Buffalo Rising Online

While plans for the permanent dog park are still fluid, the folks in charge need to pay attention to judi's suggestion- there really needs to be separate large and small dog sections. Most new dog parks are going this route. As for rules, peer pressure works best. Unfortunately it doesn't sound like there was any hope for the doberman and his ignorant owner.

Looking forward to join in the fun!

The first day the dog park was open, I was there with my dog Kingsley (a very friendly lab/husky mix). She was playing nicely with a bulldog, when in came a shepard. The shep went straight for the bulldog and snapped. After pulling the dogs apart, I kindly asked the owner to take her dog and leave. I told her to bring her dog back if she chose, but that she should not be there at that time. Technically, if two dogs get into it - they should both leave. That's how the rule stands now. In this case, having it been so instant and unprovoked (and all the shepard fault, sorry to say), the other dog was okay to stay. If I hadn't said anything and made both owners aware of that rule, they would have gone on with thier business and maybe never returned to utilize it. In our case, we all understand the rules and everyone left happy. My dog and I had nothing to do with the fight, but we want the park to be here to stay in Buffalo - that's why I stood up and did what's right. We all ahve to do this when we see a dog there that shouldn't be there.

The park has to become all of ours. If you chose to utilize this great addition to Buffalo, you have to treat it as if it is yours. In saying that, we are the very ones who need to enforce the rules. If a dog is being blatently aggressive, the owner should be respectful enough of the other dogs and dog owners there and leave. We unfortunately don't live in a perfect world. So that leaves it up to us - if dog owners are not respecting that soo very important rule, they should then be asked to leave by anyone present. EVERYONE needs to understand and enforce that - it's the only way the park will work - and stay open to Buffalonians.

Dogs have thier days, just like we do. It's good for dogs to be around other dogs. Some have been all thier lives and are fine around anyone/everyone. Others haven't been and therefore aren't good with others because they've never been properly socialized. Owners need to understand that if you have a dog that needs to be socialized maybe taking the dog to a park with 30 others and letting them loose maybe isn't the best idea. Start small - go on an off time for a short period of time and really watch your dog. Gradually increase and you should be fine. If the dog still has issues, sorry to say that maybe it isn't for you (and your pup).

I know that signs for the park with the rules posted are in the works - but remember that it's up to all of us to enforce them!!! If we want this gem to stay, we all need to step up and treat it as if it's our own!

i hope leashless frequenters of delaware park take advantage of the new place. then we and our (leashed) papillon can safely stick to dp while the big guys get their run on in lasalle. (i'm suspicious of anyone who claims to have good control of a dog not on a leash. and this is from someone who grew up with the best golden retriever.)

I love the dog park. It's about time we have one. I believe its a quality of life issue. WNY is better because it's open. It's great for the dogs and great for us people....i've met so many new people. We go every saturday. I've met people from Amherst, OP, West Seneca, Lackawanna, Tonawanda, ect. I think it also helps a large part of WNY discover part of WNY they dont usually get to see.

For the hour or two that we are there, there is always one or two small scraps between a couple of dogs. I think thats typical dog behavior and from what i've seen the owners as a group have been great.

although having never been to the park I did encounter a woman yesterday at the far end of Lasalle park who was playing with her dog near the scuzzy boat ramp at the water where the condo's begin....I had asker her about the dog park and she had two suggestions.....seperate areas for small and large dogs.......and some sort of shade for the dogs and their owners. Seperating the bigger dogs may help to ease the uneasiness of the possibility of encountering an aggressive dog.....although one must be careful not to hastily blame owners who's dogs become agressive at the park...unless they are already aware of this potential behavior. A few years back I brought my rather large dog to rumsey field having never experienced any aggression from my dog towards people or other dogs....that was until one day he snapped and would have certainly killed another dog, a completely helpless non-willing participant in a fight.....since that day I've had the nerve to bring him back. I can't take that chance that he won't snap again.

should be haven't brought him back....

Can people PLEASE stop bringing in food or treats into the dogpark - if my dog smells treats in your pocket she will not leave your side and therefore will not be running and playing with the other dogs. I know ther is a sign saying this but I think people either aren't reading it or they're ignoring it.