I've been taking my 9 month old Lab to the dog park in Allen early on Sunday mornings lately so that she can socialize with other dogs. Although the park is surprisingly clean, there are some issues there, particularly with one gentleman's dog that always seems to start a ruckus...every Sunday we've visited, this one dog has gotten into it with other dogs, including mine on her first visit.

Anyway, the point here is that Lilly started coughing late last week and the cough got progressively worse over the weekend until last night she acted like she was gagging. Eating, drinking, and activity level seemed normal, but we took her into see the vet this morning. Vet said that it was kennel cough, gave her a couple of injections, and sent us home with a couple of pills to give her over the next several days.

Lilly is current on her shots, including the one for kennel cough, so I was a little surprised at the diagnosis. Vet said that the vaccination gets three of the approximately ten strains out there and that, of course, she should be fine in a few days.

Y'all probably know all of this about kennel cough, but I thought I'd pass it along as a sort of warning to others. The dog park seemed like a good idea, but I guess it's out now if it's going to make her sick. My goal was socialization for her...We go for walks daily, she loves to retrieve on both land and from water, and is good on her basic commands. I will not be hunting with her, so she's basically a pet. Any ideas/comments on socialization?

Dang, I hope Lilly gets to feeling better quick. CC sux for both her and you.

Dog parks are to much of a reminder for me of how society is...to many dumb pet owners there and we refuse to take our dogs there. Seems like there is always 1 dog that is aggressive and I don't want/need my dog bit.

Good luck, get some buddies and go to a park or somewhere you can let them run. Assuming she won't run off if not confined.

or yourself bit
+1
well behaved dogs in a controlled setting would be best. Or other dogs that you know are not psycho

Thanks, Judd. I appreciate the good thoughts. Vet says she'll be fine in a few days, so no worries.

Lilly is very good about not running off. I've worked with her a lot on basic obedience. I took her to a small park lake and she swam and retrieved and didn't wander too far away when she'd get out of the water; she trotted back when called. Of course, there weren't too many distractions, but I was pretty happy with her over all.

Yep, we're through with dog parks. I need to find some other "children" for her to play with. Yesterday's shenanigans were so bad, in fact, that I was considering taking some pepper spray with me next trip. I figured I could use that on dogs or owners...

Funny, I don't remember being this choosey with my kids' friends.

My boxer developed kennel cough after we got her back from the vet. My lab got it from her. Called them and told them the lab has it now and picked up the pills. She'll be fine in a few days.

I have heard of it happening quite a bit at dog parks. Pet smart is a good place to take them for socialization. Just walk around the store with them for 30 or 40 minutes at a time. Lots of other dogs in there that they can meet. And lot of different smells and distractions to introduce them to as well. When I first took my GSP in there he locked up on a solid point in front of the parakeet cages! LOL!

I take our Brittany to the dog park in Plano(Spring Creek/Independence area). At first it scared me with the other dogs b/c she's kinda aggressive herself, but now after have a few of the mockingbirds messing with her, she just patrols the outer fence looking for birds and doesn't really socialize as much with other dogs. She gets great exercise going back and forth and I like it b/c I don't have to worry about someone's dog attacking her. One thing I can't stand about some owners is not picking up the crap their dog leaves, especially when the dog is about 10 steps from them and right in the middle of everyone. geez.

you can pick up liberal chicks at the dog park from what I hear

We take our 6 mo Vizsla to the dog park several times per week. Haven't seen many aggressive dogs there and Coco has a good time running and playing. Shes runs full out and nothing in that park will catch her if she is running hard. LOL

I take mine to the dog park every once in a while. But like most birdie dogs, he ignores most other dogs and runs the fence line, looks up at trees searching for birds.

Only thing that will distract him from that is the occasional sexy poodle that strolls by.

I refuse to go to dog parks. Some idiots want to show off how tough their dogs are and far too few people have their dogs under control.

ive had some bad experiences at dog parks with other peoples dogs..the problem is not always your dog, but the other dogs you arent in control of

Two words PEPPER SPRAY.

for the dogs or the owners?

I would rather spray the owner, but if their dog gets sprayed there is a good chance the owner will get some on them. If people just used common sense they wouldn't let an aggressive dog run loose at a dog park.

common sense is not very common.

That's why we go to non-dog parks and my dog is under control.

Yes, you can