Play date at the Derry, NH dog park???

[duketheboxer]

I was at the park Sunday afternoon with Duke!


I didn't even know this thread existed until last night when I was poking around BW! Duke is still a little skiddish with so many other dogs. This was only his second time there, but he eventually warmed up to some of the other dogs. It's funny how much more aggressive and jumpy he is, when he is meeting just one or two dogs. Put him in a massive play pen with 20 dogs and he doesn't know what to do. hah.


There were quite a few Boxers there. At least six during the time I was there. And someone mentioned that one had just left before we showed up.

There was this one Boxer named Lucy, a 16 month old fawn female. And let me tell you, she was FAST. Amazing to see a fit Boxer running at full tilt.


I'll be keeping an eye on this thread for sure! Hope to see some of you there in the future.

[Antimony1019]

Originally Posted by duketheboxer

I was at the park Sunday afternoon with Duke!


I didn't even know this thread existed until last night when I was poking around BW! Duke is still a little skiddish with so many other dogs. This was only his second time there, but he eventually warmed up to some of the other dogs. It's funny how much more aggressive and jumpy he is, when he is meeting just one or two dogs. Put him in a massive play pen with 20 dogs and he doesn't know what to do. hah.


There were quite a few Boxers there. At least six during the time I was there. And someone mentioned that one had just left before we showed up.

There was this one Boxer named Lucy, a 16 month old fawn female. And let me tell you, she was FAST. Amazing to see a fit Boxer running at full tilt.


I'll be keeping an eye on this thread for sure! Hope to see some of you there in the future.

Our guys are really close in age!! Havoc is 16 weeks. We'll have to try to meet up sometime soon. Havoc loved playing, but he was a bit intimidated by the bigger guys, while they were playing he would just run circles around them .

We were there from about 12-1 on Sunday.

Was there a guy there telling you not to get him neutered? As I was leaving someone was coming in with a 2 yo boxer and was touting off to me how I shouldn't neuter him because it will stunt his growth and blah blah blah. I just told the guy the only reason I see for not neutering him was if I was going to show him or breed him, neither of which I am going to do. Then told him I didn't like the health risks associated with keeping him intact (then he just got quiet and left it alone). I don't care about what he wants to do to his dog, but the guy wouldn't shut up about leaving him unaltered, and he got all preachy as soon as he saw Havoc!

The only thing I really do not care for at this dog park is that I think there should be a neuter/spay rule. There were so many unaltered dogs there and they just kept trying to hump every other dog. I know that would still happen if they were altered, but probably not as much. There was an English Bulldog there that would not leave Havoc alone, the owner kept leashing him, but as soon as the leash unclicked he was trying to hump by boy again!! Poor guy!

[duketheboxer]

well we just missed you. In fact, you were probably the one someone mentioned that had just left!

It would be great to get Duke with a pup his own age/size. Apparently 16-20 weeks'ish is the "skidish/fear" age, where the dogs can get scared easily and have a lasting affect. Of course we didn't realize this before we had just started taking Duke to the park. I think he'll be fine though, and after a couple more times at the park he'll play more with the other dogs. He's a pretty durable dog, and got knocked down a few times yesterday, but bounced right back up.

There was a guy there with about a 2year old boxer. He had a massive head for a boxer, and looked almost more of a bulldog from the neck up. He was definitely not fixed. This was probably the fellow giving you advise. He didn't say anything to me about not fixing my dog, and he seemed friendly enough. And from what I can remember, his dog seemed to behave pretty well. Frankly though, I wouldn't take any advise from someone who has an overweight 2 year old boxer. Most of the Boxers there looked overweight to me. But what do I know. I'd rather have a neutered HEALTHY dog, than a big slow overweight one.


While it is true, a non neutered male may gain a bit more size, I wouldn't let a dog get to be 2 without neutering except for the reasons you mentioned (show or studding). We're going to wait to see how Duke looks at 6mo old. But may hold off until about 8-9mo to get him neutered. But he's getting fixed for sure.


I'll definitely be checking this thread often to see when folks are headed back to the park. Hit me up on the thread, or shoot me an email/message (I assume there is an email function on this forum), if you want to get together sometime with just Duke and Havoc.

[Lunasmom]

Now that it is getting cooler...i will have to try and get miss luna to the park to meet her brother Bosco...Jen...let me know when you guys are planning on going (if at all) and we will try to meet up there!!!!

[duketheboxer]

I know this is short notice, but Duke myself and Katie are headed to the dog park in a few minutes. we'll probably be there from 10:45 to about 11:45

[BoscoDog]

Originally Posted by Lunasmom

Now that it is getting cooler...i will have to try and get miss luna to the park to meet her brother Bosco...Jen...let me know when you guys are planning on going (if at all) and we will try to meet up there!!!!

I was just thinking of this last night! We won't be able to make it the next two weekends but we will definitely have to meet up after that! it is such a blast going there and I know Bosco can't wait to meet his sister!

[duketheboxer]

Well that trip was short lived.

Today, there were only a couple dogs there, and everything seemed ok at first. but let me tell you, there are some irresponsible people out there. While Duke is just a puppy, I know he can't really play hard with the big dogs. And I know some of the big dogs may play overly rough with him. I'm fine with some pushing and shoving, and nipping, and dominating acts, it's only natural. But today a dog got Duke by the neck and DRAGGED him across the park!!!

Duke wanted no part of being dominated by this dog, but had no way to defend himself against a dog easily 3 times his size. The owner was not even paying attention. She sat on a bench with her back towards the park! We should have left long before this ever happened. The other dog was trying to dominate Duke from the beginning, and it was clear the owner was paying little to no attention to her dog at all. Before the dragging occurred, the other dog got Duke under the bench and got a hold of his neck a couple times. Duke managed to slip away for the most part and ran between the picnic table the benches. I was hoping the dogs would chill out after a while. But apparently that was wishful thinking.

I have no tolerance for careless irresponsible people. Katie and I were completely shocked at the whole event. If I see the owner's car in the parking lot, I won't even bother going in next time.

I had to grab the other dog by the neck and physically remove him from my dog. I'd guess the other dog was an easy 80lbs. probably closer to 100lbs. All the while the owner never even got up. She never said anything, or yelled at her dog. We washed Duke off (yes he was covered head to toe in mud after being dragged). This was not just Duke on his back with the other dog on his neck. The other dog was literally dragging Duke around. If I didn't jump in, I'm quite sure he would have just used him like a mop.

We checked Duke over for punctures when we got home, but didn't find anything.

So we got our first taste of how things can go wrong at the dog park. Live and learn I guess. I'll probably be holding off on park visits, until there are scheduled get togethers when I know some dogs his size or responsible dog owners will be there.

[DB Tyson]

I couldn't agree with you more! I have seen some very irresponsible people at that park and I always worry each time we go, what we will encounter there. Tyson loves it there so much ...I can't take that away from him. I have seen people on cells ignoring their dogs. Also, when a dog shows any sign of aggression, they are suppose to remove them from the park immediately...that doesn't happen either. I really wish they could have an attendant during the busy hours...early in morning and late in evening.
It would be nice if everyone could be responsible! I am hoping to visit the park next weekend if things look good....Ty appears to be on the road to recovery from his pancreatitis. The weather is not too good this weekend, so we'll wait a little bit.

[BijousMom]

Boxer Buddies is a rescue organization that has a Boxer Bash annually in Hopkinton, MA. Here is the link to the posting MA Boxer Bash September 2006

I took Bijou once a couple of years ago and we had a great time. Is anyone going?

[Antimony1019]

Originally Posted by duketheboxer

Well that trip was short lived.

Today, there were only a couple dogs there, and everything seemed ok at first. but let me tell you, there are some irresponsible people out there. While Duke is just a puppy, I know he can't really play hard with the big dogs. And I know some of the big dogs may play overly rough with him. I'm fine with some pushing and shoving, and nipping, and dominating acts, it's only natural. But today a dog got Duke by the neck and DRAGGED him across the park!!!

Duke wanted no part of being dominated by this dog, but had no way to defend himself against a dog easily 3 times his size. The owner was not even paying attention. She sat on a bench with her back towards the park! We should have left long before this ever happened. The other dog was trying to dominate Duke from the beginning, and it was clear the owner was paying little to no attention to her dog at all. Before the dragging occurred, the other dog got Duke under the bench and got a hold of his neck a couple times. Duke managed to slip away for the most part and ran between the picnic table the benches. I was hoping the dogs would chill out after a while. But apparently that was wishful thinking.

I have no tolerance for careless irresponsible people. Katie and I were completely shocked at the whole event. If I see the owner's car in the parking lot, I won't even bother going in next time.

I had to grab the other dog by the neck and physically remove him from my dog. I'd guess the other dog was an easy 80lbs. probably closer to 100lbs. All the while the owner never even got up. She never said anything, or yelled at her dog. We washed Duke off (yes he was covered head to toe in mud after being dragged). This was not just Duke on his back with the other dog on his neck. The other dog was literally dragging Duke around. If I didn't jump in, I'm quite sure he would have just used him like a mop.

We checked Duke over for punctures when we got home, but didn't find anything.

So we got our first taste of how things can go wrong at the dog park. Live and learn I guess. I'll probably be holding off on park visits, until there are scheduled get togethers when I know some dogs his size or responsible dog owners will be there.

There definately are irresponsible owners there. I don't know if this was the same woman that was there when you were, but her dog got in fights (pull apart fights) with 3 other dogs while we were there. He was a mutt of some kind, large, mainly black and brown with a short coat. Luckily he never came after Havoc, but I couldn't believe she didn't leave!! She had a pinch collar on him and after he would get in a fight she would sit there with him and just yank repeatedly after he was sitting and calm. Crazy...

Many people bring dogs that are very nippy, there was a 6 month Chow there and he was all about biting!!! He wasn't hurting Havoc (although it looked like it was!!) and Havoc kept going back for more, but I don't want him to pick up biting and nipping as a habit, so I kept trying to get him to go play with someone else, but he kept running back, so I eventually just left .

[BoscoDog]

Anyone planning on going this Sunday? I'm thinking of bringing Bosco up because he is long overdue! Not positive I am going yet but I am wondering if anyone else will be there?

[Lunasmom]

Jen...Luna has rally-o classes on sunday so she can't go for another 6 weeks...but if you want to meet on another day that would be great...just let me know. Have fun sunday though!!!!