@dmey:
That's really great that he has such good recall, so young. Ayo recall is excellent when he is bored.. He tends to forget his name when he is playing around sometimes, although he does come over every once in a while and checks on me,. I just found out that there is a dog area they have set up at a park here called Mirador, its like the central park of santo Domingo, really big, only its not so central. I might go over there tomorrow and see what its like!!! Any suggestions for someone and some dog who's never been?
For Kipawa's first time at the unleashed dog park, I brought him in a partial way on his leash. I wanted to see how he was going to act with many dogs approaching him. He initially did a little growl, which I corrected him on. I noticed he greeted each dog with his tail uncurled, which told me he was apprehensive, but was okay with being careful.
I do keep an eye on him all the time when we are there. You may know the temperament of your dog, but you can never be sure about other peoples' dogs. Call Ayo back to you every now and then to let him know you are there for him. I believe this gives a dog a sense of security.
If you have to keep your dog leashed at the park you are mentioning, I find that you will encounter some people and dogs that steer clear of other people and their dogs. As this leads me to believe someone in their pairing is lacking in interaction skills, I leave those folks alone. If I approach someone with a dog, I ask if it is okay for Kipawa to meet their dog. Again, my eyes are right on both dogs, watching their body language for any signs of a potential problem.
It's important though for Ayo to feel that you are calm and confident - it will help him feel comfortable meeting other dogs.. I hope you have a great time - let us know!
