Took my dog to the old park by the river and the whole vibe is different now

I took my beagle, Gus, to Miller Park in Springfield this morning, the same place we've gone for walks since he was a puppy. They finally put in that new 'dog enrichment area' they've been talking about for a year, with little ramps and tunnels. Gus sniffed the new plastic tunnel for a solid three minutes, then just walked around it and went straight to his usual muddy spot under the big oak tree. It made me think about how, back when he was young, he'd try anything new in a heartbeat. Now, at eight years old, he's got his set routines and favorite smells, and all the fancy new stuff doesn't really interest him. It's kind of sweet in a way, watching him stick to what he knows and loves. I guess we all get a little set in our ways. Does anyone else's older pet just completely ignore new toys or spots in favor of their old habits?

3 comments

3 Comments

uma_martinez5d ago

Okay but "dogs just want to sniff real grass" is kind of missing the point. My neighbor's anxious terrier would never go to a park without those little plastic hidey spots, she needs a break from the big dogs. @umar59, maybe your lab is just super confident. For some dogs, that new stuff is a safe space to figure things out. It's not all about what most dogs do.

rubys806d ago

Wait, they made a dog park with plastic tunnels? That just seems like a weird choice. My dog would probably do the same thing and just go find some good dirt.

umar596d ago

Our city spent over twenty thousand dollars on those plastic tunnels last year. Honestly, dogs just want to sniff real grass and dig in actual dirt. It feels like they design these parks for people to look at, not for what dogs actually like. My lab just ignores all that stuff and heads straight for the muddy corner every time. Tbh, they should just use that money to plant more trees and keep the grass in good shape.