We Practically Live at the Off-Leash Park!

Colt, our young male Doberman, has an energy level that is off the charts! The off-leash park has been a saving grace to us because he has been able to release a lot of his puppy wildness in a controlled environment. He has learned social skills with people and dogs alike, appropriate canine manners, and lots of fun dog games. We attend the dog park at least 6-7 times per week. We go so often we started to purchase the multiple month parking passes, as opposed to paying daily, it actually saves a lot of money!
Tyson, our Bulldog, comes with us on our off-leash trips. He is not as interested in the other dogs, but is happy to walk with my husband and I if we let him carry a tennis ball or swim. Due to his incredibly small nasal passages and pushed in adorable face, he can overheat easily. We have to make sure he does not over-exert himself, especially in the summer. My mother and father-in-law bought Tyson a "cool coat", it is like an ice pack jacket he wears in the summer to keep his body temperature down, GENIUS! We purchased a life jacket for Tyson as well, convinced he would sink when initially trying to swim given the girth of his body and the tiny legs to support him. He never wears the life jacket anymore because he has proven to be an avid swimmer! It always surprises other park attendees to see a Bulldog paddling by.
The off-leash park seems to have it's own subculture. Because we are at the park so often, we have adapted to the unspoken etiquette expected of regular visitors. We ALWAYS pick up our dog droppings, and notice the glances and remarks about those that don't pick up after their dogs. We require our dogs to play easy with puppies just getting used to the off-leash environment. We are now able to recognize who takes their dogs to the park for general socialization and stimulation purposes, and who takes their out of control, untrained, high energy dog to the park and turns it loose and looks the other way while it wreaks all sorts of havoc. We are also aware of the individuals who like to release their unneutered, male, tough looking breeds for the simple pleasure of honing their bullying skills on unsuspecting play groups and walkers.
We have been fortunate and only had a select few encounters with aggressive dogs at the off-leash park, but we are aware that that is always a possibility. One such occurrence happened only months ago. Tyson was approached by a Pitbull, while Colt was running in a nearby field with another dog. The Pitbull initially sniffed Tyson, Tyson decided he had enough and ran toward my husband. His running incited a chase and the Pitbull came after him in an aggressive manner. The Pitbull attempted to corner him. Before my husband could break it up Colt appeared in mere seconds from across the field, jumped over Tyson's back, and landed in front of him face to face with the Pitbull. Colt's hackles went up, teeth came out, and he let out an intimidating growl that sent the Pitbull running in the other direction. In the meantime, Tyson's stance changed from an intimidated cower to a confident strut once he realized his big brother came to his rescue. Experiences like these are few and far between and do not deter from the value the park has to offer to a household like ours!