Taking your pal to a dog park sounds like a wonderful idea. You imagine a dog park to be a place where your pal can make new friends and where both of you can have a fun day.
But before you take your dog to a dog park, it’s a good idea to do a little research on the park of your choice. Finding the right dog park for your pal is really important.
Some parks are small, maintained and enclosed. Smaller-sized dogs and puppies tend to acclimate better to smaller parks.
Other parks are large and not maintained, allowing your dog to roam. Some need upkeep and are not clean, including dog feces.
I recommend that you first go to the dog park of your choice by yourself. Walk around and evaluate the environment and see how the dogs are interacting.
Ask your friends where they take their dogs. Your veterinarian can also help, as he or she will know your dog’s temperament. Your trainer is one of the best resources.
Part of getting ready for the dog park is that your dog needs to learn basic commands such as come, sit and stay. Your trainer or classes can help you and your pal with this.
Training and learning to obey these commands should be done for at least one to two weeks before going to the dog park. Your pal should be able to follow your commands when dog park distractions are present.
Your first few visits to the dog park should be short. You should gradually increase the time spent at the park so that your pal can get more comfortable and learn how to behave in this new environment.
Initially, for the first few trips, it is best to bring your dog to the park during the week, as most people bring their dogs to the dog parks in the evening after work or on the weekends. So weekdays are a good time to start your dog park visits to avoid crowded and active parks that may be over stimulating for your dog.
Do not bring any toys to the dog park, as they could create competition and conflict between your pal and other dogs. Keep treats for your dog in your car and give them to your dog afterward to reinforce your dog’s happy experience at the park.
Dogs do not practice good hygiene when around other dogs. They may smell each other, lick each other and pant in each other’s faces. So be sure your pal’s vaccines are current prior to going to the dog park.
These vaccines should include rabies, bordetella (kennel cough), CIV (canine influenza) and Leptosporosis vaccines.
Have your pal on a flea and tick preventative because dog parks typically have trees and bushes that may harbor fleas and/or ticks, as well as other dogs that maybe shedding flea eggs. There also maybe water, such as a creek, which can be a habitat for parasites.
Once you get to the park, if you have a fearful dog watch for signs of being anxious, such as keeping their ears back, tucking their tails under their body, holding their head down or rolling on their back.
If your pal can be pushy or irritable with other dogs, watch for signals of being “pushy,” such as staring down other dogs, jumping on other dogs or trying to mount them.
If you see these or other aggressive actions happening, give your pal a break by calling him to you. Do not pick him up or this may increase the “prey drive” for other aggressive dogs.
If your dog is fearful or aggressive, it will not “get used to” other dogs at the dog park. Your dog may easily become overwhelmed by all the dogs at the park.
The atmosphere of the dog park having strange dogs playing and unfamiliar owners may actually complicate the problems experienced by fearful or aggressive dogs. For those dogs, an individual trainer, supervised play days and/or a dog walker may be a better option to keep your dog active and happy.
All dog parks have specific laws. There will typically be a sign with the dog park’s rules and regulations.
Follow the rules. Unleash your pal as soon as you walk into the park and close the gate behind you. Otherwise, dogs may get tangled in your dog’s leash when they come up to greet your dog.
Some people prefer doggy day care centers for their pals’ exercise and socialization. These are much more supervised than dog parks.
Typically, doggy day cares have employees who place dogs together by age, size and temperament. Puppies and young dogs learn how to play with other dogs while being supervised, not as a “free-for-all” that you may find at many dog parks.
Beware that many geriatric dogs find doggy day care and dog parks too chaotic.
Be sure you ask the doggy day care employees about how your dog acted while there. Was your pal staying alone and away from the other dogs? If so, perhaps your pal was neither exercising nor enjoying their day. In fact, they were unhappy and wanted to go home where they feel safe.
Did your pal just play and enjoy their day, or did your dog become aggressive and have to be kept away from other dogs? If the latter, they probably had a bad day and wanted to go home.
Dog parks, doggy day care, leash walks around the neighborhood or on the beach, hiking or staying at home in an enclosed yard — the choice is yours. But be sure you pay attention to your pals’ signals letting you know what they would like.
Happy adventures!