Are irresponsible owners the bane of dog parks?

#Middlebury #DogPark

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: When I first adopted my Collie mix, Sara, I went to the dog park near my apartment every morning. I thought it would be a great place for a year-old puppy to socialize with other dogs and humans. A year later, I no longer take her to the dog park if there are any other dogs there – which means taking pre-dawn walks or bypassing the park entirely.

I quickly learned that while many dog owners are responsible people who train and socialize their dogs, others don’t train them at all, or train them inadequately. On Sara’s first day, a huge dog ran up, snarling and barking at both of us. The dog’s owner just sat on a bench, waving and yelling, “He’s friendly,” while Sara cowered behind my legs. A few days later, that same dog got in a vicious fight with two other dogs.

Because we continued to have negative experiences with other dogs (and their owners), making it impossible to train and socialize Sara, I’ve stopped going there. I don’t think dog parks are a great idea anymore, even though I live in an urban area and green spaces are important for dogs. What’s your take? – Hannah J. in Boston

DEAR HANNAH: I’m really sorry that happened to Sara and you, and you’re doing the right thing by taking her at uncrowded times. Overcrowded parks, resource-guarding and aggressively playful dogs can make it a negative experience.

Dog parks are a community resource, and it’s important for dog owners to work together to make the park work. Find out if there’s a volunteer committee for your particular park. If not, and you want to keep using the dog park, consider forming a group to address behavior and other issues.

Send your questions, tips and comments to ask@pawscorner.com.

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