Playin' at the Park

Dog Parks are great. They are a good way to help dogs become socialized with other dogs and other people. But there are a few things you should keep in mind before taking your pooch to the park.

1. Make sure you exercise your dog BEFORE going to the park. A 30 - 45 minute walk before you go to the park is ideal. This helps drain extra energy, especially in high energy breeds and makes your dog more manageable during play time. Dog parks are a great way to have your dog get MORE exercise, but going to the park with too much energy could spell trouble if your dog has a tendency to be dominant towards other dogs.

2. Make sure your dog stays in your sight at all times. One problem I've found at our local dog park is that too many people treat it like doggy day care. Just because they are off the leash does not mean that you're off the hook. Pay attention to your dog and watch for any body language he/she displays that might signal play time is turning to a fight.(Tail straight up, or mounting of other dogs are signs of dominance that can lead to aggression)

3. Don't bring small children to the dog park. Kids LOVE dogs, but it's not always mutual. Young children who are not old enough to understand AND obey the simple rule of DO NOT TOUCH OTHER PEOPLE'S DOGS should not be taken to the dog park. They are at extreme risk of getting bitten or even knocked over by running dogs. My own children do not accompany me to the dog park unless it's completely vacant.

4. Protect your pack members at all times. Part of keeping constant watch on your dogs is also to protect them from other dogs who might hurt them. Our park has two separate sides to it, one for bigger dogs, and one for smaller. Don't let your dog play with dogs that are drastically different in size from him/her. If other dogs attack or start fights, take your dog and leave. You can't control what kind of owners the other dogs have, but you can control keeping your dog away from dangerous situations. If a fight does break out, stay calm while removing your animal, if you're tense it will only add to the negative energy and add to the problem. Screaming at a dog is a wasted endeavor.

Hopefully your visits to the Dog Park will be a fun and rewarding time for both you and your pack.