NextDoor is a social media app with a focus on your own neighborhood. I occasionally scan it for news in the area, and for posts which mention dogs. A few times I’ve connected with people having scared dogs and helped them, but we also get quite a few posts on dog attacks and other related concerns. The first installment focused on an alleged dog attack. The second was on misinformation about dangers and vaccinations for diseases such as parvo. This one will look at dog parks and coyotes.
Hostile dogs in dog park. Tired of it.
I am seriously getting tired of people who have a hostile dog taking ownership of the dog park. Numerous times I have wanted to take my FRIENDLY dog to the park, where I get stopped at the gate with the “not a good idea, my dog can get aggressive” . Seriously???? Get out of the dog park if that is the case!!! Walk your dog on a leash like everyone else. If your dog cant play nice, they should not be in the dog park.
Mauricio M.
Once upon a time, I was taking my dog and a foster to the dog park. In the larger area was a woman who quickly came over to speak with me. She said this was her dog’s first time, and she was concerned that he might not be too friendly with other dogs. I suggested taking my foster into the small side, then bringing my more experienced dog in to meet hers.
Well, her dog was nervous, running over then loudly barking, but my dog just ignored that. He just walked around, giving the other dog space for a few minutes, until the guy calmed down enough to quietly walk over. About ten minutes later they were fine, and I then brought in and introduced my foster dog, and they eventually did some playing.
Her new dog started learning how to meet others, and the woman learned something about how her dog reacts, and how to help keep him more relaxed. Everybody has a first time for everything, and if the woman had been yelled at and left the park her dog wouldn’t have learned.
As for Maurico’s claim of numerous times, out of several thousand dog park trips over more than a decade, what I just described has only happened a handful of times.
At another dog park, a new woman brought in her friendly dog, who immediately ran over and went right into my dog’s face. He gave a loud correction (i.e. Please get out of my face!), and the other dog jumped back. The woman then started yelling about my dog being aggressive, and said “If a person did that, they would be sent to prison.”. Yup, that’s really what she said! Over the next two weeks several other people came up to me, with brief stories of encounters with the same lady. At which point, she apparently decided that we weren’t friendly enough, and she stopped coming.
But I saw a loose dog there
The other day a pincher was running free playing in the park. No one else was there and I should have taken a picture of the license plate and sent it to ED. Needless to say I was afraid to walk my dog there.
Linda R.
I guess that’s a Doberman Pincher (or, just a little Miniature Pincher?). If nobody else was there, whose car would you take a picture of? There’s one local dog park where people have for years played with their dogs off leash, and I’ve never seen a single issue. Not even with other dogs and kids around. I’ve walked my dogs right by them, and few even come over to calmly say hello.
What a shame that we have to put up with this. Sure wish we had a dog park separating large dogs from small. This does not have to be a big venture or an expensive one. We have so many dogs that this is warranted.
Linda R.
How curious. This little city (100K people) has 11 dog parks. I haven’t been to every one, but most of them have a large/small dog area. I sure wish she had said which park this was, but she never responded. As for people having so many dogs, most of those dog parks are generally empty.
Judge Judy says so!
My vet says stay away from dog parks there are a lot bad things dogs can pick up that can make sick parvo etc., just take to a park and walk them yourself. I know its not the same but you never know about other dogs or ppl. Judge Judy has had a lot shows on this subject. Where big dogs hurt smaller dogs etc. Be safe out there!
Mary M.
Let me get this one straight: your vet said that a fully vaccinated dog can get parvo from a dog park, or are you editing his words? As for just walking them yourself just in case, why don’t you try also staying away from all other people, and do that for the rest of your life. See how that works for you as both humans and dogs are social animals.
So, nobody less than Judge Judy says big dogs hurt smaller dogs? Yet, just below this, Carmen G. says big dogs are gentle and small dogs are aggressive. Or, just perhaps, socialized dogs of all sizes are just fine. But dogs who are always kept at home or solo walks with only their owners, can become scared and hurt other dogs due to lacking any social skills.
It’s the Etiquette
After reading the posts on dog park uses and experiences, I am shocked. It would behoove dog owners to read up on dog park etiquette before considering its use. Some vets advise not to take your pets to a park. Everyone does not follow the rules and guidelines. Some people make up their own rules as evidences in the above posts. Your own back yard or a leashed walk may be the best place for aggressive, unvacinnated, timid or dog selective pets. Separate areas for large and mall dogs may be a myth. Many small dog breeds are very aggressive. And, giants are gentle. Please keep your pets in mind. Better safe, than sorry.
Carmen G.
I guess Carmen never learned that the etiquette includes being nice and considerate to people and their dogs, especially if both are just starting out at the park. In response, I posted a link to my Dog Park Guidance post, to address her profound shock and give her some actual notes on etiquette. Other than a few rules on the dog park signs, Carmen never gives us any clue on how to read up on dog park etiquette.
From that point on, this lady is just rambling. I’ve never seen any vet at a dog park. Nobody follows all the rules for anything in this world. As for timid or dog selective dogs, I’ve helped hundreds of them overcome that, instead of confining them to just your back yard.
Beware the Intact Male (and also their dog?)
I agree. A lot of people do not read the rules. A local man used to like to bring his intact husky into the dog park, despite it being against the rules, so the obvious issues ensued, with most dogs not taking kindly to that situation. Have not seen him for a while, so I hope he has found a better way to exercise his dog.
Sally T.
My goodness, the dogs didn’t take kindly to an intact male? Over the years I’ve worked with a few intact males, but can only recall a few dogs who had issues with that. And in all cases, those dogs either lacked social skills or also had other anxieties. These days, especially with the giant breeds, they are delaying neutering to allow for enough development and bone growth. So I’ve seen many young and intact Great Danes and others in the dog park, and the social dogs simply don’t care.
For the past two decades, I believe that every major research effort on that topic has shown intact male dogs to be slightly less aggressive. And nobody has ever shown other dogs generally being reactive to them.
Our data showed that the behavior of neutered dogs was significantly different from that of intact dogs in ways that contradict the prevailing view. Among the findings, neutered dogs were more aggressive, fearful, excitable, and less trainable than intact dogs.
Behavior & Physical Effects of Spaying & Neutering Domestic Dogs, Farhoody & Zink, 2010
Yes, there will be occasional idiots
I got physically attacked at the dog park yesterday evening. Not by a dog but by an owner. I had my six year old son with me, who was scared and cried. I didn’t want to keep us in the situation and left without waiting on the police. It was horrible, we will not go to a dog park again.
It was at the sports complex. I was trying to leave and get through the gate with a puppy on the leash. A big excited dog was scaring the puppy and I couldn’t get out. I asked the owner to hold her dog back but she refused. When I was trying to lock her dog she charged me and I ended up with my head in a metal sign. She was heavy weight, dark hair, maybe in her thirties. I don’t remember much, I didn’t see it coming and I wasn’t sticking around for further escalation
Ariana B.
I’ve been to that same dog park since it first opened. As I’ve written before, eventually every park has some idiot walk in, but this is the first time somebody’s been shoved against the sign. The park regulars took the woman’s picture and showed it around, but nobody knew her. Nor was she seen after that. Most of the regulars will quickly grab their dogs for any such issue. And some of us would grab any dog who did that, and tell off any excited owners. But, we likely won’t see Ariana again, unfortunately.
Coyotes
just curious as to why city of rio rancho is not doing something to rid the neighborhood of the coyotes. it is obvious that dogs and children are in grave danger of these animals.. and if it is because of private property on the golf coarse why arent the owners held accountable to remove them or pay vet / human er visits?
Melissa P.
This is the very start of a thread that garnered 522 comments, and is made by a person who states (her) obvious facts then never speaks again (troll?). The golf course mentioned was in the center of the city and has been closed down. It has not been maintained and many animals have collected there, especially rabbits and mice.
They were here first.
A better question is why do we keep encroaching on their habitat?
They were here before we were. We are the invaders.
Doug, Penny, Lois, and many others
For many people, this is their only comment, and ignoring the alleged points which started this thread. Then, we get many comments on people being chased by coyotes, with this following.
Most of the chasing behavior is related to protecting their dens. This tends to happen in the late spring/early summer, as pups are getting older or when territory is being established. To those that don’t understand this “escorting” behavior, it can seem like they are hunting you. You are not being hunted. People don’t realize that predators are very careful when they choose their prey. If they get injured in the process, they lose their ability to hunt and they die. If this were truly an issue of them starting to pursue humans as food, there would be some examples of attacks.
Amy F.
Very occasionally we do get some posts from people who do know a little about the topic, but this is near the top of a long thread, so this won’t last.
so my reply to Arnielle F. if you child was attacked and mauled to the point of multiple surgery’s would you still be so complacent is protecting these coyotes because your child encroached on the coyotes?…
Melissa P.
Then we get the purely hypothetical warnings. And noting that this has never happened in the history of this city will not at all deter her insistence.
I think it is nonsense to say we have encroached in on them. First of all, God gave us dominion over the animals. Second, coyotes are moving into urban areas for easier access to food, i.e., our pets. If it comes in my yard, and the shepherds don’t kill it/them, I possibly will. Sorry all. I love animals, all animals, but they will not consume my pets.
Sue S.
Then, we just have to have a few of the dominion people. Who profess to love all animals, even the ones who annoy them and are then killed for that. And, it’s okay to simply kill then in any manner, as long as they are loved.
How dangerous are they?
you really need to google “coyotes attacking children” you will be shocked.
Sean O.
I googled what you suggest and I found that there are 2 recorded cases of coyotes killing humans… during my research,I also read that more people are killed by errant golf balls than coyotes, should people be prohibited from playing golf?
Steve B.
you are deflecting. bad form. the only person who cares about getting killed by golf stuff is tiger woods. the thread is about the coyote problem. let’s accept the fact, that humans are being attacked by coyotes in all degree’s of intensities, and in general, these attacks are unacceptable, and a tragedy
Do not brush off the notion that coyote attacks are solely because of the assumption, that somehow we invaded their territory. I can guarantee you, that if a coyote attacks, they would and could make you a meal in a heartbeat.
YOU HAVE HEARD THE SAYING!! ¦.. NEVER SAY NEVER. THERE ARE DOCUMENTED CASES WHERE COYOTES DID INDEED CARRY OFF , INFANT CHILDREN. THE PARENTS DID INTERVENE AND RECOVERED THEIR CHILD. COYOTES DO NOT HUNT HUMANS?????????????? WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS?
Sean O.
And after somebody looked up the actual data to dispute Sean’s claims, he responded with:
1970 thru 2015. good job. where is the data for all the
Sean O.
unreported cases?
Oh my gosh! I was certain we were holding onto reports of all the unreported cases of everything! I mean, why wouldn’t you?
And on and on Sean goes. It really doesn’t matter what you might say, or than there is little or no data to back him up. And of course he’s not the only one here like that, just the loudest one.
Why are so many coyotes here?
people feeding coyotes or leaving pet food available is a likely attractant.
Sandy A.
Then, several people try to explain having a large number of local coyotes by claiming it’s the small pets and food left outside that is attracting all the coyotes. Somewhere, somehow, the arithmetic is lacking. Take any estimate of the number of local coyotes, together with their typical daily food intake, then take the number of small pets missing from yards each day, and the number of food bowls left out which are found by coyotes. Add that all up, and all you will prove is that nearly all the coyotes must have now starved to death!
Instead, this city has quite a large amount of undeveloped land, and they previously mentioned a closed golf course in the middle of the city. All great areas for rabbits and mice. Then, add on all the parks with water sprinklers which turn on in the mornings, and the Rio Grande river alongside the city. And since all this is sitting in the middle of High Desert, where would one really expect them to go?
Not to even mention what would happen with all those rabbits and mice if all the coyotes simply up and left. I could just imagine what those people would be saying then.