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**Updated** Apollo's first trip to the dog park (LOTS of pics and video too!)

1370 Views 27 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  bibber, 
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So today Sam and I took Apollo to the Thorpe Bark Park. It was his first time at a dog park AND my first time at one. He had a BLAST. He made lots of friends and I took a bunch of pics. the first dog he befriended was a lab mix named, molly. He had a great time playing with her. He also befriended two basingeis, a german shepard mix, a dalmation, and a mutt named delilah. Oh and a very sweet rottie.

Here are some pics (warning, there are a TON). ;D

Checking out one of the "barkers"


This little Pit was SO sweet. He was EXCELLENT with all the other dogs and Apollo just loved him. His name is Tyson:




Hey little Basingei!


Soooo happy!


Lab ears in "flight" mode lol


Lab mix "conference" lol Left to right: Apollo, Molly, George


Playin with the little dogs



Apollo and Molly. Me and Molly's owner couldn't tell the two apart. LOL they are both black with orange collars.


Exploring.


Chasing another dog (look at silly Delilah up on the picnic table lol!)


Soooo happy!


I shall "kees" you!


I shall "kees" you too!


This Rottie wanted to play with Apollo soooo badly. Apollo wouldn't play, it took forever to get him too. This was the sweetest rottie ever lol

Play with me play with me!


Play play play! Pleeeassseee!


http://apollopuppy.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album01&id=P1010183



and my favorite pic of all:



Now for the negative stuff (warning, I whine alot below)

One thing I was really bothered by was while we were at the park, a man came in with two VERY agressive Great Pyranese mixes. These dogs were HUGE and the first thing they did when they walked into the park was attack a very sweet rotweiler. The poor rottie was terrified. The rules at our park EXPRESSLY state that all dogs must leave at the first sign of agression. Even though this dog attacked the rottie right away, the owner didn't leave. I put Apollo back on his leash and stayed away from the two dogs. The owner had NO control over them. some people left when this man came in, apparently he's been to the park before and his dogs have hurt other people's dogs. ::) :mad:

Well all was fine and dandy until this **** dog decided he wanted to start circling me. He started to circle me and stare me down. He kept barking and growling at me, I was very afraid but made sure to not let the dog know that. I was holding apollo by the collar and Sam was standing in front of me incase the dog attacked. The **** owner couldn't get ahold of the dog. Sam got very angry and told the man he should have left when his dog attacked the Rottie. The man had NO control over this huge dog, apollo was very scared. The man FINALLY got ahold of the dog then he tells me "take off your glasses, i don't understand why he is scared of you." I get what he was saying but he was completely in the wrong to ask me to take off my glasses when he doesn't have control over his agressive dog. Once he got ahold of the dog he STILL didn't leave! :mad: :mad: :mad:

Another woman had to say "hey, doesn't the sign say NO agressive dogs in here" you know what this guy says? "oh he's not agressive". Not agressive! HE attacked a rottie as soon as he got into the park AND he threated me, I think thats agressive! The man STILL didn't want to leave. I had to say "Looks like an agressive dog to me! Seemed pretty agressive when he attacked that rottie over there. Seemed pretty agressive when he was staring me down. I think you need to leave, read the rules, your dog is dangerous and you have no control over him." He finally went into the gated area inbetween the fenced dog park and the outside parking lot. He stayed in there for like 10 minutes and then finally left. I was so upset. The rottie AND apollo were both terrified after the dog left. The other dog owners were appauled. So was I. What should I do if this happens again? I really was scared that dog was gunna rip me apart.

So that was our day. There were fun parts, there were not fun parts, but either way apollo and I both had fun. Can't wait to go back next Sunday! ;D
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Snowflake
Re: Apollo's first trip to the dog park (LOTS of pics and video too!)

Might seem like an over-reaction, but if I was subjected to an aggressive dog like that, I'd tell him to either get his **** dog out or I'd call the cops and animal control. Isn't that what you would do if you saw an aggressive dog.....not under control....in your neighborhood? Then I'd whip out my cell phone so fast it's make his head spin.

There is NO EXCUSE for people having aggressive dogs out in public and not have them under control. If it's a public park and the rules are clearly displayed, I'd call the authorities in a heartbeat and not think twice about it.

I'm glad y'all had a good time anyway. All dogs should be able to go out and play without fear. And owners should certainly be able to be out with their dogs without being fearful.

Keep getting him out and socializing him like that. It's soooooo good for him. He's such a sweet, beautiful dog. Doggie kisses from Sally to Apollo! :-*
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Re: Apollo's first trip to the dog park (LOTS of pics and video too!)

Thanks. Apollo had a great time, but that man's dog was out of control. Not only did he have one big dog, he had two and they were both bullying other dogs. He had NO control over them at all. The dog wouldn't come when called and I was worried I was going to be attacked. I have NEVER been threatened like that by a dog! I was appauled that someone would bring a dog like that into a dog park. I was sooooooo angry!!! That poor rottie got attack by that aweful dog. I was talking to his owners and we were both VERY upset by this man. He was a complete idiot. He should not own massive dogs like that if he can't control them!
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W
Re: Apollo's first trip to the dog park (LOTS of pics and video too!)

omg what a jerk!!! I cant believe that. Good for Sam for not attacking the guy!
I adore Rotties. They are the sweetest dogs by nature.
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Re: Apollo's first trip to the dog park (LOTS of pics and video too!)

Ya know, its not that I ever thought that Rotties were "mean" persay, its just that I didn't realize how gentle and sensitive they were. This dog kept trying to play with apollo and this was also the dog that got attacked. LOL now sam says that when the time comes (waaayyyy in the distant future) to get a baby brother/sister for Apollo he's thinkin about a Rottie lol I don't mind, my only request is that when we DO get the dog (like I said waaayyy in the future lol) that I want to get it as a pup and put that little puppy throw a butt load of obedience classes, time with the ferrets/cats, etc. I think Rotties are a great breed, you just gotta raise em right (like any other dog). D-bone (the rottie's name) was the BIGGEST sweetie ever lol. I just fell in love with that big guy!
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Re: Apollo's first trip to the dog park (LOTS of pics and video too!)

bump ;) I speant a LOT of time making this post, and just wanna make sure everyone can see the pics. Its took me an hour to post this darn thread lol.
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A
Re: Apollo's first trip to the dog park (LOTS of pics and video too!)

Bump (for above reasons)
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AbbyandMolly
Re: Apollo's first trip to the dog park (LOTS of pics and video too!)

fun!!!

I love the Rottie, he really really really wanted apollo to play lol
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Re: Apollo's first trip to the dog park (LOTS of pics and video too!)

lol Apollo seemed happy (he was waggin his tail) but he seemed really uninterested in playing with this rottie. He played with the lab though lol. My dog is discriminating! bad apollo! lol jk
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I
Re: Apollo's first trip to the dog park (LOTS of pics and video too!)

Unfortunately there are always idiots in the dog owning world. I suppose as with everything. It looks like overall you guys had an awesome time anyway! :) Very cute pics, and Molly and Apollo look so...SNAP!!! ;D
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E
Re: Apollo's first trip to the dog park (LOTS of pics and video too!)

Sorry to read about the aggressive dogs at the park. Too bad their owner is an idiot. Sure looks like Apollo had a great day tho!! Thanks for sharing the great photos!
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Re: Apollo's first trip to the dog park (LOTS of pics and video too!)

You're welcome. he had sooooo much fun lol. I felt like a parent at the park with my 5 year old hehe. I was like "come on apollo, time to go!" and he just looked like, "awwww man. do we gotta?" lol. We are gunna go back next sunday.
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jzgrlduff
Re: Apollo's first trip to the dog park (LOTS of pics and video too!)

Great pics! Looks like a grand time was had by all. :D
Is that pitball small, or is Apolla really tall??

I'd be pissed about those dogs, too. Some people just don't get it. ::)

So I guess the 22 hour trip went OK with the gang in the car?
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L
Re: Apollo's first trip to the dog park (LOTS of pics and video too!)

Hello
great pics
the dog park in my town can be a not so safe place too. i want to go but have heard some not so good things about dog fights etc. so i have not gone there.
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emccase
Re: Apollo's first trip to the dog park (LOTS of pics and video too!)

Jeesh some people just have no reguard for others. Glad that all went well though and the big mean dog finally left you alone. Looks like you guys had a great time otherwise.
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K
Re: Apollo's first trip to the dog park (LOTS of pics and video too!)

I have always worried about that stuff at dog parks so I have yet to go to one. But Im glad you guys had a mostly good time and Im glad nothing happened to you or apollo.
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Re: Apollo's first trip to the dog park (LOTS of pics and video too!)

Hey guys lol. The pitty is just a pup lol, thats why he looks so tiny. He was such a well socialized little pup, him and apollo got along great lol. Apollo loves small dogs, but especially puppies. When he gets a little brother/sister one day he's gunna be soooo happy.

As for the road trip, haven't made it just yet. We were gunna leave this morning, but we might need to take another month before we can move. We tried to fit all our stuff (minus the furniture) into the Bronco plus 10 animals and yeah....didn't work lol. We are gunna have to save up to get a U-haul trailer for $114. THEN we will be able to leave lol. Boy oh boy, I am NOT looking forward to the car ride. Be prepared hehe, I am gunna take video clips of the ride (im sure you'll see the cat's screaming in the background lol!)

As for the dog park, it was really fun. That owner was an idiot though. You don't bring a dog agressive dog into a dog park and you CERTAINLY shouldn't bring a people agressive dog into the dog park, what was he thinking????
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Re: Apollo's first trip to the dog park (LOTS of pics and video too!)

OMG! lol I almost forgot! There was the cutest little pug at the dog park. It was totally obese and sooo tiny. He kept almost running into the trees! LOL he chased all the big dogs around and started breathing through his nose and like snorting. OMG apollo LOVED the pug lol. I normally don't like small dogs, but dang, this one had balls! he was chasing labs around like he was one of them too lol. I love pugs, they are so ugly IMO but that is what makes them adorable lol.
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jzgrlduff
Re: Apollo's first trip to the dog park (LOTS of pics and video too!)

I thought Sam was leaving friday for the trip and you were leaving shortly thereafter? I guess I missed something. :)
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Re: Apollo's first trip to the dog park (LOTS of pics and video too!)

lol, nope. He was gunna leave this monday at 4am and I was gunna fly home on May 8th around 3pm. But not being able to fit all our stuff into the truck put a monkey-wrench in the plans. Ugh. Hopefully we will be able to get a u-haul trailer and then I will just ride home with sam on May 8th and help him out with the animals. LOL, boy is this gunna be interesting.
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