I'm not going to chew your ass Kristina, but I am going to play a little devil's advocate here. I have 2 friends here, one with a pure pit and one with a mix, and my parents have a pit mix. A lot of issues with pits can be put on the owners for not properly training and socializing their dogs. My friend with the pure pit does not take her dog to parks, but I meet up for doggy play dates with them all the time. My friend with the pit mix takes her dog to parks frequently, and was discriminated against last weekend. The dog hadn't done anything wrong, but we got a complaint lodged against us for having an "aggressive dog". The same lady tried to hit Ghost for coming too close to her dog... Anyway, Caesar plays a little on the rough side, but no more so than Ghost does. He's a certified CGC, and actually fairly timid. My friends have worked extensively with him, and he's very well behaved. As is the pure pit and my parents mix. After this last incident, she is afraid to take him out in public because of someone making assumptions about him, but she got a CGC vest that he's going to wear when out in public now.

I think the rules should apply for all dogs instead of one breed being banned outright. It's the owner's responsibility to control and train their dogs, and if they have an issue stay out of the dog park. Jenn, you would have been right regardless of the ban on pits to ask that guy to remove his dog from the park at the first sign of aggression. Crud, I've told Aaron to take Lulu out of parks before for being too aggressive.

Feel free to agree or disagree, that's just my opinion and what I've experienced. Again, it really sucks that that guy couldn't control his dog and created an environment where Jack got hurt. I truly hope it doesn't happen again.

Glad Jack is ok! As I posted when I first joined, Nanuk gets his defenses up anymore when he is at the park....he'd been attacked a lot on walks, and if he's on-leash, he is automatically on the defensive if a dog comes running up.
You have a lot of skill getting your two behind you. Tommy & I had a hard time controlling our three when a German Shepard came running up on us once!
Heaven help us all if a dog comes running when we are walking the Linocerous! He's a little fella who doesn't know it! The Three Huskyteers would feel obliged to help their older brother.
We stopped taking them to the dog park....it stopped being fun....

Wow, that would have been scary Jenn. I would have been shaking too! Dakota has been attacked so many times on our walks by loose leash dogs and he acts like they want to play! I never worried too much until recently. He used to be able to hold his own, but now I worry since his hips bother him. I'm very alert on our walks now so I can intervene if necessary.

I'm torn on the breed specific bann. I do not think it's fair for those that have no aggression but there are so many owners out there that know their dog can be aggressive and still put them in situations that risk others.

I think for breeds who are known for dog aggression it is a serious risk taking it to the dog park. You not only have to worry about your own dog but other people and their dogs. If my dads Pit mix was to come with us to the park and either attacked another dog or was attacked and then defended herself- she would be destroyed. Mostly because she looks like a Pit.

I have nothing against the breed but I think taking them to a public place like a dog park where you don't know the people or dogs is a mistake. Your breed is prone to dog aggression. Its like taking a Husky into a little dog park. Its not smart.

arooroomom wrote:

If my dads Pit mix was to come with us to the park and either attacked another dog or was attacked and then defended herself- she would be destroyed. Mostly because she looks like a Pit.

You're absolutely right on that point, and that's why my friend with the pure pit doesn't take her dog to parks. My other friend and my parents' pit mix are both great dogs and not prone to aggression (they're both total wimps actually), but they still take a risk taking their dogs out. I think the point I was trying to make was that you have to know your dog and be able to control them around other dogs if you are going to bring them to a park. It's a shame that people with pits, even if they're the most well behaved pits out there, have to be worried about taking them out in public. And, it especially sucks that people bring poorly socialized dogs to parks and then things happen like what happened to Jack.

Hopefully we all manage to avoid dog park issues in the future, as they're such a good resource for our dogs.

Huskies always seem to be near the top of those "lists" too...



This is one of those instances where I would have taken a picture and said "stupid husky". The other dog was probably telling him to shut up.

I'm glad Jack is ok! We got attacked last night by two little dogs. Stupid owners just left their fence gate open. Luckily I was able to kick one dog before it got close, and that sent both of the dogs running back across the street. Stupid owners never even came out. I hope Jack doesn't end up being afraid of other dogs. Luka use to want to play with every dog, but after being attacked she is now shy around new dogs. Kitty has been attacked too, but she acts about the same. I love pits, but I can't help but be worried when I meet one I don't know. Too many stupid owners get dogs and don't socialize them, or think its cool to have an aggressive dog.

Things like thishave nothing to do with the breed. It is the owner that makes the dog what he is, even a Pit can be nice dog.

On one hand I´m sad that we don´t have real dog parks her ein Germany but on the other hand I wouldn´t go there to often I think because there are alot of aggressive do0gs and most owners don´t have their dogs under control, or they just don´t give a damn.

To me what JBealer said is the right way, he protects his dogs, Of course ther eis a risk of getting bit by th eother dog, but most of the time the other dog will run away.

Denver has a breed ban against Pits.... thus the sign at the park. If you are caught with a Pit they pick it up and destroy it. I would never live in Denver. My daughter has a Pit and I have a Pit mix. My Max loves all dogs. He is one of the most gentle dogs ever. Breed bans are misguided in my opinion, People should be held accountable for misdeeds by their dogs. Any breed can be dog aggressive. I personally don't like dog parks. I would rather let my dogs play with each other under my supervision and we go hiking and camping in state parks and walk on the beach daily. Just not worth the tension putting my dogs in possible harms way of strangers and their dogs.

beck3465 wrote:

Breed bans are misguided in my opinion, People should be held accountable for misdeeds by their dogs. Any breed can be dog aggressive.

BSL is very misguided. First and foremost who the hell can tell with 100% certainty the breed of a dog. I liken it to racism because that is what it is in the dog world, lumping all dogs of one breed together, mostly by looks alone. It is starting to affect huskies as well, http://www.paws4change.com/Breed-Bans.html. I really feel bad for the thousands on pit mix owners (and other banned breeds) who can't enjoy the same freedon with their dog as everyone else.

"We have nothing to fear but fear itself" - FDR.

I predict that in the future dog parks probably won't exist as some major catastrophe is going to happen with dog vs. dog or dog vs. child. Then lawsuits will occur and cities and counties won't want to risk the liability of parks specifically designated for dogs. Sad for responsible dog owners but inevitable due to the stupidity of some irresponsible pet owners and parents.

I wanna have my own private dog park for only the dog owners and dogs I personally know....

A girl can dream, right?!

cmanding wrote:

I wanna have my own private dog park for only the dog owners and dogs I personally know....

A girl can dream, right?!

Maybe all us coloradoans can pitch in and help!

Demon&Dakota wrote:

cmanding wrote:

I wanna have my own private dog park for only the dog owners and dogs I personally know....

A girl can dream, right?!

Maybe all us coloradoans can pitch in and help!

How cool would that be for us to have our own private dog park for our furbabies??

I've actually thought about it! I'd buy land big enough to have a passive side to let the grass grow back in, and the active side for the dogs to play and alternate every year so it'd always have grass. Then I'd have a 'membership fee for people who want to use it and the fees would go toward maintenance. That's as far as my plans went...

Now, if only I could win the lottery so I can put this plan into action!!

cant win if you don't play...!


i don't play, but i love the idea and would pay a fee.