Wish I could let him off lead

Everytime I go on a park with Milo all I come across are either big dogs on leads barking and leaping around on their leads or if I take him up to what seems a nice little dog its a sniff noses then snap snap snap - poor Milo.

I so want him to run around and have fun with other dogs - where are they all or am I walking him at the wrong time of the day when all the 'difficult, unsociable' dogs are out?

there's one word there that explains it all "park" I wouldn't go to a dog park if my life depended on it to be honest the kind of dogs you are encountering are typical in a park so it's no surprise you can't let Milo play. Avoid them

Is there a dog walking club in your area? That might be a better place to meet owners and eventually form friendships with people who have calm dogs for Milo to play with

Can you change walkies time or try another park?

Could very well be the time of day.

Not sure if Flo's park is a dog park, I mean there are loads over there, but it's huge. She can be a little intolerant of dogs that pester her and would much rather dash in and out of the bushes looking for squirrels.

We found that in the first few weeks of walking Bane we met all the grumpy old dogs so just changed the times just slightly and met some lovely dog walkers and people who work in the area and took their dogs out at lunch.
We still can't let him off though as it is a park for people and he pesters them so he has to stay on his long lead.

Debs01 wrote:there's one word there that explains it all "park" I wouldn't go to a dog park if my life depended on it to be honest the kind of dogs you are encountering are typical in a park so it's no surprise you can't let Milo play.  Avoid them

Is there a dog walking club in your area?  That might be a better place to meet owners and eventually form friendships with people who have calm dogs for Milo to play with

I'm with this. I was saying to my husband last night that I won't be walking the dogs on the Heath any more as there are too many out of control dogs whose owners do diddly squat about them, and the increasing number of multi-dog dog walkers who have packs of 5-6 dogs, often off lead, that the couldn't in a million years get hold of safely if something were to happen.

The idea of a dog walking club's great, as are the other ideas of changing time of day or looking for somewhere else to walk. Training classes are good too, as you can meet other dogs in a calm environement while working towards the skills that will let you let Milo off lead safely. Good training classes are fun, not strict obedience stuff, and so good for a dog's confidence. The one we've just started going to is only £6 for an hour, so not expensive either.

Thanks for all those comments, they're really appreciated. The park is just an ordinary park and there are loads of others. The one I took him too is usually completely empty - but this time had that manic GSD. It was on a long line and I reckon the chap was trying to train his recall so maybe he was just exuberant. I love the sound of a dog club...but how to go about it? Put a postcard in shop window maybe ? - or start one up myself with a bit of fun agility thrown in lol.

Totally agree with Debs and Liz. Contact some local trainers - some hold socialization walks

This is a good place to look:

http://www.apdt.co.uk/

It's worth taking the time to check out a trainer. Maybe ask if you can sit in on a class to watch how it works first, and look for reward based trainers. If anyone mentions choke collars or that sort of thing, run!

try finding a closed off section in the park such as a Basketball court either earlier or later in the day when Nobody is about. that's what I do with my dogs lock the gate behind and throw stiucks and stuff and they absolutely love it but id recommend keeping the harness on them.

Hope this helps