At the Dog Park
At the dog park
By: Victor K. Lasseter
Description: Kroll Way dog park is melting pot of dog breeds (and owners!) See photos of various dogs, then leave a comment about your experience(s) with dog parks
Topics: Kroll Way dog park, Animals, Southwest Bakersfield
Posted by vlasseter Thu Jun 26, 2008 09:19:50 PDT
Viewed 855 times
0 responses 5 comments
“The Russians are here,” said my wife Linda. A pair of huge Black Russian Terriers entered the Kroll Way off-leash dog park. Before Kroll Way, I had never seen or even heard of the breed, developed by the Soviet military and not exported until after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
We’ve met other fairly rare dogs at the park such as Cisco the German “Draht Haar, “ one of the most popular hunting dogs in Germany; Sophie the Spinone Italiano, an Italian hunting dog, and her roommate Ghillie the Griffon wire-haired pointer. We like P.J. the Bouvier des Flandres , a stocky Belgian herding dog (Ronald Reagan kept a Bouvier named Lucky in the White House).
We’ve also enjoyed popular dogs such as the many Labrador Retrievers (including Mike Alexander’s Niner), a few Goldens (like Brandy, age 15) some Standard Poodles like Kevin and Marta Hale’s Clovis, Boxers like Tank or Mike Crook’s Million, German Shepherds (Doc and Ted, among others), and Pit Bulls, including the adorable puppy Vincent. Abby the Dalmatian is a running dog by trade, but the older dog prefers to walk beside her owner. When Rick and Christine Hixson’s whippet arrives, we stop to watch the fastest dog in town. She is Mia.
We began bringing our English Sheepdog O’Malley as soon as he was released from puppy quarantine. Young dogs thrive on socializing and running hard; they like to chase and be chased and to rough house, sometimes so hard that we wince.
Recently retired from the Cal State English faculty, I’ve recognized several university dogs--all probably smart--at Kroll Way. Retired mathematics professor Lee Webb brings two Brittanys and a Golden. Professor of French Joanne Schmidt brings her French Poodle, Marvel. We recently saw CSUB alum and my former student Darlene Stotler with her English pointer puppy Jessie, who runs full speed during her 30-40 minute visit.
Giant dogs always stand out: the Great Danes Titan, Tricia Ferguson’s Barracuda, Morgan Brewer’s Toby and an Irish Wolfhound, name unknown. These majestic dogs are the gentlest visitors to the park.
Many of our favorite Kroll dogs are rescue dogs like Jane and Keith Garrison’s three Old English Sheepdogs, Sammy, Bella, and Cosmo; and Stewart Lewis’ Carson and Sophie. Mixed breeds are popular at the park. Dianne Funssagrives and Moy Leuthardt regularly visit; Diane's Austrialian shepherd mix Maggie likes to chase balls while Moy's border collie mix Tessie is happy just to walk.
Finally, we have international dogs. Ellie the Vizsla (a hunting dog known mainly in Hungary until after WW II) has been transferred to Oman with her owners.
The mayor of the dog park is Barracuda, who recently enjoyed his second birthday party at the park. Like the mayor of Bakersfield, ‘Cuda is tall, friendly, and has appropriate gravitas. ‘Cuda’s roommate, Sage the English Mastiff, serves as the Great Dane’s chief of staff, O’Malley as vice-mayor. Gilly is our sheriff, who asks that visitors follow two rules: (1) pick up after your dog (2) correct your dog if it gets aggressive.
The Kroll Way dog park is at Kroll Way and Montalvo, just east of Stockdale Elementary and adjacent to Kroll Way Park. Plastic bags are provided for picking up. Water is available from a faucet, but there are no rest rooms. With dogs running hard, this is not a safe place for small children, and even adults need be aware of happily swirling dogs.
| Send to a Friend | Report a Violation |
Wed Jun 25, 2008 16:46:14 PDT
Unfortunately I stopped going to that dog park. There was a couple who brought their dogs on a regular basis and they would go after other people's dogs. Anyone who tried to talk to them about it would get yelled at by him or his wife.
We have not bee back there in several months, so maybe they are gone, but we just did not want to take the chance with our dogs.
Wed Jun 25, 2008 18:36:48 PDT
Aggressive dogs and their owners are always problems at dog parks. At Kroll Way we switched from evenings to mornings because of aggression. You might try early mornings: there is a pretty cohesive group of considerate owners. Sometimes a dog gets too rough, but the owner will quickly intervene. A German Shepherd had to have a time out and when that didn't work the owner took him home.
Fri Jun 27, 2008 09:43:14 PDT
The agressive dogs are bad enough, but in the case that I am referring to, when the people just will not listen, then it gets bad. When I was still going there on a regular basis I met a woman that always brought a small stun gun in with her... just in case. Looking at it now, I would wonder if that was for the dogs, or the people that keep them. ;-)
Fri Jun 27, 2008 22:19:54 PDT
As a dog trainer of over 30 years.
And have worked with many dogs and tought many obedience classes..
Most dog fights at dog parks can be avoided by keeping yourself & your dog moving..
Do not gather in big groups around the gate or anything.. Give your dog room to get a way from the other dogs and have their own space..
Anytime there are to many dogs in one spot there is always going to be fights.
Pretty much is true for people or any living thing for that matter..
If you want to take your dog to the dog parks & visit with everyone.. Then the best thing to do is keep walking around & keep yourself & your dog moving.
I have seen many dog fights at dog parks. Many dogs getting hurt & a few being killed. & owners being bit..
Because to many people gathered in one spot, that could of been avoided..
Not to mention it makes it just that much harder for people trying to get in & out of the gate, when there are 10 or 15 dogs infront of it..
Dogs are pack animals, & in a pack like that. There will be fights to find the pack leader..
Be save, keep yourself & your dog moving..
Eddy
Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:18:45 PDT
I enjoyed browsing through your photos - it's neat to see each puppy's personality. Makes me want a dog!
Editor's Picks
Neighbors
| Neighborhood Blogs | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
New entries from Southwest bloggers.
What to join in?
Get your own blog for free!
Note that
you must have a user ID
to create a blog.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
