Rossmoor Dog Park: Personalities and how to keep the peace

By Jung Fitzpatrick

Club correspondent

Among the many joys of going to a dog park is watching your dog interact with other dogs off-leash. According to Cheryl S. Smith, author of the 2007 book “Visiting the Dog Park: Having Fun, Staying Safe,” there are six general dog personalities that emerge when observing a dog park. Awareness and understanding of the temperaments of your own pup can help facilitate everyone’s enjoyment and keep peace in any dog park.

The Social Butterfly

Whether meeting new acquaintances or greeting old friends, the Social Butterfly loves being around other dogs. Every once in a while, she may cause issues by approaching a less confident pup too directly. But there is never any ill will. The Social Butterfly is a great personality fit for dog parks.

The Machismo Mugger

Like the Social Butterfly, this pup loves social contact. Unlike his counterpart, he has less of the social graces! The Machismo Mugger comes on too strong for most dogs, who may reject or object to his attempts at play. This pooch does well with a group of similar dogs. If none are present while visiting a dog park, it’s best to leave and come back at another time. Repeated social rejections can be frustrating and lead to more exaggerated invitations for play, which worsens the Mugger’s chances. Finding compatible playmates and meeting at arranged times in the dog park is ideal for this personality.

The Rabble Rouser

While the previous personalities love socializing, the Rabble Rouser’s motivation at a dog park is not social interaction. This personality lives for action and doesn’t care how she gets it. She may chase a pup who doesn’t want to interact or take something that is not hers and play keep away. She is also game to interrupt play amongst other dogs or between a pooch and their human. The Rabble Rouser is not a great candidate for visiting dog parks unless well-trained and well-supervised by her handler.

The Rugged Individualist

Seemingly anti-social, this dog is actually more neutral to everyone, canine and human. His interests lie in other activities such as sniffing all the pee-mail or various scents in the park, or playing fetch offleash, with his person. He can be friendly but prefers to enjoy the park by doing his own thing. Visiting the dog park at lower traffic times will help reduce unnecessary social pressure from other dogs to engage.

The Wallflower

This pup wants to be social but lacks confidence with other dogs. She is unsure how to engage and if her invitations will be accepted. Instead, she may stick close to her human and watch the action. The Wallflower may also look for another dog who is on the sidelines to approach in a low stakes way. Taking her to the dog park at quieter times and arranging to meet up with one or two of her dog friends will help build confidence and ensure that she enjoys her time at the park.

The Nervous Nellie

The combination of people and dogs who are unfamiliar and seeking to engage overwhelms this pup personality type. As such, the dog park is a scary and stressful place for the Nervous Nellie. If the Nervous Nellie feels too threatened, he may act to defend himself. This pup is the least suited for visits to dog parks.

Responsible dog guardianship Regardless of a dog’s personality, it’s important to have solid socialization and rewards- based training to help them understand how to behave around other dogs in appropriate ways. Moreover, good dog training teaches the human companion how to better manage and support their pup in a variety of settings. Ultimately, the people who bring the pups to the park are responsible for their dog’s behavior and in helping to maintain a safe and harmonious environment for all visitors. Join the RDPC community

The Rossmoor Dog Park Club (RDPC) is an RWC-sanctioned social and advisory club. RDPC is dedicated to fostering a safe, welcoming and well-maintained environment for dogs and their guardians at the Rossmoor Dog Park. The club hosts regular meetings to discuss park maintenance, upcoming events and community initiatives.

Judy Shevelev, an interspecies relationship coach from Holistic Dog Training, will be a guest speaker at the next meeting. She will be presenting the similarities and differences between canine and human emotions. Come learn how to enhance your bond with your dog at the next RDPC meeting on Friday, Aug. 15 at 1 p.m. in Gateway’s Multipurpose Room 1.

Learn more

For more information, including detailed park rules, resources for dog guardians, and ways to get involved, go to https://rossmoordogpark.com to view the RDPC website. Residents can also use the site to contact the RDPC with questions or concerns.