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Is it normal for a dog to not like the dog park?
Hi all, I am new here.
I was hoping someone could help me out with some of the issues that I have been having with our almost 2 year old Golden Retriever.
Being almost two, she needs a lot of exercise, and we have always been really good about making sure that she gets a long walk or run in every day.
The problem is that she she does not like the dog park. We have been taking her to the dog park since she was a puppy and she also goes to doggie day care. She has been very well socialized and is not scared or aggressive in the presence of other dogs.
When we go to the dog park she has no interest in other dogs. She sits next to me the entire time. If I go walk around, she will too but she will not move more than a few feet away from myself or my husband. She does not seem scared or intimidated. If another dog comes up to her she will happily wrestle with them, but if they try to play a game of chase and go more than 5 feet away from me, she will lay back down near my side. She also will not play fetch (her favorite game at home).
When she is at doggie day care, she plays for hours with all the other dogs.
I guess I am wondering if this is normal behavior. It almost feels like she is waiting on my permission to go play but I don't know how to convey to her that it is okay for her to leave me.
Sorry that this is long, but any help would be appreciated.
Re: Is it normal for a dog to not like the dog park?
I can't say whether it's "normal" or not, but my dogs aren't big fans of the dog park either. Teddie loved it when he was younger, but he seems to have lost interest. Skippy never really had much interest (but we adopted him as an adult, so I don't know what he was like as a puppy). The last few times we went, they just sat around and weren't interested in playing, even when we tried to encourage them. However, when they go to day care, they zoom around and play for hours.
I think part of it is that when DH and I are around, all they want is to be with us and part of it is that the dogs at our local dog parks tend to be "rude" in dog terms (another reason we stopped going) while the dogs at their day care are a bit better socialized (not sure why that is - more conscientious owners, perhaps?). Not sure that's helpful at all, but we've moved more and more towards structured exercise and activities (walks in lots of different places, training classes, nursing home visits for one of my dogs, etc.) and away from dog park time because my dogs seem to enjoy it much more and get better exercise.
Unfortunately, I can't offer much of an explanation but I can tell you, you're not alone. I have actually been working on a post related to this for my recently launched blog!
Our golden retriever turned three this past weekend. We got her when she was nine weeks old, and she has been socialized with dogs ever since. She likes other dogs. She is very energetic and friendly. She has been on outings with dog-walkers and has spent time at doggy day cares. I have worked in a grooming clinic and I would bring her with me. But at the dog park, she is more interested taking a nap on top of the picnic table than playing with other dogs. But, like I said, she's still friendly.
Understandably, the dog park can be an overwhelming place for dogs sometimes. Sometimes dogs can be picking up negative energy from other dogs or people. I have to say it - dog owners can make the dog park a stressful place for dogs because they try to mico-manage.
If it works with your schedule, try taking your dog to the dog park when it is quiet and see if it makes a difference. Another thing I have tried is walking to the dog park with a couple of friends and their dogs. By the time we arrived, my dog had adjusted to the pack mentality and did much better at the park!
One loves it, one hates it. He's a bit of a snob though.