So at long last there was a break in the weather, and it was cool enough to go to the D-O-G-P-A-R-K. Slightly overcast (it sprinkled later) and not HOT. YAY!
I said the "dogpark" word outloud ... leashed and buckled him up, loaded him into the car, and off we went.
He knew. And he was PSYCHED.
And, we got there, and ....
This isn't good, at all. Not the same kinda vibe at this D-O-G-P-A-R-K. Perhaps because it's not managed by PETSMART. It was basically a little bit bigger than a baseball field, and the owners there were ... "different." Didn't pick up after their dogs, etc. But? It WAS a D-O-G-P-A-R-K, so in we went.
There was, of course, a HUGE mud puddle right at the entrance, which ... I wasn't crazy about, but others (dogs, at least) seemed pretty thrilled about:
oh ill bet that felt good for buck some cool mud on a warm day:)
So? We went. One female dog kept jumping up on him and nipping him in the face, and he kept looking at me like "Make her STOP!" I took him to the other side (the owner of the nippy dog followed, but at least there were other dogs on the other side.) Weird thing: the larger area was marked for "small" dogs. Anyway, all the smaller dogs were in the "large" dog area, so I took him over there, where we met a boxer who was clearly the alpha dog at his house (he had smaller housemates with him.) He kept jumping up and putting his paws on my guy's shoulders, and he kept giving me that same look. He wriggled out of it every time, but I could tell he was perterbed. Even so, he kept his cool ... until the boxer decided he would hump him. After about 15 times of wriggling out of THAT (and one time, the little housemate got behind the BOXER ... looked like a dang conga line, only ... errr ... not exactly.) At one point, I smiled at the owner and said: "He's decidedly heterosexual." Blank stares all around. Whatever.
lol. the boxer is very cute!
So? We walked over to the other side, and he met some new pals there:
And? All in all, I think he had a good (albeit perhaps slightly traumatic) time. At least he worked off a little pent-up energy:
FASTEST DOG IN THE WOOOOOOOOOOOOOORLD...
that is an amazing pix and its not blurry in the slightest!
The end.
geeze they look like horses. whats up with the lil ones legs?
So at long last there was a break in the weather, and it was cool enough to go to the D-O-G-P-A-R-K. Slightly overcast (it sprinkled later) and not HOT. YAY!
I said the "dogpark" word outloud ... leashed and buckled him up, loaded him into the car, and off we went.
He knew. And he was PSYCHED.
And, we got there, and ....
Oh, no.
This isn't good, at all.
Irrigation. The Arizona law: only irrigate on the same day it's gonna rain. So? I was lookin' at one pretty unhappy (leashed) dog, who wasn't much placated by our stroll around the park, so I headed back home, and went up to my mechanic, and asked him to tell me again where the D-O-G-P-A-R-K he'd told me about was, he was actually THERE (and outside, even!) and he told me, and off we went.
Not the same kinda vibe at this D-O-G-P-A-R-K. Perhaps because it's not managed by PETSMART. It was basically a little bit bigger than a baseball field, and the owners there were ... "different." Didn't pick up after their dogs, etc. But? It WAS a D-O-G-P-A-R-K, so in we went.
There was, of course, a HUGE mud puddle right at the entrance, which ... I wasn't crazy about, but others (dogs, at least) seemed pretty thrilled about:
So? We went. One female dog kept jumping up on him and nipping him in the face, and he kept looking at me like "Make her STOP!" I took him to the other side (the owner of the nippy dog followed, but at least there were other dogs on the other side.) Weird thing: the larger area was marked for "small" dogs. Anyway, all the smaller dogs were in the "large" dog area, so I took him over there, where we met a boxer who was clearly the alpha dog at his house (he had smaller housemates with him.) He kept jumping up and putting his paws on my guy's shoulders, and he kept giving me that same look. He wriggled out of it every time, but I could tell he was perterbed. Even so, he kept his cool ... until the boxer decided he would hump him. After about 15 times of wriggling out of THAT (and one time, the little housemate got behind the BOXER ... looked like a dang conga line, only ... errr ... not exactly.) At one point, I smiled at the owner and said: "He's decidedly heterosexual." Blank stares all around. Whatever.
So? We walked over to the other side, and he met some new pals there:
And? All in all, I think he had a good (albeit perhaps slightly traumatic) time. At least he worked off a little pent-up energy:
Nightowlhoot3 wrote:he unbuckles his seat belt. Very nonchalant about it all, and he doesn't always show his hand... er... paw right away, but FIVE TIMES now, I've buckled him in, only to discover that he's unbuckled himself. I've tried burying the buckle part way down between the seat and the back, but it doesn't make any difference. He still manages to get to it, and push that red "release" button. :::sigh::: He's a freakin' Houdini with his harness and the Gentle Leader thing, too.
haha! buckie is one smart doggie! it does make it a bit (lot) harder to contain them but im always in awe of how smart animals can be. my dog isnt well behaved in the car either. i get the slow yet steady climb into the front seat or the soulful head on my shoulder as im driving all the while trying to vault over the space between the seats. i drive a stick so this is really dicey and not a good thing in traffic. i have a center console that opens between the seats. i have to keep the lid up as a barrier which helps somewhat.
See? Buck used to do this too, before I got the seat belt thing for him, and put him in the way-back, which was another reason I was happy about the seat belt thing. He could (can) sit on or stretch out (sorta) on the back seat, and other than the occasional jaw on my shoulder, there was none of the precious behavior of trying to get into the front seat. Actually, he STILL doesn't try to get in the front seat, which is part of the problem, since it contributes to my belief that he's still buckled in. He's not only smart, he's sorta sneaky.
"Dooooooooooooo de dooooooooooo, IIIIIIIII'm still buckled in, and sitting here on the seat where I belong like a good boy, dooooooooo de doooooooooo, how about you roll that window down a little further, hey? Not so much to ask from a good boy like me, now, is it? Just a little breeze blowing on my buckled in self? What harm could come from it?"
I really wish I could figure out a way to keep him from unbuckling the seat belt ... any ideas would certainly be welcomed.
now my cats dont seem to be all that bright. they pretty much keep to their own cat company and interact only to eat or get brushed. gfs cat on the other hand has all sorts of tricks up her paw. if shes not getting attention she opens cabinets and slams them until you go and see whats up. usually this means she wants to drink from the faucet. for some reason kitties seem to enjoy the stream of water rather than the bowl of water tho mine get the bowl, hers gets the faucet and sometimes shes like a lil kid up and down all day long.
LOL. She has you trained pretty well! Yeah, Buck can have (and usually does) BOTH water bowls JUST filled to the brim, because he's just drunk from one, but if I'm in the back yard and turn the hose on ... he HAS to get a drink out if it. "Better water" or something, I guess.
-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 on Thursday 30th of April 2009 05:22:55 AM
Nightowlhoot3 wrote:he unbuckles his seat belt. Very nonchalant about it all, and he doesn't always show his hand... er... paw right away, but FIVE TIMES now, I've buckled him in, only to discover that he's unbuckled himself. I've tried burying the buckle part way down between the seat and the back, but it doesn't make any difference. He still manages to get to it, and push that red "release" button. :::sigh::: He's a freakin' Houdini with his harness and the Gentle Leader thing, too.
haha! buckie is one smart doggie! it does make it a bit (lot) harder to contain them but im always in awe of how smart animals can be. my dog isnt well behaved in the car either. i get the slow yet steady climb into the front seat or the soulful head on my shoulder as im driving all the while trying to vault over the space between the seats. i drive a stick so this is really dicey and not a good thing in traffic. i have a center console that opens between the seats. i have to keep the lid up as a barrier which helps somewhat. now my cats dont seem to be all that bright. they pretty much keep to their own cat company and interact only to eat or get brushed. gfs cat on the other hand has all sorts of tricks up her paw. if shes not getting attention she opens cabinets and slams them until you go and see whats up. usually this means she wants to drink from the faucet. for some reason kitties seem to enjoy the stream of water rather than the bowl of water tho mine get the bowl, hers gets the faucet and sometimes shes like a lil kid up and down all day long.
-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 on Wednesday 29th of April 2009 08:34:01 PM
so when you get a block or so away now does buck start to dance in the backseat? one of the things that always amazes me is that i can take my dog on a long trip and when we get within a half mile of home all of the sudden we are up and at em and looking out the window. animals seem to have a strong sense of place and time. i love these photos. they are great and buck looks confident and happy in his new playground.
Well, he used to, but not so much any more. Coming home isn't such a big deal for him, I guess. It once meant the extra drive around the neighborhood very slowly with the window all the way down, but we don't do that any more.
"Why?" you ask? Because he smarted himself right out of that pleasure.
Buck gets very "protective" when other dogs walk past the house, or when he's in the car and spots them. He sorta goes nuts, barking, and trying to get to them. I don't think it's "mean" stuff, just that he wants to get to them, you know? Check 'em out, or something. He WOULD jump out the window -- I've absolutely no doubt of that whatsoever.
Now: you remember the groovy seat belt harness I got for him? Major cool thing, right? But he doesn't seem to like the (minimal) confinement, so? he unbuckles his seat belt. Very nonchalant about it all, and he doesn't always show his hand... er... paw right away, but FIVE TIMES now, I've buckled him in, only to discover that he's unbuckled himself. I've tried burying the buckle part way down between the seat and the back, but it doesn't make any difference. He still manages to get to it, and push that red "release" button. :::sigh::: He's a freakin' Houdini with his harness and the Gentle Leader thing, too. I've tightened them as tight as I dare, but he still manages to wriggle out of them on occasion, while riding in the car. So? Long story short, the window now only goes down far enough for him to stick his nose out it, and there's no victory lap around the block when we get home, so comin' home is just "eh?" with him.
-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 on Wednesday 29th of April 2009 08:34:01 PM
ARG! I just simply did not have time to grab the camera, find them in the view finder, ZOOM AND focus. Would have been a great shot. Was a regular love fest ... all three of 'em kissin' heh.:
But? Eventually, the little (yappy) dog wandered off, and Buck had a new pal/business partner:
WHO YA GONNA CALL??
"Buck? No, errr... OTHER Buck..."
See, in the above I can easily tell which is Buck, but that's using the zoom. THIS is how they looked most of the time (as is true with all but the last two of these photos):
Tuckered out:
"Have a good time?"
I'll take that as a "yeah, but my legs won't hold me up much longer" yes. :)
-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 on Tuesday 28th of April 2009 05:59:30 PM
-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 on Tuesday 28th of April 2009 06:01:18 PM
so when you get a block or so away now does buck start to dance in the backseat? one of the things that always amazes me is that i can take my dog on a long trip and when we get within a half mile of home all of the sudden we are up and at em and looking out the window. animals seem to have a strong sense of place and time. i love these photos. they are great and buck looks confident and happy in his new playground.
ARG! I just simply did not have time to grab the camera, find them in the view finder, ZOOM AND focus. Would have been a great shot. Was a regular love fest ... all three of 'em kissin' heh.:
But? Eventually, the little (yappy) dog wandered off, and Buck had a new pal/business partner:
WHO YA GONNA CALL??
"Buck? No, errr... OTHER Buck..."
See, in the above I can easily tell which is Buck, but that's using the zoom. THIS is how they looked most of the time (as is true with all but the last two of these photos):
Tuckered out:
"Have a good time?"
I'll take that as a "yeah, but my legs won't hold me up much longer" yes. :)
-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 on Tuesday 28th of April 2009 05:59:30 PM
-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 on Tuesday 28th of April 2009 06:01:18 PM
Yeah, there are actually five parks like this in Phoenix -- all around two acres (only one is smaller than two acres.) This one just happens to be the closest to my house (and actually, I think is the biggest one.) There are also three in Scottsdale -- two pretty small, but one is 4 acres. ALL these parks are legal "off leash" areas.
And too, we have areas where leashed dogs (and owners) can enjoy pretty walks, but for me, it's important that Buck be able to stretch out and just run hard and fast without restraints.
Buck would LOVE a dog beach. LOL.
i wish there were dog beaches here. hmm i guess the beaches are all dog beaches before memorial day tho since theres nobody around to enforce the no dog rule tho the warmer it gets the more likely one will encounter a stray ranger or two.
we are headed out shortly to take the dog for a romp in the woods and have to have a wooded potluck picnic with some other dog owning friends. its a gorgeous day today in the 60s and sunny. im supposed bring dessert. ive just finished making black forest cheescake brownies and am fighting the urge to have a couple before heading out for the hike. im still sore from all of the uphill walking yesterday. who was it that said getting older aint for sissies?
That's a fantastic amount of park for dogs. Nice job Phoenix. Maybe I'll take Stitch later and show you what we have to work with. Beautiful, but all the same, not nearly the ground you have to work with. Though we do have a dog beach! And really, when we go I'm not checking out the grounds. ;)
Yeah, there are actually five parks like this in Phoenix -- all around two acres (only one is smaller than two acres.) This one just happens to be the closest to my house (and actually, I think is the biggest one.) There are also three in Scottsdale -- two pretty small, but one is 4 acres. ALL these parks are legal "off leash" areas.
And too, we have areas where leashed dogs (and owners) can enjoy pretty walks, but for me, it's important that Buck be able to stretch out and just run hard and fast without restraints.
These shots are looking dead south, (from about the middle of the large dog section) where (on the other side of the fence) the (small) section for the small dogs is. It's as wide as the section for the large dogs, but much MUCH smaller -- is more wide than long, actually. (And that's that friendly shepard who decided to come hang with us on the picnic table there)
Using zoom lens:
(those poor trees ... lol)
Also with zoom -- same angle but to the right of the tree -- better look at the area for the small dogs, though.
That's a fantastic amount of park for dogs. Nice job Phoenix. Maybe I'll take Stitch later and show you what we have to work with. Beautiful, but all the same, not nearly the ground you have to work with. Though we do have a dog beach! And really, when we go I'm not checking out the grounds. ;)
These shots are looking dead south, (from about the middle of the large dog section) where (on the other side of the fence) the (small) section for the small dogs is. It's as wide as the section for the large dogs, but much MUCH smaller -- is more wide than long, actually. (And that's that friendly shepard who decided to come hang with us on the picnic table there)
Using zoom lens:
(those poor trees ... lol)
Also with zoom -- same angle but to the right of the tree -- better look at the area for the small dogs, though.
Went again today -- not sure if it was because of the wind advisory, or the time of day, but only three of four dogs there! I was sorta bummed for Buck, actually. But DID remember my camera this time ...
This first one is really a shot of the park area ...
these are great! buck has such an expressive face. if theres a thing called doggy joy its evident in the second pix. love it. the babe aint bad tho its too bad she was uptight. how can one be uptight surrounded by galloping pups!
Oh, she was afraid her "Mama's boy" "Chuck" was going to be attacked by the dogs. Was even afraid of Buck, if you can imagine. I TRIED to explain to her that only the dogs on a leash (and she had Chuck ON A LEASH almost the whole time they were in there!!) were at a disadvantage, and the other dogs knew it. I started to mention how dogs pick up on their owner's anxiety, but decided to not start that conversation.
They close the park about twice a month (three times in June) for flood irrigation, and leave it closed until it's completely dry -- about four days total each time, so, for instance, we won't be able to go 4/6-4/10. It's open (I think) from 6:30 AM - 10PM.
And yeah, he was pretty darn elated to be there, even when he was just hangin' out with me, looking around.
I totally enjoyed this post. But really, that's no dog park, it's more like Doggie Montana to us city folk. That's alot of lawn lady. And those dogs look thrilled. Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks for caring.
"You city folk." Yeah, we country dwellers have it made in the shade.
This park seems to have some funding from Petsmart -- not sure how or what, but there's a big Petsmart sign over the entrance. Pretty cool, really -- 2.65 acres, altogether, although it's divided into areas for small dogs and large dogs, with separate entrances (two gates at each, with a very small sort of "holding station in between the two) for each, and all surrounded by a 6' fence. They have two watering stations for the dogs, and some picnic tables. Also, there are TONS of tennis balls lying around. I had to use the zoom for most of the photos (and sometimes, just "guess", really.)
This photo was taken from about the middle of the park, looking southwest, with him trotting back over to me. You can sort of make out the chain fence on the right hand side of the photo, but the trees on the left are on the inside of the fence.
This one I posted before is from the same spot looking northwest towards the entrance from the same spot (you can just make out my car in the parking lot on the left) The two trees on the right are outside the area, but the big one in the middle is on the inside.
It's pretty cool, really, and does my heart good to see him cut loose and RUN (although he doesn't do it nearly enough, unless he has someone to race.)
-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 on Saturday 4th of April 2009 08:11:30 AM
Went again today -- not sure if it was because of the wind advisory, or the time of day, but only three of four dogs there! I was sorta bummed for Buck, actually. But DID remember my camera this time ...
This first one is really a shot of the park area ...
This guy was Buck's runnin' bud du jour:
And with one lap to go, they're rounding the bend...
and here comes Beetlebomb ...
(Victory lap):
This shepard mix was friendly enough, but not much for running -- more of a "couch potato" really...
Or picnic table potato, more appropriately ... But friendly! :)
Ah, yes, the obligatory "woman report" -- one there. It was her first time at the dog park, and she was VERY uptight the whole time, which her dog sensed, and played out. His name was "Chuck." Didn't catch hers. He's the brown one there.
-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 on Friday 3rd of April 2009 03:36:54 PM
I totally enjoyed this post. But really, that's no dog park, it's more like Doggie Montana to us city folk. That's alot of lawn lady. And those dogs look thrilled. Thanks for sharing this.
Went again today -- not sure if it was because of the wind advisory, or the time of day, but only three of four dogs there! I was sorta bummed for Buck, actually. But DID remember my camera this time ...
This first one is really a shot of the park area ...
these are great! buck has such an expressive face. if theres a thing called doggy joy its evident in the second pix. love it. the babe aint bad tho its too bad she was uptight. how can one be uptight surrounded by galloping pups!
This guy was Buck's runnin' bud du jour:
And with one lap to go, they're rounding the bend...
and here comes Beetlebomb ...
(Victory lap):
This shepard mix was friendly enough, but not much for running -- more of a "couch potato" really...
Or picnic table potato, more appropriately ... But friendly! :)
Ah, yes, the obligatory "woman report" -- one there. It was her first time at the dog park, and she was VERY uptight the whole time, which her dog sensed, and played out. His name was "Chuck." Didn't catch hers. He's the brown one there.
-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 on Friday 3rd of April 2009 03:36:54 PM
Went again today -- not sure if it was because of the wind advisory, or the time of day, but only three of four dogs there! I was sorta bummed for Buck, actually. But DID remember my camera this time ...
This first one is really a shot of the park area ...
This guy was Buck's runnin' bud du jour:
And with one lap to go, they're rounding the bend...
and here comes Beetlebomb ...
(Victory lap):
This shepard mix was friendly enough, but not much for running -- more of a "couch potato" really...
Or picnic table potato, more appropriately ... But friendly! :)
Ah, yes, the obligatory "woman report" -- one there. It was her first time at the dog park, and she was VERY uptight the whole time, which her dog sensed, and played out. His name was "Chuck." Didn't catch hers. He's the brown one there.
-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 on Friday 3rd of April 2009 03:36:54 PM
i am waiting for buck to figger out how to push that over to the fence and do a couple of bounces to the outside world.
one of my neighbors has puppies. really really adorable puppies. they are half chocolate lab and part pit bull and part mutt. they are ready to go. i am sooo tempted. ill have the summer off and it would be long enough to do some training and the pup would have my other dog and the cats for company, not to mention the dog walker. but im a bit worried about the pit bull part. i think the cats might leave home. and im worried about gf's kid playing with a dog thats part pit. the papa is huge. like head to the top of the fence huge. the mama looks like a pure pit but they said shes mixed breed. still its hard to tell temperament at 9 weeks old.
i was listening to npr today. they did a story on a guy who wrote a book about life with his dog. he started the book after he adopted a st bernard from the pound and meant to write about the excesses of pet owners these days. in the midst of his talking about this he mentioned that his st bernard is on doggy prozac for abandonment issues. the author and his wife are gone 10 hours a day and the dog acts out while they are gone. their solution was to visit the vet and get the dog on meds. i felt angry about that. it seemed abusive. if the dog is lonely change the lifestyle or give the dog to someone who has the time for the dog. drugging it into a stupor during the day seems a bad idea. he spoke of this as tho its a good alternative saying that more people than ever want a pet but they are not home all day so more and more are turning to this drugging during the day to accomodate their needs.
Yeah, I agree. That sucks. If people are gone that much, they should either have a pet sitter, or not have a pet.
Oh, okay, but BESIDES that, I mean!!!
-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 on Thursday 2nd of April 2009 01:26:41 AM
That makes me ill. Doping dogs to suit their lifestyle. They should have cats. If anything. I have tremendous guilt leaving the dog for work. As for the puppy? Grab it immediately. Though sometimes too much time with the pup, like an entire summer including child time, can work against you in the early days of training. Talk about the separation anxiety after all that stimualtion? It's a tough call. But if you get the puppy now the concern probably isn't going to be so much the pit part but getting it quickly enough that he or she has the chance to form their own personality. The dna can't be changed, but positive nurturing certainly helps. I want every puppy I see.
i am waiting for buck to figger out how to push that over to the fence and do a couple of bounces to the outside world.
one of my neighbors has puppies. really really adorable puppies. they are half chocolate lab and part pit bull and part mutt. they are ready to go. i am sooo tempted. ill have the summer off and it would be long enough to do some training and the pup would have my other dog and the cats for company, not to mention the dog walker. but im a bit worried about the pit bull part. i think the cats might leave home. and im worried about gf's kid playing with a dog thats part pit. the papa is huge. like head to the top of the fence huge. the mama looks like a pure pit but they said shes mixed breed. still its hard to tell temperament at 9 weeks old.
i was listening to npr today. they did a story on a guy who wrote a book about life with his dog. he started the book after he adopted a st bernard from the pound and meant to write about the excesses of pet owners these days. in the midst of his talking about this he mentioned that his st bernard is on doggy prozac for abandonment issues. the author and his wife are gone 10 hours a day and the dog acts out while they are gone. their solution was to visit the vet and get the dog on meds. i felt angry about that. it seemed abusive. if the dog is lonely change the lifestyle or give the dog to someone who has the time for the dog. drugging it into a stupor during the day seems a bad idea. he spoke of this as tho its a good alternative saying that more people than ever want a pet but they are not home all day so more and more are turning to this drugging during the day to accomodate their needs.
Yeah, I agree. That sucks. If people are gone that much, they should either have a pet sitter, or not have a pet.
Meanwhile, Mr. Buckles probably WILL figure out how to use that to bounce over the fence. He's too damn smart for his own good.
I go to ALL this trouble to get him a doggie seat belt -- that has a loop on the back that you look the "real" seat belt through, and then I feel "secure" with him in the back seat AND when we get off the main road, I put the window ALL the way down, and drive around the block at about 15 MPH, and he sticks as much of him as he can, out.
Bad thing? He just goes nuts when he sees another dog on a leash, either while he's in the car, or if one deigns to walk in front of our house. NUTS, try to get at it, barking, jumping -- totally wacko. When he was belted in, that wasn't a problem ... well, not as big a problem as if he jumped out of the car window to get to that other dog, which is what he tries to do.
So what happens? He's figured out how to push the release button on the seat belt. MY MOM can't unbuckle HER seatbelt without help, but he does it apparently quite easily, and then just nonchalantly sits there as if he's still buckled in.
"Laaaaaaaaaa de dahhhhhhhhhhhhh... I'm buckled in, and can't move at all... open the window, so I can feel the breeze ..."
Yeah, RIGHT!
Tonight was the fourth time this has happened. I now have to loop his lead through the door handle, and tie it as well as buckle him in. Wouldn't surprise me if he's got secret opposable thumbs under all that hair he's shedding.
sheesh. You DO and you DO, and what thanks do you get???
Oh, okay, but BESIDES that, I mean!!!
-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 on Thursday 2nd of April 2009 01:26:41 AM
See, all this time I thought that was what happened when a drop of rain hits the electronic Bark Collar.
lol. i am waiting for buck to figger out how to push that over to the fence and do a couple of bounces to the outside world.
one of my neighbors has puppies. really really adorable puppies. they are half chocolate lab and part pit bull and part mutt. they are ready to go. i am sooo tempted. ill have the summer off and it would be long enough to do some training and the pup would have my other dog and the cats for company, not to mention the dog walker. but im a bit worried about the pit bull part. i think the cats might leave home. and im worried about gf's kid playing with a dog thats part pit. the papa is huge. like head to the top of the fence huge. the mama looks like a pure pit but they said shes mixed breed. still its hard to tell temperament at 9 weeks old.
i was listening to npr today. they did a story on a guy who wrote a book about life with his dog. he started the book after he adopted a st bernard from the pound and meant to write about the excesses of pet owners these days. in the midst of his talking about this he mentioned that his st bernard is on doggy prozac for abandonment issues. the author and his wife are gone 10 hours a day and the dog acts out while they are gone. their solution was to visit the vet and get the dog on meds. i felt angry about that. it seemed abusive. if the dog is lonely change the lifestyle or give the dog to someone who has the time for the dog. drugging it into a stupor during the day seems a bad idea. he spoke of this as tho its a good alternative saying that more people than ever want a pet but they are not home all day so more and more are turning to this drugging during the day to accomodate their needs.
When I first drove up, I was a little anxious because there were at least 30 dogs in the park, and I wondered if maybe I should wait until there were fewer, but I gave it a try, anyway, first switching my anxious mindset for a calm, relaxed one.
We got out of the car, went through the two gates, and I took off his lead, and there we were!
At first, he was just totally overwhelmed, and stayed pretty close to me, but that didn't last long. He sniffed at least 30 dog butts ... lol. TWO dogs (together) growled at him but he didn't growl back, and he found a buddy -- older, but about the same size, and they played and played.
He didn't run much at first, and I really wanted him to, but he did a few times, and he was moving the whole time we were there, which was about 45 minutes, with his tail up in the air like a plume, his tongue hanging out, his eyes sparkling, and a big grin on his face. (Yeah, he really does grin.) He was friendly with all the dogs, no matter what size or age, and ditto all the people, and when it came time to go, I just walked over to the gate, he came over to me, and stood still while I put his leash on, and went back into the car without any problem.
HUGE SUCCESS!
yay! and ill bet buckie is laying close by deep in some doggy nirvana dream legs moving and happy as a lab! and its good for buckies mom too. whats the bark park like? trails to walk or more of a field situation? and babes? we need a babe report here.
-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 on Tuesday 31st of March 2009 11:32:27 AM
Well, parks here, for the most part, are just like ... flat fields, with short grass. I had to laugh at the one tree on the side, with the (I'll bet pretty close to permanent wet line going about a foot or two all the way up from the base. LOL.
Babes? Naw, just a lot of old men. NICE old men, but still ... oh, and I think I spotted one elderly lesbian couple (oddly, it was their two dogs who snarled at Buck.) I wish I'd taken my camera -- he was soooooooooooo happy. :) When I said he didn't run, I meant run really fast, but he did sort of trot/prance around at a good pace the whole time. And "lope." :)
It was so cool ... I should have had my camera, dangit. The pal he made and he sort of wrestled, but it was CLEARLY playing -- it was about the same size and color, but with more fun, and older.
There were really all kinds of dogs around there -- and Buck introduced himself to just about every one of them.
At first, when we came in a bunch of dogs sort of encircled him, which was weird -- that was the only time I was nervous, since, well, we'd just gotten there, and I didn't know how it was going to go. But? After sufficient sniffing, I guess they decided he could play there. :)
That sounds like a great day for everyone! Buck passed his first group interview and the "smell test". No camera? Tsk. I offer up Bucks stunt double.
When I first drove up, I was a little anxious because there were at least 30 dogs in the park, and I wondered if maybe I should wait until there were fewer, but I gave it a try, anyway, first switching my anxious mindset for a calm, relaxed one.
We got out of the car, went through the two gates, and I took off his lead, and there we were!
At first, he was just totally overwhelmed, and stayed pretty close to me, but that didn't last long. He sniffed at least 30 dog butts ... lol. TWO dogs (together) growled at him but he didn't growl back, and he found a buddy -- older, but about the same size, and they played and played.
He didn't run much at first, and I really wanted him to, but he did a few times, and he was moving the whole time we were there, which was about 45 minutes, with his tail up in the air like a plume, his tongue hanging out, his eyes sparkling, and a big grin on his face. (Yeah, he really does grin.) He was friendly with all the dogs, no matter what size or age, and ditto all the people, and when it came time to go, I just walked over to the gate, he came over to me, and stood still while I put his leash on, and went back into the car without any problem.
HUGE SUCCESS!
yay! and ill bet buckie is laying close by deep in some doggy nirvana dream legs moving and happy as a lab! and its good for buckies mom too. whats the bark park like? trails to walk or more of a field situation? and babes? we need a babe report here.
-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 on Tuesday 31st of March 2009 11:32:27 AM
Well, parks here, for the most part, are just like ... flat fields, with short grass. I had to laugh at the one tree on the side, with the (I'll bet pretty close to permanent wet line going about a foot or two all the way up from the base. LOL.
Babes? Naw, just a lot of old men. NICE old men, but still ... oh, and I think I spotted one elderly lesbian couple (oddly, it was their two dogs who snarled at Buck.) I wish I'd taken my camera -- he was soooooooooooo happy. :) When I said he didn't run, I meant run really fast, but he did sort of trot/prance around at a good pace the whole time. And "lope." :)
It was so cool ... I should have had my camera, dangit. The pal he made and he sort of wrestled, but it was CLEARLY playing -- it was about the same size and color, but with more fun, and older.
There were really all kinds of dogs around there -- and Buck introduced himself to just about every one of them.
At first, when we came in a bunch of dogs sort of encircled him, which was weird -- that was the only time I was nervous, since, well, we'd just gotten there, and I didn't know how it was going to go. But? After sufficient sniffing, I guess they decided he could play there. :)
When I first drove up, I was a little anxious because there were at least 30 dogs in the park, and I wondered if maybe I should wait until there were fewer, but I gave it a try, anyway, first switching my anxious mindset for a calm, relaxed one.
We got out of the car, went through the two gates, and I took off his lead, and there we were!
At first, he was just totally overwhelmed, and stayed pretty close to me, but that didn't last long. He sniffed at least 30 dog butts ... lol. TWO dogs (together) growled at him but he didn't growl back, and he found a buddy -- older, but about the same size, and they played and played.
He didn't run much at first, and I really wanted him to, but he did a few times, and he was moving the whole time we were there, which was about 45 minutes, with his tail up in the air like a plume, his tongue hanging out, his eyes sparkling, and a big grin on his face. (Yeah, he really does grin.) He was friendly with all the dogs, no matter what size or age, and ditto all the people, and when it came time to go, I just walked over to the gate, he came over to me, and stood still while I put his leash on, and went back into the car without any problem.
HUGE SUCCESS!
yay! and ill bet buckie is laying close by deep in some doggy nirvana dream legs moving and happy as a lab! and its good for buckies mom too. whats the bark park like? trails to walk or more of a field situation? and babes? we need a babe report here.
-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 on Tuesday 31st of March 2009 11:32:27 AM
When I first drove up, I was a little anxious because there were at least 30 dogs in the park, and I wondered if maybe I should wait until there were fewer, but I gave it a try, anyway, first switching my anxious mindset for a calm, relaxed one.
We got out of the car, went through the two gates, and I took off his lead, and there we were!
At first, he was just totally overwhelmed, and stayed pretty close to me, but that didn't last long. He sniffed at least 30 dog butts ... lol. TWO dogs (together) growled at him but he didn't growl back, and he found a buddy -- older, but about the same size, and they played and played.
He didn't run much at first, and I really wanted him to, but he did a few times, and he was moving the whole time we were there, which was about 45 minutes, with his tail up in the air like a plume, his tongue hanging out, his eyes sparkling, and a big grin on his face. (Yeah, he really does grin.) He was friendly with all the dogs, no matter what size or age, and ditto all the people, and when it came time to go, I just walked over to the gate, he came over to me, and stood still while I put his leash on, and went back into the car without any problem.
HUGE SUCCESS!
-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 on Tuesday 31st of March 2009 11:32:27 AM
Anyway, all the smaller dogs were in the "large" dog area, so I took him over there, where we met a boxer who was clearly the alpha dog at his house (he had smaller housemates with him.) He kept jumping up and putting his paws on my guy's shoulders, and he kept giving me that same look. He wriggled out of it every time, but I could tell he was perterbed. Even so, he kept his cool ... until the boxer decided he would hump him. After about 15 times of wriggling out of THAT (and one time, the little housemate got behind the BOXER ... looked like a dang conga line, only ... errr ... not exactly.) At one point, I smiled at the owner and said: "He's decidedly heterosexual." Blank stares all around. Whatever.
Yeah, Buck can have (and usually does) BOTH water bowls JUST filled to the brim, because he's just drunk from one, but if I'm in the back yard and turn the hose on ... he HAS to get a drink out if it. "Better water" or something, I guess.
Would have been a great shot. Was a regular love fest ... all three of 'em kissin' heh.:
Yeah, we country dwellers have it made in the shade. 
