Dog Parks

It seems that Dog Parks are cropping up everywhere these days! Do you and your furry companion go to dog parks? As with anything there are rules and regulations that need to be followed for everyone's safety. Below is a list of some rules for you and your pet, remember this is to keep everyone safe.

Your dog should be reasonably confident and social. Dogs that are fearful, aggressive, or reactive are not appropriate for dog parks.

Basic good manners are a park pre-requisite. Your dog should not jump on, mark (leg-lift) people in the park, or jump into anyone’s lap without invitation. Your dog should be responsive to some basic cues or commands so you can get control of your dog if necessary.

Barking should be kept to a reasonable level. Occasional barks of joy are acceptable as it shows they are having a good time. Non-stop barking and seriously aggressive barking is not acceptable.

Only healthy dogs should play at dog parks. Obviously, communicable diseases and parasites are unacceptable as these can affect and infect other dogs. They are a high risk factor for causing aggression when a dog is hurt or stressed by the anticipation of being hurt. Puppies under the age of four months should be left at home. Puppies are not fully immunized yet, so are at higher risk for contracting diseases, and vulnerable to being traumatized by another dog's inappropriate behavior

If you are a new park user, visit the park without your dog to observe park culture and practices. Take your dog to the park the first time at non-peak use hours to allow both of you to acquaint yourselves with the environment without the stress and distraction of others around. Obey all posted park rules, even if you disagree with them and find them unfounded.

Do not bring small children to the dog park. Sometimes dogs that are running fast in a chasing game will accidentally run into an adult but you would not want this to happen to a child.
Try to limit your use of toys or food treats to avoid dog on dog conflict. This may vary depending on the amount of dogs at the park during any given visit.

Be extremely realistic about your dog's potential as a park playmate. The dog park is not the appropriate place to work on fixing your dog's behavior problems.

Survey the park for several minutes before you take your dog in to be sure there are no dogs present who are inappropriate play partners for your dog. Supervise your dog's play at all times. This is not the time to read War and Peace. Be prepared to interrupt inappropriate play whether your dog is the victim or the perpetrator.

Not all dogs enjoy playing with other dogs or humans. Be willing to leave if your dog is not having a good time.

Respect and honor posted dog-park hours. These hours are set for a reason and help maintain peace and harmony with nearby neighbors.

Always clean up after your dog both inside and outside the park.

As with any experience, whether it is new or old, we always learn new things. Hopefully this information gave you a little something more to think about. There are a myriad of resources out there if you crave more information. Good luck and happy dog parking! We would love to hear your thoughts or comments on this article.