c/dog-park-dramas

The $15 squeaky ball that changed my dog's park behavior

I always thought those expensive squeaky balls were a rip off, my dog would tear through them in one visit. But last month I grabbed one with a reinforced rubber core at a stall near the entrance, cost me 15 bucks. Three weeks later it's still holding up and my lab is way more focused on the toy than on chasing other dogs. Has anyone else found a specific toy that actually calms their dog down at the park?

1 comments

the_thomas•2d ago

The dollar store squeaky ball hack for water bowl chaos

At Riverside Park last Tuesday, my lab kept flipping her bowl every time she grabbed her ball. I grabbed a cheap 2 pack of squeaky balls from the dollar store, drilled a hole in one and wedged it under the bowl edge. Now she bumps it, hears the squeak, and leaves the water alone. Anyone else gotta rig their setup for a water obsessed pup?

1 comments

michael895•3d ago

Just realized I was bringing the wrong treats for 8 months

My dog Biscuit never listened at the park, always bolting toward other people's bags. Last Tuesday another owner pointed out my treats were high protein jerky, basically a hyper snack. She showed me her plain cheerios and Biscuit sat instantly for her, not me. I checked the label and yeah, it's got caffeine extract in it, who knew that was legal. Swapped to plain baked chicken bits and the difference in focus is ridiculous. Anyone else accidentally used energy treats and blamed their dog the whole time?

1 comments

paulperry•5d ago

That old guy at the dog park told me my leash grip was all wrong

He said I was holding it like a suitcase and that's why my elbow hurt after walks. Switched to a thumb-loop grip three weeks ago and my arm feels fine now. Anyone else get unsolicited training tips from strangers that actually worked?

1 comments

paige_martin•5d ago

Warning: That expensive harness I bought shredded after one trip to the park

I dropped $60 on a padded harness from a boutique pet store and the buckle snapped when my dog lunged at a squirrel. Stick with a basic nylon strap, those things are tanks. Anybody else get burned by fancy gear?

c/dog-park-dramas

The $15 squeaky ball that changed my dog's park behavior

The dollar store squeaky ball hack for water bowl chaos

Just realized I was bringing the wrong treats for 8 months

That old guy at the dog park told me my leash grip was all wrong

Warning: That expensive harness I bought shredded after one trip to the park

Noticed a huge difference in my dog's recall after 3 weeks of high value treats only at the park

My retractable leash broke at the worst possible moment last Tuesday

Discovered a weird trick to stop my dog from eating grass at the park

Tally counter showed 47 sniffs at the dog park in 15 minutes

The golden retriever that taught my lab a bad habit in 3 minutes flat

Rant: The day a nervous Great Dane stole my sandwich at the dog park in Austin

Brought a squeaky ball to the dog park instead of a frisbee

My dog's favorite ball got wrecked by a puddle yesterday

Rant: My dog's favorite squeaky toy failed mid-throw at the park yesterday

Guy at the park yesterday made me rethink how I handle my dog's reactivity

That guy who yelled at me because his dog started a fight with mine

Last Tuesday was the worst dog park day I've had in years

Used to think small dogs were just ankle biters at the park

My neighbor's 'training advice' ruined my dog's recall

Got told my dog was 'too loud' at the park last Tuesday by some guy in a suit...

I finally stopped bringing treats to the dog park after 3 years

That one lady at the dog park told me I was ruining my puppy's training

My $60 "indestructible" dog bed lasted exactly 3 days at the park

My old method of bringing treats to the dog park was a disaster

I used to think bringing treats to the dog park was fine... until I saw the fights break out