While the disease of hoarding has been around for a very long time, it is now getting more press and there is even a documentary series. I think I caught Mac in the nick of time. This is a true story. I looked down to see the sad faces of a couple of dogs who had “lost” possession of their toys. I couldn’t believe it when I looked over at Mac. Looking somewhat bored and even a little proud, he didn’t yet realize the affect his hoarding was having on the rest of the family. It’s time for an intervention.
When at a dog park, it’s not the dogs I am concerned about! It’s their humans. Dogs are excellent at being dogs. Take them to a dog park without them responding to you, and you will really get to witness dogs in action. They aren’t being bad by being a dog – they are doing what they know to do until we teach them to be what we call a “good dog.” Dog parks are filled with more scents and pent-up energy than we can imagine.
I was working with an aggressive dog outside of the dog park. I was a safe distance from the entry room with the dog nicely in a sit-stay. A car drives up, opens their door, and lets three dogs run out off leash. My guess is the dogs are not well-trained so trying to keep them on a leash to enter the park would have been a challenge.
All three dogs ran toward us. I said nicely, “we are in training and the dog is aggressive toward dogs.” May I remind dog park lovers that it’s not always a good situation to have dogs off leash charging toward dogs who are leashed without knowing about the dogs. That’s why before entering the park, the dogs have an area for leash removal. There is absolutely no way of knowing every dog in every situation – especially, if someone is telling you they have a dog-aggressive dog. A nice, friendly dog doesn’t make a dog-aggressive dog change it’s ways!
The man still could not get control of his dogs but kept assuring me that, “that one is friendly.” Which one is “that one” and what about my saying several times this dog is aggressive didn’t he understand. Fortunately, nothing happened. He was swatting at the dog calling it bad, and if I had a spare leash, it would not have been put on the dog!
I write this as a reminder to everyone to be responsible with your dogs. Have them on a leash if they are not trained to be off leash. I know the dog park is the highlight of the day for some dogs, but that will soon change if there is an altercation that could have easily been prevented.
