|
Rehabilitating Tyler's dog
social skills at Point Isabel dog park...
|
It's a 180 mile round trip
from the Central Valley. But out there no
one socializes dogs. Ranch hounds roam loose to kill
predators, stay locked up in chain link kennels, or
remain
confined for life
to the small
backyards in the
shabby housing development.
More...
No one allows
their dog to play with, or meet, other dogs. Without
skills to command a dog, and no understanding of the
species the Central Valley is like
"Death Valley for dogs"...
|
|
|
Millie plays in her Central Valley sheep pasture
|
Millie runs in a rocking
gallup gait
that reminds me of dolphins in
the ocean. She moves effortlessly as if floating
over the ground. She is my fastest dog, but more
than that she runs for the joy of it.
More...
|
|
|
Is Point Isabel the
"Disneyland for
dogs"?
|
There is the Sit & Stay
Cafe
,
Mudpuppy's Tub & Scrub
, the ball dog
playing field, ocean retrievers beach, low-tide
mud walks, the narrow squeeze
dog & people
bridge, the long
hike up to the plateau, the dead end pier, the long
walk around...and amazing views of the San
Francisco Bay & City. Mickey Mouse? I'll
bet he's
around here somewhere...
|
|
|
My rough collie is named
Collie
. She loves
women, children, and her lambs.
She has to
sniff every dog she sees!
|
Collie seeks out
people to pet her,
then pretends
for 5 minutes that
she's their dog
.
"Hug, me! Pet me! Kiss me!"
that's
her motto.
Collie is a natural
therapy dog.
She is also a
terrific "scent detective" who can track an
animal or sniff out infection in humans or
livestock. She licks
clean wounds or sores on her lambs. She's my
sheep doctor.
|
|
|
|
|
Tyler needs to play with other dogs so that his social skills
don't go dormant
|
Too much rough
stuff with the livestock guardian dog
makes Tyler think tackling another dog for a
throat grab is normal fun.
But its not
appropriate behavior at a dog park.
Tyler has to come to Point Isabel to remember
his social skills. He has to be reminded:
No mounting!
(You don't know
where that dog has been!) Not all male dogs
are gay, Tyler!
Be
gentle dog.
If you want to have dog
friends you have to play nice. Don't kill
your friends or you won't have any.
|
|
|
|
|
Bringing an un-neutered dog to a dog park is one
thing, but
kicking away dogs
that want a sniff?
|
Some parks have signs
prohibiting this
(I read online). Intact
males have odors that are unusual to a pack of
dogs who are "fixed."
Why
does an owner keep the dog on a
leash? preventing social contact with other dogswhat's the point of
going to a dog park?
Why not leash walk
your "stud" anywhere
other than a dog park full of happy, playful,
off leash canines who sniff each other?
|