

[stacylambert]

Originally Posted by Tisha___

I'm sorry that the person who started it got offended. I think she was just seeing things she doesn't want to admit to and that's why she got upset.

Hopefully, she'll use the posts on this thread as a learning tool.

I believe I stated the reason I got upset ie. assumptions were made that I did nothing to stop the behavior and that my dog was not trained. I didn't appreciate was being told I'm the reason dogs parks are a bad place when I did everything in my power to control the situation including not taking him back since the incident. I don't think my reaction to any of that was uncalled for or defensive.

And FYI I do appreciate the advice that was given as well as the personal stories. Thank you all for taking your time to post what were often loooooong posts

[EZMONEY]

HEY STACY ~ I GOT IT!

[EZMONEY]

And For The Rest Of You ~ Great Advice!!!!

[luvmypup]

For the first month he did really well. Got along with all the dogs, never showed any signs of aggression. Around the second month mark he began displaying dominance through mounting behavior. Most of the dogs (and owners) didn't mind and he quickly rose to "top dog" of the park. This didn't seem to be a problem until the last couple weeks he's began being aggressive.

and

When other dogs basically bother him (ie chase him or try to play when he didn't want to) he would growl or snap, but never actually bite. As if he was saying "back off."

Emphases added.

The internet is a funny place; it can be very hard to communicate clearly.

You say now that you tried to stop the behavior, and I now say that I'm glad you did.

Looking at the two emphasized quotes, however, there's nothing in what you originally said that indicates that you DID try to stop the behavior, or how. If I should have assumed you gave a timely, fair, effective correction because you are the type of person who of course would do so, I'm sorry--I simply didn't know that.

If my advice or commentary was irrelevant in your situation, I won't be in the least bit offended if you just leave it alone. My advice and commentary have been ignored before, and I seem to have survived just fine.

I am sorry you took offense; none was intended. You asked for advice, I did my best with what you wrote.

I do know how it feels to be offended on the internet--and it does hurt--but I'm sure you will live to be offended again another day. Most of us have.

I hope that you find someone who can help you with your problem. Other than "stay away from bad dog parks," I'm now tapped out.

luvmypup

[chick_in_the_hat]

I have only been to dog parks a couple times...but found tons of useful info here. THANKS!!!

BTW - Cesar Milan!!