I'm getting very upset and frustrated with my dog..help! (sorry sort of long but please help!!)?

No this is not viscous or out of control behavior. It is how dogs play AND some dogs are extremely vocal when playing. I think you are fighting something that you will never win though. People that only have 1 or 2 dogs generally never see how a true pack of dogs work and that includes this type of play. You have to realize that to them it sounds like fighting. I totally disagree with using a shock collar when your dog is playing. I have 6 dogs and when they play they are very vocal as well. They bark, growl ect.. just yesterday i had someone at my house that really thought my dogs were going to kill each other. I just laughed and told him they were playing. I think that if your dog is scaring people you do have a responsibility to remove your dog as dumb as you or myself thinks it may be. You will never be able to explain to people that your dog is playing and in the end your talking about shocking your dog because of peoples lack of knowledge. I refuse to take my dogs to a dog park for many reasons but one of the biggest reasons is people want the dogs to behave like little children and they just are not human.

Your dog doesn't listen to you, pure and simple. This is a major problem. If your dog catches sight of something and takes off after it, will she actually come back? This is what you need to ask yourself. This isn't just about other owners thinking your dog is evil, and please don't pin this on others by saying "they don't know dogs at all" because as far as I see this is a two-way problem.

YOU need to teach your dog to come back even with distractions. If she doesn't, grab a training lead and start recall training from the top. Work out what you're doing wrong.

Do you call her loud enough? If not, well it's obvious she won't come back.

Do you yell at her or roughly handle her when she comes back? If you do then of course she won't come back! She'll see coming back as a bad thing since she gets punished when she does return.

Does your dog actually know solid recall? Back to training if not.

You need to step up your training and make sure she has plenty of mental stimulation throughout the day. If she doesn't, then all her energy is going to go into her walks.

I know what you're going through - my 18 month old collie has an excellent recall (he will break off chasing rabbits and squirrels when I call him) but he seems to go deaf when he is playing with another dog - he likes gentle wrestling the best (looks furious but neither dog is hurting/getting hurt)

We're currently at the stage where I don't try to call him back while he's zoned out playing as he'll only learn to ignore me, but when the playing lulls slightly I whistle him (whistle seems to penetrate his conscious better than my voice when he's in that mood) then the reward for leaving off playing and coming is mega (chicken scraps, sausage etc).

We ARE getting there with him but it has been a long process. He is not allowed to play with strange dogs when he is out and about - I can call him back before he starts playing no problems but I allow him to play with other dogs when I know the owners and they know him and are happy with that level of play so we can practise stopping play in a safe environment.

One other thing that has helped is that I've recently changed his food to one with NO colourings and he's now able to concentrate and focus better.

Your dog is just a very young, rambunctious and friendly girl. That much is obvious to anyone who is familiar with dog behavior however I certainly understand you frustration. She also does need a little extra training to respond to your voice commands when off leash. It appears you are already getting her in classes though, good job! I am currently dealing with this issue in one of my dogs (a 9 month old 98 lb bundle of energy and love). He, like your Bailey, gets so excited at the very thought of playing with another dog that he cannot contain his excitement and he is also very vocal. As far as that woman who tried to kick your dog...I would have wanted to kick her, but we have to understand that some people are either first time dog owners who don't get it or overly protective freaks or in some cases just stupid. And in some cases they really are nervous that you dog is aggressive even though you know she is not...they don't know Bailey like you do and vocalizations can be intimdating.

What I have found works well for us is to bring high value treats (like bits of cheese or small bits of cut up hot dog) to the park. We keep them in a plastic bag and when our guy gets too rambunctious or starts to freak an owner out we pull out a tasty treat and gently grab his collar and guide him away also letting him smell the yummy treat so he follows his nose. If your dog is food motivated (and most are) this should work to get her out of her play/dog fixation. Good luck and lots of patience to you!

PS using the above technique has turned our crazy puppy into a well behaved dog park attendee.

You're right..some "people don't know dogs at all"..you being one of them.

Your dog needs to learn MANNERS and not be allowed to run over and chase, chomp or growl at other dogs.

Instead of getting a shock collar that you have no clue how to use, invest in a real trainer that can help you get control of your dog. And until then, don't allow your dog to run off leash in a dog park, she may run into another dog that just might take her actions seriously, and it won't be pretty.

What's the question? The lady is an idiot and don't let her kick your dog. You're doing the right thing by getting your dog into classes it will only benefit you, your dog, and your other dogs in the long run.

Have you tried a choker chain. i hated using them on my dog, but it does help. they are loose chain collars but wen your dog tries to get away from you and towards other dogs then the chain will slightly tighten and she will stop struggling, as soon as she behaves the collar loosens itself (im not saying your bailey is mis-behaving, but over protective dog owners may over react) also i carried treats around in my pocket, and every time i saw her eyeing up another dog i'd pull out the treat and keep it in my hand so she would smell it, then she would loose interest in other dogs and follow my hand.

Dogs hate shock collars and i'd stongly vote against it, as my friends dog started to fear her. Have you tried a clicker? sounds silly and i thought it was stupid, but dogs hate the sound it makes and automatically stop what they are doing so you wont click again, and maybe a whistle - they will come to you instead of other dogs.

And probably shouldn't recommend this but if the woman tries to ever come near your dog, slap her - animal cruelty is not fair, by hurting your dog, your dog will attack back and she could have bailey put down.

if i think of anything else il post it. Hope this helps!!!!!

How about not taking her to the dog park? I'd NEVER take my dogs to one,. mostly because owners don't pay attention to what their dogs are doing. There are far better ways to exercise your dog that won't make other owners angry. They are right- you need to control your dog in public.

professional trainer to help you learn how to train your dogs

if someone doesn't like the way your dog plays then you call your dog off

then they don't have to try and get it off.

yes you get all kinds at a public park

why i don't take mine

most people expect the dogs to be well trained at a dog park

get one of those coat things that calm them down i have one for my Kids they help them to lol!

No really im serious

Or put her in a cage