Is this what Dogs do when they get together off Leash?

I know some people love going to the dog parks, having their dog(s) play with other dogs, good exercise and socialization for their pet. Sounds fun. Is it really though? Probably for some dogs it is, while others it’s probably not. I have never actually been to a dog park before, not because I think they are a bad idea, but because I can’t help but worry about how my dog will react to other dogs, and how they will react to him.  

I have had my dog Rocky around other dogs before, whether it’s me fostering a dog, or him just hanging out with my friends dog(s). Even the other day, I had to drop him off at the Vet for his surgery appointment, and while waiting in the waiting area, they had other dogs coming and going. He was fine, sniffing butts, doing what dogs do to get to know one another. They seemed to be fine with one another; then as I was walking with him to the back room, the other dog just snapped at him. You could feel the tension in the room though, since my dog is a Boxer Pitbull, and he does look like a Pitbull to most, so the obvious tension was there, and the look on the dog owners face wasn’t in shock that her dog did the snapping, but you could tell she was thinking it must have been my dogs fault since her precious whatever kind of dog it was(I think it was a Black Shepard or something like that), would never do something like that. Now I should mention that Rocky has never shown aggression towards anything, human or otherwise, even when another dog has shown aggression towards him, he usually does a good job of getting out there. And also I am always present and alert when he is around other dogs and people. Anyways, luckily I pulled him away quick enough so there was no issue, but just something like that makes me think twice about having him at an off leash park.Some people are completely against dog parks, and some people are completely for them. I am on neither side, but I also probably won’t be bringing my dog to one anytime soon. Just out of the fear that if something does happen, the perception on Pitbulls that is already there would automatically assign blame to my dog, and if not, the stories that come from that would not help. 

The stories would probably be something like this:

Dumb Friend of Person at the Park: “There was a dog scuffle at the Dog Park?”  

Person at the Park: “Yep, a Pitbull and a “  

Dumb Friend of Person at the Park: “A Pibull?! Those dogs are horrible”  

Person at the Park: “Well, actually it wasn’t the Pitbull who started it”  

Dumb Friend of Person at the Park: “They should ban all Pitbulls, horrible dogs”  

Person at the Park: “really, it wasn’t the pibull who started it, and plus it didn’t even fight back”  

Dumb Friend of Person at the Park: “I am sure the Pitbull provoked it, those dogs will eat your face and lockjaw your ass off.”  

Person at the Park: “Really? Maybe I should become a dumb ass too and agree with that”

And that’s how it starts. I may have over exaggerated a bit, but you get the point I hope. People tend to believe what they hear, and the more people telling the lies, the more the lies become true. It’s the old telephone game, one person telling another person ends up being completely far from the truth at the end. 

But since I have never actually been to a dog park, and can’t really say if it’s a good thing or not, but I would rather not take the risk at this point until I am comfortable with the situation. I have actually taken my dog and the fosters that I have had in the past to the local park in summer and spring, when the Ice Rinks are empty. I just shut the fence door and let them run around, they love it, and I don’t have to worry about them getting loose or getting hurt in any way.   

I think I would prefer if there was a park that had someone who was paying attention to dogs, like a lifeguard at a pool would do. Someone who is trained and experienced in that environment. Of course then we would have to pay for it, but I would pay money to have a place like that, wouldn’t you?