What do you think of training at the dog park?

[Scooter]

I know some of you here don't like dog parks at all, but for some of us in metro areas it's the only place our dogs can run. So, that issue aside, I was there yesterday with Zoe. A woman was training a dog with the dog's owner. It was obvious because she was shouting out to the owner what to do and not to do. Anyone who came near them, or just walked past them got shouted at by this woman "We're training! Please stay away!"

Maybe she was trying to train the dog in a highly distracting situation surrounded by dogs but I didn't appreciate being shouted at or having to avoid an area of the park for them. Grrr.

 

[Gempress]

Bah. That would've got me mad. I have no problems with a person training in the dog park. But telling people to stay away?? It's a PUBLIC area, other people shouldn't have to walk on eggshells for you. If people were calling to the dog or trying to pet him, I would understand, but they shouldn't freak out at people just walking by.

You'd think that the entire point of training in a dog park would be to teach obedience during distraction.

 

[PoodleMommy]

I agree with Gempress... I work on training with Elle at the dogpark because her biggest problem is distractions... so before she can play she must sit, stay, heal etc. across the whole park with me... plus it is one of my only chances to train off leash...people can normally tell what your doing and wont come right up to talk to you, or pet the dog which I appreciate but I would never expect anyone to change their routine or stay far away from us... if a dog comes running by I use it as an opportunity to teach her to stay with a huge distraction.

Elissa

 

[houndlove]

When I need to train with distractions, I train in a public park that allows on-leash dogs, on-leash and off to the side so I'm not in anyone's way. Training in an off-leash dog park in a way that requires you to keep everyone else away is just ridiculous. The training I do while at the dog park is subtle and not formal because there's way too much going on. I reward for quick recalls and practice attention and recalls, but not in a way that most other people would even notice.

 

[corgipower]

i have sometimes taken my dog to the dog park and used the dog park as a distraction while i trained him outside the dog park. i would never expect to be able to train a dog inside a dog park. what would you do when someone else's dog assumes it's ok to go play with the dog being trained?

 

[smkie]

I think it is a good idea..insisting on control wherever you go is a good idea, i am sure recess is the best reward of all, i know it is for Victor!

 

[Aquavibe]

well parks are for everyone.. you can't request others to go away just because you're trying to train a dog. it's true that maybe you haven't got too many green areas ... but if she would've been a professional she would have known that you can't train him there.

 

[CelticxConnections]

I don't have a dog park where I live, I do have a park where lots of people take their dogs (I've seen a few off leash but thats another story). I train Duke there all the time so I'm clearly not against training at parks. I generally go off to the side out of the way and work until Duke's focused and then move to a more noise spot thats still out of the way.

I don't think you should shout at people to stay away though. If you really really really need to say that you would like it if people kept back a little and if you need to do that you shouldn't go to a dog park.

 

[malmo]

Just to play devil's advocate, if they were trying to desensitize the dog to the presence of other dogs -- perhaps the dog had a history of being DA or something, and was doing much better but still needed some work -- then that might be a possible reason. However, I can't imagine having a DA pup off-leash in a dog park. But, I'm just trying to think of some reasons why it might be understandable...

 

[Scooter]

malmo, what is DA?

 

[malmo]

Dog-aggressive.

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

Our dog park specifically states no dog training that interferes with others use of the park--that includes bringing treats into the park.

 

[Cheetah]

If you're training in an off-leash DOG PARK, you should expect dogs running up to you and your dog. Perhaps they should stay on the outside of the fence for while lol...