We go to the dog park often with Rodrigo and Sydney. There are a group of people we’re friendly with who we meet there for play dates and it’s a lot of fun. I’m excited to share this post with you about dog park tips.
Dog parks represent a little taste of freedom and means of releasing a ton of energy. They are a perfect place to feel safe and comfortable, letting your dog develop, meet new friends with other dogs and build their social skills. The experience will be most pleasant if all patrons follow simple guidelines for safety and enforce respectful behavior.
Safety Measures
The most significant factor is to ensure that your dog has the proper safety measures to enjoy an outing at the park. Make sure your dog has a secure collar and dog tags with up-to-date information. Especially if you are visiting an off-leash dog park, you will want to make sure everything is secure and attached appropriately. There is no need for unnecessary stress and worry if your dog should happen to escape your watchful eye and get loose.
Obedience
Obedience training, whether done in a professional class or at home is extremely vital for your dog’s social and responsible behavior, especially at a dog park. You need to be able to gain control of your dog through voice commands to help eliminate potential problems. Not only must your dog know to listen to you, he must have the discipline to focus on you when there are so many distractions happening all around him.
Waste Removal
As a responsible dog owner, make sure you bring plenty of disposable bags to remove any waste your dog leaves behind. No one wants to see or step in dog waste, even at a dog park. Fecal matter can transmit many diseases to other dogs and humans, so not only is it an eyesore the waste is also a health risk. Watch your pup and be quick to remove any of his droppings.
Supervised Play
Your dog will have a delightful time at the dog park, enjoying lots of time running around and playing with the other pooches there. Owners must supervise their dog’s play and be respectful of others. Healthy play includes reciprocated play with dogs. They will take turns chasing and pinning each other and usually will take short breaks. If this play goes on too long, without a break, a fight could ensue. If you notice this happening, interrupt the play, and remind your dog to behave.
Be on the lookout for bullying behavior from your dog or another. This may look like aggressive play that in not reciprocated. Look at the victim’s body language; is he trying to get away from the other dog, hiding his tail? If you notice play that becomes rough, remove your dog from the situation immediately. If your dog is the bully, scold him, let him know rough play is not okay. If your dog is the victim, let the owner know you’re upset, and keep your dog away from that dog in the future.
Rewards
Remember to stock up on treats to reward your dog’s polite behavior at the dog park. Recognition and yummy treats are great motivators to dogs to continue acting in a positive way!
Dr. Susan Wright is a veterinarian, author and a dog bark collar expert who enjoys writing articles with dogs as the primary subject matter
April 23, 2012
Dog Behavior, Dog Training