1st trip to the dog park (long)

[craZ4HERKIE]

After Herkie was turned away from Doggie Daycare for being HW positive, I decided to go get him licensed and get a Pooch Pass for the dog parks. I must admit I was very nervous about taking him to a dog park after all the stories I've read on here. Well, we get there, and there are tons of dogs....and of course, Herkie decided to show me that his selective hearing does work! I don't think it went to well, because I was really just scared he was going to get in a fight. There were no other boxers there...but some big retreivers and labs...and other dogs, also a beauty of an American Bulldog. Herkie tried valiantly to play with them all....but none were having it. They were not excited to see my baby! I think the American Bulldog wanted to play with Herkie, and seemed to have some of his playing style, but she was a little intimidated..as my boy is VERY happy to see everyone! Some of the other dogs growled at him, and didn't appreciate his boxer style of play. There owners called Herkie a "horny little ba$tard"....obviously, he's not familiar with boxer style either. He thought Herkie was trying to hump, but he wasn't...just trying to get the dogs to play with him. And then, I really felt uncomfortable because he wasn't paying me any attention...you'd have thought he was deaf! So I think if I take Herkie back to the dog park..I'll try to go at odd times, when hopefully there aren't any dogs there, or just a couple. And if that won't work, if the small dog area isn't occupied, I'll take him in there....just so he can run off leash for a while. I walk him countless times a day, and it's just never enough. We sit outside on the back porch, and at nite, we sit on the front...it's been beautiful this week. I just want Herkie to be happy, and I just know that when it's been this beautiful outside...it's just driving him crazy! And ME!

 

[heartsong12]

I am sorry it did not work out the way you hoped it would. You might want to try going early mornings, especially in Sat. I have found that the regulars are there at that time and fewer people. The regulars in my area are really good about knowing other dogs and are more tollorant of boxer play. My boxer loves to jump and they all are really nice about being jumped on. They just gentle tell her no and redirect her.

 

[Erica&Riley]

Herkie...do you have any friends with dogs? If so, maybe you can get a playgroup together to meet at the dogpark or someone's house with a big backyard. Our dogpark is great and most of the owners are super friendly...but a good friend of mine has a beagle and backyard and Riley loves playing there as well.

 

[Elyse]

Sorry it was a tough trip. You should bring him back at off times until he is comfortable and so are you. I found that the people at out dog run are all pretty nice and welcoming (with you occational nutjobs).

You should also check out the "Boxer Bash & Events" forum and see if there are any other owners in your area that you could meet at the park for play dates (at off times) so Herkie gets lots of excersise and social time.

Good luck.

 

[Marybeth18]

Jessica,

I'm sorry you had a rough time at the dog park. :( I've run into a lot of people who don't understand how Boxers play but also my share of those who get a huge kick out of it.

I agree with some of the others, maybe try different times of day (if that's convenient for you). Good luck!

 

[Evie&Adam]

o Jessica I was so hoping the park would work out for you guys!! Soon Herk will have his own yard. We go on long morning walks every day - rain - snow- whatever! I'm among those that dont like the doggy park :(

 

[curb_pks]

Isn't the humping a dominance thing?

There was a male boxer at the odg park recently doing this to the other dogs, and a lot of them got pretty pissed off.

 

[Lovely Rita]

also, i've found that when you get nervous or scared, your dog will sense it and get upset. imo, this is why people who are paranoid about their dogs (not saying you are just giving an example ) have problems at dog parks. like, if a little ankle biter is playing with your boxer and the owner doesn't understand how dogs play they probably will call their dog, all nervous and upset, and yank them away, which teaches thier dogs that when they play, their owner gets upset and scared. also imo this is prolly how leash aggression starts off.

so this is my lil theory! i've been going to dog parks since we got a (about 3 1/2 years ago) so i do have a weny bit of experience. when we got rita though, she would go nuts at dog parks, not aggressive, but she barked and boxed so hard that it scared everyone. so we stopped taking her to dog parks, although we kept taking a because she loves to play with doggies and their owners. so maybe you'll have to do that too, until herkie learns callback.

also, if anyone called my dog a horny little ba$tard i would be absolutely pissed beyond imagination. what a rude thing to say! obviously they know nothing about doggie behaviour, honestly!!

 

[MinPin2Boxer]

I'm sorry it didn't go so well, but I'd try again like others suggested. The first time I took Simba he was so excited he wouldn't listen to me either. But after going a couple times he wasn't as excited since he knew the place and listened to me really well. Hope the time is better!

 

[craZ4HERKIE]

Thanks guys...that's what I'm going to try and do...go when it's not crowded so he can get used to the area on his own. And he didn't act nervous or aggressive towards any of the other dogs, he just used his "selective hearing".I was more nervous about the other dogs, not knowing their behavior. I would have hated for him to get into a fight...because I would feel like it was my fault..haven taken him there. But we're gonna go at it...in the off peak times. But to me, it seemed as if the other dogs weren't open to his style of play, but he was just happy to see them! And he wasn't trying to hump any of them, he was trying the "hug around the neck" move to incite play...but if someone doesn't know boxers, I am sure they would interpret it as humping. I've seen him and Kuma try to hump each other enough to know the difference. Kuma is soooo laid back, and doesn't care where he's living...if he's inside or out...I wish Herkie could pick up on some of Kuma's calm energy!