Dog Park - A Walk on the Wild Side?
Pet People "gang" member Alice asked about the dog park at Fairgrounds Park. I must confess, I have never been there with or without my muttley crew. I applaud the city for building the park for dog lovers and wish the county would develop the same modern understanding when it comes to the county animal shelter (A topic for tomorrow; I am too angry about it today after reading the front page of the paper and Mom said you should never fire off a letter, e-mail and I suppose blog entry when angry).
I do know that the park has separate areas for little squirts and one for bigger dogs and that yes, it has water and cans for land-mine disposal. Has anyone been there? Please let us know all about it! I must confess I tend to be an over-protective pet mother. I know Scooter would love it, and he's been trained so he'd be a good dog. However, I wonder (and worry) about other people and their pets. What if the have a BULLY dog that starts a fight? I guess that's silly, but it's something I think about. I wonder if they have hoses hooked up, as water is the way you break up a fight. On the other hand, I figure most pet owners who would take their dog to the park in the first place are probably responsible, because they're taking time to give their dog a good time. But, with them off leash, what do you do if it gets down and dirty? I watch the Dog Whisper, and as Caesar says, not all dogs are "balanced." LOL.
The dog pictures today are from readers/posters Alice and Stacey. Alice says about her dog Charlie, who weighed only 8 pounds when they got him through their vet: "We think he is a bichon/poodle mix. His fur is very fine and is clipped short in the warm months. He loves to play ball and eat his doggie dinner."
Stacey says: "This pic is from Christmas 2005. I love this! They are WORN OUT. This
is Lucy and Reb, exhausted from the grandkids running them around the house! This year was so much better. The grandkids are older and don't have the need to pester
them and chase them down the hall like before. For the first time in several years, the dogs could just hang out with the rest of us for Christmas, instead of hiding out in their room. Yes, they have their own room. Technically, they share it with the computer, but, it's still theirs. We don't call it the office, or the computer room. We call it the 'puppies' room.' No, they're not spoiled!”
Hmmm, a dog room. The Boss would say every room in the house is the dog room! But who am I to judge you Stacey, my cats have their own apartment. I told my husband I wanted to build it for my Mom, because I know he wouldn't have done it had I said it was for the cats. LOL.
posted by Sandy at 1/19/2007 10:24:00 AM
Pet People
16 Comments:
Wow, Sandy. An entire apartment, huh?? That's impressive. My hubby did build a giant jungle gym for the cats once, but an entire apartment???
Alice, your Charlie is a cutie pie!! As you can see from my pics, I'm a big dog person.
I've never been to the dog park either. My back yard is fenced, so my dogs have plenty of romping room. I've never had the urge to take them somewhere with strange dogs and have them off leash. I would be too afraid something bad would happen. Of course, I tend to be paranoid when it comes to my children.
I love the pics of the dogs...as soon as I have time, I will send one of my "little monsters"...I have been to the dog park once...I took two of my dogs, just to check it out...we really don't need to go because we have a fenced backyard for them to play all over...the dog park was okay, but the day we went there were only a two other little dogs and they didn't really want to socialize...the big dog section looked fun, they had some german shepherds (I think) playing frisbee...my little guy wanted to go over there but I explained to him that those dogs with big mouths could gobble him up...we ended up not staying very long and going back home and letting them play in their own yard and baby pool...
Charlie, Lucy and Reb are all so cute!
Love the pictures everyone! They are all so adorable and I'm sure not spoiled one little bit (haha)
I haven't been to the dog park for the same reasons as everyone else. My Harley is just too grumpy to be social with other doggies (she is 11 and very set in her ways) and we also have a fenced yard for her to play in. Although I am fortunate that its not her I have to worry about-but other dogs. She will stay in the yard and never even think of venturing out of her boundaries. I never let her outside unless I am with her though.
I too Sandy am just so p***ed about the animal shelter situation. It just infuriates me that a city of our size and the money rolling around ..blah blah blah I know I should at this point take your advice and stop my fingers while I am angry. The whole situation breaks my heart.
Love the apartment idea. I think my hubby would be more apt to build it for my cats than the mother in law tho.
I have a question for anyone who can help. My male cat Bubba has peed somewhere in my daughters bedroom. He is neutered but I think he got a littel weirded out when my daughters dog came over for a visit. I noticed the smell after they left and it is definitely cat pee. I have sniffed and sniffed and just can't distinguish where the odor is coming from. I read online that by using a black light in a dark room-you would be able to see the pee spot. I bought a black light and I couldn't see anything. Anyone ever tried this or have another idea for finding the elusive pee? My husband will be home in a week or so and I know he will notice the smell. I really want to try to get rid of it before then. Thanks !
Shannon
Hmmmmm. I guess first I would eliminate things like bedding, pillows and any thing lile that, taking the items out one by one and feeling them all over and smellling them. Things stay damp for a bit after such an accident AND smell.
If all those things are clean, then I'd look over every inch of the floor,including closet, feeling with my hands. Do you have a carpet that makes it hard to see pee? If a carpet has a pattern on it it's much harder. I'd go around on hands and knees feeling everywhere (how I found it the other day on my Yuengling beer dog rug--I stepped in it bare foot--never saw it). And I'd guess you'd have to go around the floor sniffing it too! LOL. The things we must do!
My friend Carmen, who has a little doxie with urination issues, had a product called "Nature's Miracle" that was great for those spots to get out the smell. You probably can do an Internet search to find out more about where to get it.
OR, you can do what lots of people do (like Carmen). Get rid of the carpet everywhere and stick with wood, laminate, or tile/linoleum floors!
When we lived in Fresno, CA, we went to the dog park every week. I would just say the words "dog park" and the dogs would go nuts! They loved it! It can be worrisome. When a dog first enters the park, all or most of the other dogs rush over to smell the new arrival. It can look fearsome to someone who is familiar to it. The most important thing to remember is to unleash your dog(s) the moment you enter. To other dogs, a dog on a leash is vulnerable. They do their sniffs and looks and then usually everyone runs off to play until the next new arrival. The dogs DO have encounters where one dog tries to dominate another dog. Normally one dog backs down and then everyone goes and plays. I have seen episodes where one dog is on the way to becoming aggressive. But this is the exception. That is what the humans are there for, when things start to look serious, the owner steps in and controls the errant dog. The rules should clearly state that KNOWN aggressive dogs are not allowed. Otherwise, the owners should take responsibilty to control their dogs. The benefits are high! Dogs are social animals. They are pack animals as Cesar calls them. The social interaction with other dogs really makes them happier dogs. It is true, some dogs are aggressive. Some are bullies. Dogs are a lot like humans in that respect. The worst problem I have seen at dog parks is owners not collecting the "land-mines" as Sandy so delicately put it. With many dogs, the problem can be nasty.
Thanks for the info on dog parking. :) I, like others, have a big fenced-in yard and the dogs have each other to socialize with there, so I don't feel too bad not taking them on such outings, but maybe one day I will take Scooter just to check it out. I will bring my own water gun! LOL.
Shannon! "Simple Solution " has a Odor Eliminator for fabrics and also a Cat Spray & Urine Stain and Odor Remover that you can get at PeT Smart so I would think they would ahve the same for dog odors and dog pee too. Give them a call to check it out. I use the odor eliminator all the time to clean our cat boxes and cat poop on the carpet, it has a great smell.
Ok here is the deal with the cat poop on the carpet. Penelope our youngest has IBS but she started pooping on the floor when she was just a year old. Why we have no idea. Once we ruled out a medical problem and no other changes to her surroundings we have been stumped as to why she does it. She will look a brand new fresh clean box and poop within two feet to right outside of the box! So, we know it isn't because she wants us to change the litter. We haven't switched that either or anything else. She used the box fine till right past being a year old. I honestly think it may be that when her IBS is acting up and she has blood in her stool that she doesn't want it in the box to dirty it up. Jon thinks I'm full of s--t myself for thinking that but there is no other reason for it. The vet is stumped too. She doesn't have to be angry or upset to do it either, it is weird. Does anyone else have this problem with thier cats? Help if you do!
Good luck Shannon!!!!!!!!!!!
Shannon! "Simple Solution " has a Odor Eliminator for fabrics and also a Cat Spray & Urine Stain and Odor Remover that you can get at PeT Smart so I would think they would ahve the same for dog odors and dog pee too. Give them a call to check it out. I use the odor eliminator all the time to clean our cat boxes and cat poop on the carpet, it has a great smell.
Ok here is the deal with the cat poop on the carpet. Penelope our youngest has IBS but she started pooping on the floor when she was just a year old. Why we have no idea. Once we ruled out a medical problem and no other changes to her surroundings we have been stumped as to why she does it. She will look a brand new fresh clean box and poop within two feet to right outside of the box! So, we know it isn't because she wants us to change the litter. We haven't switched that either or anything else. She used the box fine till right past being a year old. I honestly think it may be that when her IBS is acting up and she has blood in her stool that she doesn't want it in the box to dirty it up. Jon thinks I'm full of s--t myself for thinking that but there is no other reason for it. The vet is stumped too. She doesn't have to be angry or upset to do it either, it is weird. Does anyone else have this problem with thier cats? Help if you do!
Good luck Shannon!!!!!!!!!!!
I forgot to mention that Penelope doesn't poop in the floor every time she poops, just when she decides the time is right to do it. That is what makes it so weird. Also she and Courtney will neither one cover thier poop with litter. In fact Penelope is so strange that after poops or pees she will scratch on the side of the box or the wall outside the box but won't cover the poop. She also will scratch on teh floor beside her food dish as if to cover the food if it's something she doesn't like, ever heard of that behavior anyone? My weird
weird girls! I love em!!!!!!!!!!
My dogs and I go to the dog park frequently. For the most part, we have never had a problem out there with agressive dogs. The biggest problem we have ever had were dogs that jump up on you (and since most people there are "dog people", they seem pretty understanding.) I have seen a couple small tiffs at the dog park but usually the owners are on it right away and keep dogs that don't get along away from each other. My dogs love it out there, they know the word "park" and go crazy when we say it. It is worth a try if your dogs like to socialize. We have a fenced backyard too, but for a one year old dog that loves to run, chase and be chased, the park gives her more of an opportunity to do so.
Hey Melissa! You make me feel more comfortable about going. I'll have to check it out in the spring. I know Scooter would love it.
Melissa your dogs know park like my cats all know EAT! I'm sure many of your pets know that one but we can't even spell it,ha. Honest. All I have to say is do you want to eat? Here they come on cue.
Hit the button too fast. I wanted to add that I can spell EAT and they all run to the kitchen. Or I can just say do you want to-- then spell eat and here they are. Or if I am in the room with them and just spell EAT theier ears perk up and they glare at me and head to the kitchen, they are so funny.
Ah, Pam, they have you so well trained.....
Oh don't I know it Stacey and so do they. They have me so wrapped or as Jon says warped,ha. They're my babies though so I can deal with it.
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