THE DOG PARK

If you live in an urban area, or have very little yard space to call your own, chances are you will think of taking your new dog to a dog park for some exercise. These fenced parks for dogs to play and interact with one another are a popular destination for dog guardians. However, since not all dogs are suitable for dog park play, please carefully consider whether going to a dog park will be a fun experience or a scary one for your new dog.

Good Dog Park Candidates

Because dog parks are public, anyone can bring any dog there for some exercise. This means that although there will undoubtedly be dogs in the park who are appropriately social and well-behaved, there will also be untrained, rude, aggressive or fearful dogs waiting to interact with your dog.

Good dog park candidates are affable, trained dogs who enjoy playing with other dogs and try their hardest to avoid confrontation. They are not a danger to anyone else in the park and they are flexible in play style. Dogs who are untrained, aggressive, rude, or pushy (including pushy play styles such as pinning and wrestling, often used by pit bulls and Boxers among other types of large dogs) are likely to irritate other dogs and cause a fight. These dogs do not belong in dog parks.

Note about pit bulls (and for the record, we love pitties): Dog aggression is a possibility in every breed, and is in no way limited to pit bulls. Pit bull dog tolerance levels range from very social, to tolerant, to selective, to aggressive. Fights happen occasionally among many in dog parks, due to the heightened state of arousal and conflicting play styles of dogs in the park. Fetch recommends that new pit bull owners do not take their adult pit bulls to dog parks. Even if your pit bull will not start a fight, they may not back down from the challenge. Often, your pittie won't get the benefit of the doubt if a skirmish were to occur. Instead of dog parks, try organizing small play groups of compatible, familiar dogs to socialize with your dog-social, dog-tolerant or dog-selective pit bull.

Dogs who are very shy will often be overwhelmed by the number of dogs and different play styles in the park (not to mention the rude or pushy dogs mentioned above) and will feel the need to defend themselves. Don’t put your shy dog in this situation. Likewise, small dogs are often targeted by larger dogs in dog parks because they resemble prey animals. The size difference between dogs should always be taken into account to preserve the safety of all involved, and this is impossible to manage in a dog park.

Rules

If you have determined that your dog may be a good candidate and will enjoy dog park play, here are some rules to remember:

  • Do not take your brand new dog to the dog park! You need some time together to establish a bond, get to know one another, practice obedience training, and establish a reliable recall (where your dog reliably returns to you when she is called). Until you do this, you will have no way to ensure that your dog will come back.

  • First visit (and as many others as you can manage) should occur at off-peak times so that there are fewer dogs around and therefore, fewer opportunities for scuffles.

  • Be careful when entering. Dogs tend to cluster around the entrance when a new dog comes in, which can be overwhelming and very scary to your dog.

  • Never, ever leave your dog unattended or ignored in the dog park. Dog parks are not babysitters. Pay attention and be ready to intervene if necessary.

  • Keep moving and walking around so that your dog remains aware of your presence.

  • If your dog is small, seek out a park with a separate area for small dogs.

  • If your dog is pushy or rude, remove her from the dog park immediately.

  • Pay attention to your dog’s body language. If she seems uncomfortable or worried, she is not enjoying herself.

If your dog is not a dog park candidate, check out the exercise page for ideas!