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| - Disclaimer: I am nervous bringing my dog to dog parks, as when he was a puppy he was severely attacked at a dog park in Glendale. Very traumatic experience.
We came to Indian School Park with the idea of giving this dog park a try. We came when it was cooler, right around dusk. Our dog was feeling pretty hyper so we walked him around the park on the leash, and went up and down some hills in the effort to get some energy out.
When we felt he was calm enough, we approached the dog park area, not knowing the layout. We walked first past the little dog park. The dogs came to the fence and were sniffing at first, but then some little dogs got excited and started barking at him. This attracted the attention of 2 particularly aggressive big dogs, who came to the fence and started barking, too.
Our dog was now being barked at from both sides (mind you, he was not barking back or showing any signs of aggression AT ALL). We were barked at the entire way around the park by these 2 big dogs. The owner only came near us towards the end, when she halfheartedly called her dogs toward her. They didn't come. If it were me, I would have gotten a toy or treat to distract them, or maybe called out a "Sorry!" in our direction. Nope. She just gave up and walked away. It was at that point we decided not to enter the park. Her dogs seemed really mean, and we didn't want to risk another attack. Which is too bad, because the other big dogs seemed nice and calm. This has been my experience with dog parks - one or several inconsiderate owners ruin it for everyone.
Dog parks are for well-trained, docile and friendly dogs looking to stretch their legs and run around, perhaps making new friends in the process. It is not for ill-trained, unsocialized dogs who you are too lazy to train.
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