Hi everyone!

Can I start off with saying that I LOVE this forum? I am slightly addicted...I will admit  

As you already know Stella is my wild child! Gotta love her though. If she weren't so darn cute! Anyway, she is such a rough player. She HAS to be ON TOP of every dog she plays with. I am not sure if this is a dominance thing or just her way of playing. Some dogs do not particularly care for her high energy so they snap at her - which I am totally okay with, because she needs to learn the limits and only another dog can teach her that...you know, bite inhibition, etc. But...the kicker...she doesn't "get it." Other dogs snap and basically tell her to  back up...she does for a very split second then picks up right where she left off. Do you think that is her trying to remain in charge or do you think she is still too young to control her excitement and playfulness? We took her to the dog park a few weeks back and she was playing with a black lab and he was allowing Stella to climb all over him and nibble his ears and lick his mouth, etc. Well she kind of drew blood..she definitely didn't  bite him, but I think of her rough mouthing she knicked his tounge. He was fine, but it worries me that other owners may be uncomfortable with her play. Some pet parents think it is cute when Stella runs full force and plows into their dogs, but others I can tell do not like it much. Any suggestions to get her to play nice or calm down a bit when playing? I do try to remove her and give her like a "time out" if she gets too rough or try to take her to a different section of the park for a little bit.

Thank you!!

I had a problem at the dog park as well. It usually starts with my GSP's are running full speed. Some dogs barrel into them, and/or attack them for running too close to their loved ones....Territorial dogs. I have also had issues that have concerned me with my own male. I think his prey drive is a bit high for the dog park, but I could be wrong. He is attracted to "weak" very small dogs....like Yorkies or mini snauzers. He will crouch, poke them with his mouth, then crouch, and then bark and begin circling. I am not sure if he's trying to play because he feels safer with these weak small dogs .....he's very submissive around large dogs...roll on the back submissive! Anyway, not sure if he's "playing," or if he's playing with his "Prey." During this circling, we are screaming, "Leave it." He won't. I know he knows this command. However, I have learned the "magic' command is "SIT!" He will come to a complete sit and down himself. Probably because after this behavior, I make him sit and then down him. Another reason I avoid dog parks is that too many people come to "try out" their rescue dogs. A lot of failed attempts in the trial have resulted in DEATH of smaller dogs. Small dog owners, not downing them, I love all dogs, don't understand how dangerous it can be to mix the big 75 pound +dogs with the 5 pound and under. All Kaido has to do is accidentally bump a 5 pound too hard, or trip over it while running after a bird, and cause SERIOUS injury if not death. I don't want that on my shoulders. Some have said it's obvious Kaido is only playing, others, namely the owners insist my dog is aggressive and be taken out of the park immediately....only to have several other dog owners rush to my assistance and point out the obvious!! Another problem with dog parks is that my two LOVE to play with each other. THey are not much into playing with other dogs, although there was a Visla they rather fancied! They prefer to just independently chase birds, butterflies, and swim in the lake and play with each other. They trust each other. However, they play SO rough that other dogs do not know how to react, and it often triggers aggressive reaction among unstable dogs that frequent the dog park. 9/10 there are NO issues. However, there are enough issues that have occurred to my friends' dogs, I'm afraid to take a chance.....Hence, I took up biking with my two! I do miss watching them have SO much fun "hunting!" They LOVE the dog park.....

Oneal3337.  Yes.  I forgot to mention. Our dog park is separated into 2 sections.  THe smaller section is approximately 1 acre, and has no shade, no trees, nada, nada!   The large dog side is MASSIVE, 4 or 5 acres, trees, swimming pond, shade, sitting areas, etc.   I think this attracts those with smaller dogs to the big side.   Some have walked in and not even seen the smaller side, though they are RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.  I think their eyes are naturally drawn to where all the action is.   Personally, I would NEVER bring a small dog to the big dog side.  Sadly, I feel that "MOST" and I know that's a generalization, but MOST dog park goers are oblivious as to the dangers that lurk.  I don't believe for a second, or at least I HOPE that dog owners would not KNOWINGLY place their dogs in harms way.    They just believe their dogs "think they are big dogs!"  Those are the comments I receive all the time...."Oh, he thinks he's a rottie."   In fairness, some of the blended family dogs handle their own, and will fight off would be attackers...but they are going to lose to a truly aggressive dog.  I know Kaido has tried to play rough with some of the little ones, and they put him on the ground with all 4's up....he's truly a 75 pound whimp!  It's the yappy little ones that yelp or cry out when a big dog even goes near or looks at them...well, for Kaido, It's GAME ON!!   I wrote a HUGE email to the city, and told them of one of the instances in which my dog did NOT display aggression, but could have escelated into very ROUGH play, and or prey drive had it continued.  I also sited the fact that there is a weight requirement for the small side, but none for the large side.  I sited several dog parks that had statements that ALL small dogs entering the large dog side would be entering at their own risk, and that in legal cases, the courts have always sided with the large dog owner because the small dogs were in the wrong side.  I was told that it appears my dog was at fault, and that I should have removed my dog immediately.   I was told that there is no such law or rule as the above, pertaining to this park.  ALL dog owners will bring dogs at their own risk.  Each case decided on a his word against her word basis.   He said regardless of prey drive or rough play, I must be able to call me dog off 100% of the time.   Okay fine, but this little yappy dog approached my dog, ran right up to him and then turned around yelping when he made the first play pounce.  Then he circled, crouched, pounced next to, (but not on), jabbed with his nose, etc.  Same stuff he does to his sister!    It's insane.  For this reason, the fact that I am obviously dealing with IRRATIONAL park leaders....I choose not to take my dog into that situation.  It's VERY sad because they absolutley LOVE it.   It's the only real HUNTING they get, and they ARE GSP's!  It's in their blood.  I want to take them so badly.   Two other aggressive things have happened to my dogs, on two separate occasions.   More, but the others were actually corrections from other dogs. Not aggression.  Two large dogs actually barrelled into Kaido and stood over him when he tried to play with their smaller sibling....a blended family situation!   Kaido was easily subdued, and the owners removed their large dogs from atop him.  They were protecting their sibling...scolding Kaido.  No teeth, no aggression.   I'm okay with that stuff.  My female GSP has told many a dog to "lay off!"  She wants to chase birds, and they want to chase her! She turns around and gives the a "what for" correction!   They get it, and all is well.   Dogs will be dogs.  It's the all out aggression with teeth to kill.  That's what's scary.   Also the impression it will leave on the two pups, both still under a year.   I also don't want my pups to learn they can dominate either!   They do enough of that with each other, but they take turns! I may try off peak times once again. Someone said the summers were particularly bad.  We were going at off peak times and got to know some wonderful people and dogs, but not so regular aggressive dogs spoiled it all.  

Yes I would be one that would not like a dog to run full force into mine . . . injuries can happen that way especially if one of the dogs plowed into is older.

You do need to teach the leave it command.  My older GSP has lot of drive and she will run full force toward another dog or person for that matter and I must always keep my eye on her when she is off leash, but with "leave it" she diverts.  You will need to take the time to teach that, but GSPs are smart, no doubt your dog will get it with some consistent work.

I will say I do not go to "dog parks".  We do have an area where I live that the dogs can be off leash until 8:00 am so I am usually out there at day break . . . most people sleep in.  Those of us that do go out there know each other and their dogs so it makes it easier and I have had no issues.  The problem with most dog parks you just do not know everyone or their dogs and I have just heard too many stories about our local dog park.

Roz

 Thanks.  I KNOW my dogs know the "leave it" command......I think they have selective hearing!  Yes, I get so upset when other dogs barrel into my dogs.  My own dogs barrel into each other, SO hard and SO often when allowed to play together outside, we had to stop letting them go out there together.  It's just too rough.  They LOVE it, as they will not play with any other dog really.  At the park, they are independent......no other dogs, just themselves (which is not a good thing, TRUST me!) and the birds and butterflies.  The only reason I want to take them......but don't....is because I know they love it, and they get GREAT exercise.  I guess they will survive without it though!  It seems as many people on the forum steer clear, and their dogs are fine...I guess mine will be too!