Dog Park

This was a big weekend for Miles. Not only did he stay at the "dog hotel" on Friday night, but he took his first trips to the dog park on Saturday and Sunday.

I was pretty apprehensive about the dog park. While he seems to be fine with other dogs, a large open area with lots of dogs running around is a lot different than a couple dogs on leash at the shelter.

First, I wanted to make sure that the fence at the park fully enclosed the area. We haven't had him off leash yet, and I really didn't want to test the microchip system if he decided to just run and not stop once I took him off-leash.

It turns out the small park is fully fenced, but the large one we have taken Bodie is not. Next, I had to be comfortable with the environment in the park. It was muddy, so I resigned myself to giving him his first bath, and the dogs seemed pretty tame (for a dog park).

He did fine. He shied away from the pack of dogs, and seemed a little nervous, but he behavior was terrific. I'm sure in a few more trips, he'll be leading the charge as the pack races around.

Sunday, we found the park empty which gave me a great opportunity to play a little fetch and run with him in the park. He really seemed to be having fun, and although Bodie struggled to keep up, it was pretty clear he is getting on fine with his new brother.

Things went so well that on the way home, I let Miles run off leash in the big grassy area in Frick Park. It is typical to see dogs off leash there, but without constraints you need to have a certain level of trust.