Offleash Park question

[KYS]

If your dog is friendly why would anyone care if a dog was leashed
or not at a dog park?
Don't worry about it.

[anna_66]

I wouldn't see why they would freak out and see no problem with them being on a leash.
When Robin and I took our dogs to the park we both kept Katie and Bon on a leash just in case. We weren't sure they'd get along with some of the other dogs.

[poofy]

I would always do what I think is best, not let others think for me or my animals..

[kimboe]

Meh, Don't worry about it. I know i got some wiered looks when i brought Camen to the park with his leash on, but i was also training him to TRY to ignore the other pups.
Don't sweat it

[bckrazy]

I don't think anyone should freak out at you at all. But, I wouldn't do it. A rule at both dog parks I go to is to remove your dogs leash in the entrace area between 2 gates. Not only will other dogs pick on your dog much more with him being on a leash, your dog is much more prone to get defensive. On leash, HE is attached to YOU, and he most likely feels the need to protect you. He also can't get away if he only has 6 feet to run and a hyper puppy is barreling into him. Not only that, but a dog's posture when he's straining on-leash (even if he means to be friendly) can appear rigid and aggressive and could start a fight out of nothing. At our Obedience classes, we couldn't allow our dogs to even sniff each other on-leash, but they were allowed to play off-leash in a fenced area.

Gonzo is much more snarky with other dogs on-leash than he is off. If he's off, he'll just ignore an annoying dog... if he's on, he has no escape from them!! Which, in turn, can lead to a tiff.

[Rachel]

I don't think anyone should freak out at you at all. But, I wouldn't do it. A rule at both dog parks I go to is to remove your dogs leash in the entrace area between 2 gates. Not only will other dogs pick on your dog much more with him being on a leash, your dog is much more prone to get defensive. On leash, HE is attached to YOU, and he most likely feels the need to protect you. He also can't get away if he only has 6 feet to run and a hyper puppy is barreling into him. Not only that, but a dog's posture when he's straining on-leash (even if he means to be friendly) can appear rigid and aggressive and could start a fight out of nothing. At our Obedience classes, we couldn't allow our dogs to even sniff each other on-leash, but they were allowed to play off-leash in a fenced area.

Gonzo is much more snarky with other dogs on-leash than he is off. If he's off, he'll just ignore an annoying dog... if he's on, he has no escape from them!! Which, in turn, can lead to a tiff.

This has been my experience with Tucker as well. When I first took him to the dog park where it wasn't completely fenced in, I kept him on a leash and he too was snarky with the other dogs he met. I was very doubtful about whether he would be able to go to a dog park off leash, but he had been good with other dogs in our fenced back yard, so that had me wondering. When the fenced in dog park opened and we took him there and let him off leash, he got along just fine. Everything BC says really applys to my Tucker as well, so I'm thinking that there are dogs who do better off leash than on in such a setting.

[.sarah]

This has been my experience with Tucker as well. When I first took him to the dog park where it wasn't completely fenced in, I kept him on a leash and he too was snarky with the other dogs he met. I was very doubtful about whether he would be able to go to a dog park off leash, but he had been good with other dogs in our fenced back yard, so that had me wondering. When the fenced in dog park opened and we took him there and let him off leash, he got along just fine. Everything BC says really applys to my Tucker as well, so I'm thinking that there are dogs who do better off leash than on in such a setting.

That's odd and I've never looked at it that way. Thanks!

[grybai]

At my obediance class the instructor also recommended always having dogs meet each other off leash for the reasons bckrazy described.

[finn's mom]

Yeah, I think it's a better idea for the dog to be off leash at a dog park. For the reasons already described. Just like with most other things, though, it's better to politely explain to people why it's better than to be mean about it. The last time Finn went to a dog park, I had to leash him because he was just behaving badly and I didn't want him running around, causing problems. But, normally, he'd always be off leash. I don't think I'd take him if he had to stay leashed. But, if it works for you and it's not breaking the rules of the dog park, then go for it. From what I've seen at parks, the leashed dogs get picked on more than any others.

[lv4dogs]

I agree with everyone and their reasons about NOT leashing the dog.

My dogs are WAY more subbmissive OFF leash. There's no way I' personally would walk into an offleash park with my dogs on a leash.