The Dog Park

I love the dog park. It is so fun to watch the dogs at play. You see every type of dog; big & small, fast and slow, fat & skinny. Some dogs are dog focused not seeing people but only dogs to sniff, run and play with. Some dogs are people focused going from person to person asking for pets.

Some dogs are obsessive about chasing tennis balls and frisbees. The are soooo OCD about the item and can hardly think until the fall or frisbee is thrown.

The boxers bounce...really bounce. They can twist and leap in one motion. The little dogs act like they are the ones in charge. There are dogs that like to play rough and dogs that hide between their owners legs or under the bench.

I read a Dean Koontz book that described dog play. He explained that a dog with a stick will convince the other dogs that the stick is the best one of all and that they must have it. Then the chase begins. I see that form of play and notice the dogs are grinning.

If there is a sound of fighting most of the dogs run towards it. I've seen a few tussles and I've helped to break up a couple of real fights. I'm probably not afraid enough of dogs in a fight. The time I won't get involved is when both dogs are on their hind feet, face to face, biting and snarling. My goofy, mellow, blanket of a Golden Retriever gets into fights like this if some male dogs are not fixed. It's scary and he has come out with some bloody bites. Most of those dogs are bigger or tougher than he is. I tell him he's crazy.

But most of the time it's all fun and games at the dog park. I love the games of chase and the dogs in the play bow. That is when dogs lay down with their front feet but their rear end is up in the air. It's quite funny but it is the beginning of a good time.

My Rosy liked to chase cats and confront dogs. Her reaction to the dog would be whatever their reaction to her was. If they wanted to play so did she. If they wanted to fight she was up for that too. She pulled me off my feet more than once heading for another dog.

My new dog, George the Golden Retriever, loves to run and run. He is a senior dog so the running doesn't last too long but he surprises everyone with how much he can run. Since I got him from a pound I don't know anything about his history but I think he must have been left in someone's back yard. He was not beaten but he didn't know how to play. He didn't know how to play with dogs or people. He is a Retriever that doesn't retrieve. He just looked at dogs as if to say, "what are you and what am I supposed to do with you?" But thanks to my daughters dog, my sons dog and going to the dog park he is starting to come out of his shell. He still doesn't know how to play with people. He thinks they are just good for giving pets. But I can see some interaction between him and other dogs now. It's nice to see.

Anyway, if you need some unconditional love or just a smile head to the dog park.