Dog Park Discussion

Saturday morning I was reading my daily Dogster Blog and was so pleased to see the topic of Dog Parks.  The title was Dog Parks - Love 'Em or Hate 'Em?.  I have shared the blog below, I think all the major points are represented.  Take a look and I will weigh in with my opinions after.

Let's Talk: Dog Parks - Love 'Em or Hate 'Em?

When I started research for the first edition of my book, The Dog Lover’s Companion to California, there were just a handful of fenced-in dog parks in the entire Golden State. I raved about these parks and gave them a four-paw rating and lots of space in my book, because they were so dog-focused, so safe from cars, and mostly so unique.

Fast-forward a couple of decades to 2012 and the seventh edition. The world has gone to the dogs. At least the U.S. has. There are thousands of these dog parks across the country -- hundreds in California alone. I’ve had to rein in the descriptions to the point where some are as short as three sentences, and have removed dog-friendly events from the book because there just wasn’t enough room for everything. (The book is 1,006 pages. Big enough!)

Dog parks be great places for pooches to run around in leash-free bliss. But there's another side to dog parks that's not all wags and smiling snouts. Along the way, I’ve had mixed feelings about dog parks. Most people and dogs thrive in them, and they’re huge social outlets for both species. People can take their dog for a “talk” instead of a walk, and the dogs generally seem to enjoy sniffing each other’s tushies and chasing each other around with abandon.

But I’ve seen more than my share of problems at dog parks as well. It’s an occupational hazard when you visit hundreds of dog parks for your job. When a lot of dogs share a relatively small space where they can’t get out, and where people often aren’t paying attention, it can be a recipe for trouble.

There aren’t that many dog parks I’ll take Jake to by choice if lots of other dogs are around. As big and affable as he is, when he enters a park, he seems to attract every dog (not uncommon) and they tend to surround him and try to be dominant on and around him (not so common). It’s like he has a sign saying, “Hump me, guys! And come growl at me, too!” These days, if I’m going to check out a park that’s full of dogs, I don’t bring Jake.

During my visits to dog parks with and without my canine assistant, I’ve seen a lot of happiness and real joy. There’s nothing like watching a dog tearing around gleefully, with her tail high and a smile on her snout. And most of the people who use them are friendly and extremely responsible. They’re invested in their park try to make sure everyone is safe. If there’s a problem, they deal with it.

I’ve also seen my share of the not-so-good side of dog parks: Aggression, smaller dogs being trampled (shaken, not badly injured, thankfully; dog parks with a section just for little dogs helps this problem), and owners who ignore any bad behavior or anything their dog does at all - including pooping.

It can get downright ugly sometimes. Dogs have died in dog parks. Last month, a Siberian husky allegedly killed a Chihuahua at a fenced dog park in Ohio. Dogs and people have been bitten in dog parks. People have even become physically aggressive with other people if they felt their dog was getting a bad rap about something.

Dog parks are unfortunately no strangers to aggressive dog.

A writing colleague and I have plans to meet tomorrow, and when she found out I have a dog, she suggested we meet at a fenced dog park halfway between our houses. Our meeting is to be in the morning, but that’s doggy rush hour -- not a great time for an dog magnet like Jake. So she and I are leaving the dogs behind and grabbing breakfast instead.

But it got me to wondering what you guys think about dog parks. Do you use them? Do you avoid them? Have you had great experiences, terrible ones, or both? Please share your stories. Let’s talk!

 I have not been a dog park supporter for quite some time, but mainly that has to do with the dog parks that are around me in the Los Angeles area.  There are a few scattered around between the valley, west side and Pasadena area that are okay.  But my rule is to stay away from them.

My feelings are not without warrant.  These parks are too crowded most of the time, not all the dogs are safe to be there, meaning they are not properly socialized or out right aggressive and my biggest issue is that the majority of people going do not stay engaged with their dog.

I like that this article points out the three biggest problems that have made dog parks unsafe, owners not paying attention to their dogs, over crowding and aggressive dogs being present.

Look, I have a soft spot for aggressive dogs, especially having a general understanding of how they got that way.  These are not "bad" dogs that should be hidden away from society, but you do have to be responsible so they do not hurt other dogs or themselves.  Which is why an aggressive dog has no business being at the dog park, their interactions with other dogs should be much more regulated than that.  Not just for the safety of the other dogs and people but to help them.

As I said, my number one complaint is that people turn their dog loose and then check out.  To allow your dog to be free and then disengage with them is a recipe for disaster on a lot of levels.  Even if they make all the right choices as far as interacting with other dogs, what if they eat something bad or go home with someone else.  YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION.

But that is just the fenced in dog parks, there is another matter I want to bring up, especially to all of you living Downtown.  Just down the street on 2nd street and Spring Street there is a lawn behind the police station (ironic) and it has turned into an off leash dog park.  Here is my first problem, THERE IS NO FENCE!  I watch dogs run into the street, at least once a day as I walk past this lawn multiple times a day.  I have even had a dog run right in front of my car as I drove by, thankfully I was going extremely slow or I may not have been able to stop in time.

There have been multiple dogs hit and injured and there was talk that one has even died.  Now there are Lost Dog signs up all around the park, I have to wonder if the dog ran off from there. I know people just unleash there dog not knowing if the dog has a proper recall or not.  I have literally watched someone, with me and my dog's help, trap their dog to get them back or the dog would not have come back.

Then there is the issue of dog fights that break out and a majority of the people in the park are not handling it correctly.  If your dog is aggressive, why take him to this park?  Doing an alpha roll and scolding them are not going to stop them from being aggressive again, so when the dog is released they go right back into fight mode.

The last point I will make about this park specifically is the bullying factor.  I do not tell people what to do with their dogs, I will help when it looks like a dog's safety is in danger and if asked I will give my thoughts and opinions, but for the most part I feel that your dog is your dog and you have every right to make the choices you want to so long as you are not hurting your dog.  So when I walk my dog or a dog I am looking after through or by this park during the more down times on leash I do not expect to be told that this is for off leash dogs.  In fact, it is not an off leash zone and to tell me that a public space is off limits to me and my dog just because I don't want to take my dog off leash in an unsafe area is absurd to me.  I have literally been yelled out of the park because I would not take my dog off leash and the one or two dogs that were there wouldn't leave my dog alone as he found his potty spot on the edges of the park. 

My belief is that you do not need to go to the dog park, you can go to a regular park and take a long line for your dog.  If you are trying to get more dog on dog interaction, then invite a friend or two for your dog.  I do this all the time and have a great time and my dog is in heaven.  I know the dogs he is interacting with and I know the people are like minded.  If there are problems of any sort, we are on the same page and take care of it immediately.

So, what about you?  What do you think about dog parks?  If you are a Downtowner, what do you think of the 2nd street park?

Visit To The Snow

Yesterday I promised my dog he would finally see snow and I was able to keep my promise!  We got a late start, as I had to work for the better part of the day, but luckily we only had to drive for about an hour and half before I found some suitable snow.  I was so focused on getting my dog to the snow, I didn't really pay attention to the hike I just signed me, my boyfriend and our friend up for.  The dogs (Neville and one of his best friend's Zoe) had no problem with this hike, but for the humans, going almost straight up the side of a mountain is not ideal with no walking stick and appropriate shoes... but anything for our dogs, right?!

It was so much fun!  Watching them chase each other through the snow, stopping only to grab a bite of it here and there.  They climbed on top of the rocks and jumped over huge fallen trees.  It was well worth the effort we but forth.  And what a beautiful way to celebrate Earth Day!

When it was time to leave, like the teenager he is, Neville whined and cried to stay longer.  He was having too much fun for it to be over.  But as we drove away it took about 3 minutes before he curled up in the back seat and was sound to sleep for the rest of the ride home.  Leaving me and my boyfriend to enjoy the amazing views of the sun starting to set as we drove down the mountain.

Such a beautiful and fun day.

Happy Early Earth Day!

Don't forget that Sunday, April 22nd is Earth Day!   Make sure you and your pooch get out there and do something good for the earth.  Plant a tree and let your dog dig the whole.  Or organize a beach clean up day while the pooch takes a swim!  There are a lot of ways to be good to our earth and have fun at the same time!

For all of you Downtowner's don't miss out on Pussy & Pooch's Earth Day Celebration sale!  I will for sure be hitting the store to take advantage of the discounts!  Here is what is going on:

Celebrate Earth Day - One Day Sale (In-Store Only)

Save 10% (Treat Rewards Members Save 15%) in-store on select eco-friendly products on Earth Day - Sunday, April 22 – One-Day Only.

We are spotlighting some of the best brands committed to reducing the impact of pets and people on the environment like Planet Dog, Big Shrimpy, West Paw, and More!

Here's a list of what’s on-sale:
Planet Dog | toys
West Paw | toys and bedding
Big Shrimpy | bedding
KittyPod | furniture and scratchers
Better Buddies | bedding
Tipsy Nip | cat toys and treats
Etta Says | dog collars
Organikat | scratchers and cat toys
Go Pet | cat toys

 Sounds good right?!

Whatever you do and however you celebrate, make sure you include your pup and have a fun and safe weekend!

Police Dog Doing It's Job or Going Too Far?

I think I have made my feelings about working dogs very known, I stand in awe of them most of the time.  These brave and selfless souls do everything from guide the blind to protect and serve as police officers.  No matter what the "work" is, it requires a certain temperament and personality from the dog and that is the key reason I respect them so much.  Not every dog could do these tasks.  This is even more the reason I am bringing this clip I saw on the news the other day to you.

I believe that dogs that work in the police field or military, because of the strict training and aggressiveness they must have in that work (same as people), they can take it too far or the training starts to fade a bit and the dog starts to make more of the decisions rather than waiting for the handlers cue.  This is what I felt when I saw this story.

The clip of the news is below, but I watched a local broadcast here and they actually said that the dog would not let go until they cut the shorts off the suspect.  To me that is a little extreme, these dogs are suppose to have release cues.  I believe you can see the handler giving the release cue and the dog is not backing off.  Now, it is completely possible that because the suspect was being aggressive toward the dog or still moving around, he did not let go.  The officer that explains what happened seemed to think it went perfectly well.  Please watch so you can form your own opinion.



Don't get me wrong, I am still a big fan of the work these guys do.  It is a very serious job and one mistake could mean their life or the life of another officer, so I do understand they can't be soft with these situations.  My concern is, is this a dog that needs a break, a training refresher course or is he simply doing his job exactly as they want him to.  I am certainly no expert on this subject, so I am turning to you.  Let me know what you think.

A Loyal Friend

I'm sure you have all seen this story on the news by now, I have been following it as the tale unfolds, one dog laying beside her fallen friend in the middle of a busy street.  The image of the two dogs is extremely moving and sad.  The word loyalty could not be better illustrated than this image.

Below is the video that was taken by a good Samaritan that had also set up traffic cones to prevent "Grace" (as the rescuers named her) from being hit and her friend from being hit again.  He also called animal authorizes to come and help the two dogs.



After this story broke and "Grace" was taken in by Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control shelter in Baldwin Park, her owners finally came forward to claim her.  "Grace" is actually Maggie.  It took a few days for them to find her,  but she was not micro chipped, wore no identification and was not spayed, so it made it impossible for the shelter to contact the owners.

Apparently Maggie had been missing for a few days and the owners were searching everywhere for her, including the very shelter that ended up receiving her before she got there.  Today, the family will take Maggie home, pending a home inspection.

As for her fallen friend, still no one has claimed her. 

If there is a message that we all can take away, please get your dogs micro chipped or at the very least make them wear I.D. tags and of course, get your pets spayed or neutered.

Acupuncture For Neville

Today was the start of something new for Neville, acupuncture!  There are a lot of different thoughts and feelings out there about this treatment, but I have an open mind, especially where treating Neville for his fear and anxiety is concerned.  So when my veterinarian informed me that she was beginning to  perform acupuncture treatments for her patients, it took no time for me to say "yes, please"!

The day started just as everyday does with us, a long walk in the morning and breakfast to follow.  But I was a little more nervous today than any other day, I'm sure Neville noticed.  But by 10am, my nerves were gone and I was sitting in the waiting room of the vet's office trying to calm my sweet guy down.  After a consult and a check up, we were ready to start.  At this point I think Neville was the only nervous one, I was filled with hope that he would get some relief.

As each needle went in, you could see his eyes get heavy and his body relax.  His overwhelming need to get to a hiding place however, did not go away, so I did hold him for most of this.  But our vet went slow and steady and did not push him into anything.  She tried very hard to get him to lay on a comfy bed, but Neville much preferred the floor.  Once the needles were set, Neville was obviously in need of a nap.  So while the needles soaked, Neville laid on the floor and dosed in and out of a nap.  He looked so peaceful!  I sang to him and talked to him so he would know I was there the whole time, but I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have cared if I did leave.

Before I knew it, time was up and we were ready to take the needles out.  This was quick and easy and Neville seemed to not mind at all.  And then is cuddled with Dr. O'Dwyer and let her give him kisses.  These are things he NEVER does!  He remained relaxed and almost in a sleep state for the next 10+ minutes.

Once I got his harness out, he knew we were going home but his normal shaking did not start.  I figured that we would have until we got home to Downtown before that would start again, or at least I had hoped.  But I was mistaken, even walking through Downtown to get from the parking lot to the apartment did not bring back his shaking fully, it was barely there! This is the first time I have ever walked him with and not seen him shake so bad it looks like he is freezing cold.

I don't know how long this will last for him.  I don't know that he will like it the next time we do it.  But I do know I found something that helps him relax.  I found something that is worth the time and effort to explore to see how this might change this dog that everyone else had given up on.  He is my sweet Neville no matter what the outcome and wouldn't change him a bit, but if this can give him some relief from worry and stress, I will continue for as long as I have too.

For more information on Dr. O'Dwyer and her services, bark on the link:  BARK!

Amazing Dog Rescue

I saw this earlier in the week and knew I had to share it with you on Friday.  With the rain making it less than bright and warm outside, maybe this will help make you smile going into your weekend.



I personally believe that the mama dog was making her point well known to her pup with the extra dragging distance.

Have a great weekend and don't forget to do something fun with your dog!