We do not have "dog parks" in this Country and I can only say this is a good thing!
To let multiple people with multiple ideas about their dogs' characters, intentions and language, let alone the multiple problems these dogs' exhibit in their behaviour (not to mention the owners'!!!) is, to me, a recipe for disaster!

The fact that the other owner felt she had to stand between the two dogs says it all. If you do not want your dog to interact with other dogs on a natural basis ..... what was she doing there?

The more tricky subject of your dog "barking with excitement" and exhibiting seperation anxiety.......?

Your dog is anxious when you leave it because it does not see you as in control of it's life. If you are not in control then the dog HAS to take the role of leader. It has no choice.
If the dog sees itself as the leader, even if you do not see things in the same way, it's job is to warn other dogs how strong it's pack is, run up to them to show how self confident it is (making a lot of noise while doing this is pure display and bluff designed to convince the other dog that it has no chance of taking over) and if play is the outcome it does not change the initial signals.

Sitting in the drive when you leave your dog is, actually, prolonging the suffering. Your dog is howling and barking because it sees itself as the leader (therefore it thinks you are not capable of surviving the outside world on your own and that it is it's job to protect you)and when you wait in the driveway you are responding to it's instructions not to leave. As you will understand - this makes the dog more and more frantic. At first you seem to listen to the dog's warning that you cannot survive without it's protection, the dog calms down......then you leave!!! The next time, the dog is going to try harder and for longer to convince you to stay.


You need to take control, you need to convince the dog that you do not need a leader because you are not only able to look after yourself but that you can look after the dog better than the dog can. The best way of doing this is proving to the dog that your first priority is the environment the dog, and you, are living in, not the dog.