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Barking At The Dog Park

1.9K views 5 replies 5 participants last post by  gdgli  
#1 ·
A neighbor and friend came by the house with her 9 mo mixed breed rescue. She asked me if I would help train her dog. Of course I said sure. I should have first asked her what needed training but spoke without thinking. Well one thing she mentioned is that the puppy barks at the dog park. I told her that it probably was attention barking. She says it is constant and she doesn't like it. She wants to put an end to it. She is ready to put an e collar on the dog. I will be honest, I was caught off guard and was rather stunned by this statement.


I do not take my own dogs to dog parks so I don't really know know what is rude dog behavior. My take on this is the dog is having fun and talking to the other dogs. You bring the dog to the dog park to let loose, run, jump, don't you? And why would you want to teach a dog not to communicate with other dogs? I would like to hear your take on this. Is barking at the dog park rude? Do other dog owners get ticked off? If you had this "problem", how did you deal with it? Would love to hear what you have to say about this.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
First, thank you for your replies. Glad to have your input.

For the record I don't go to dog parks for all the above reasons. My friend didn't ask for my opinion and I didn't volunteer it. I had advised my puppy people against it. However my neighbor has her mind made up.

Barking in this case could be for many reasons. I offered to go to the dog park to actually observe the dog and get the whole picture including body language. My initial feeling: This is a group of dogs that are familiar with each other. This is not a public dog park. We have a 9 mo newcomer entering the park, on lead, other dogs are running and playing and "Hey, I'm here!" from the dog. But of course I have to see it.

Now my feelings on using an e collar for this. BIG NO NO. There is a chance of the dog perceiving the stimulation as an attack from a close by dog. It also stresses the already stressed dog, especially in the hands of someone who does not know how to use it. If barking is because it is a reactive dog (and I must stress this does not necessarily mean dog aggressive) this can be dealt with. I have done it with surprisingly good results---no e collar, all operant.


I have to see this dog in the dog park.