Dog Do's And Don'ts For Pet Parks
Several organizations, such as Animal Planet, Association of Pet Dog Trainers and DogPark.com, offer pet park instructions. Here are some pet-iquette highlights from these experts and personal experience.
Pet Park Dog Do's
1. Wait till your dog is four months old before taking a pet park jaunt.
By four months, a puppy should have had his basic shots. After this, he may be ready to wear a collar with identification tags and a leash for a dog park trip.
2. Check with your veterinarian before considering a trip to a dog park.
A skilled animal doctor, administering required vaccinations and perhaps anti-parasitic medications, if needed, can advise whether a dog is ready for free play with other canines.
3. Consider your dog's temperament before turning him loose with other dogs.
A pet park trip is a privilege for a dog and his owner. Intervene immediately, if your dog fights or misbehaves, no matter who started it. Don't bring more dogs than you can grab and handle in one trip.
4. Keep your hands and eyes free for pet park play.
Minimize distractions, and simply enjoy time with your pet at the park. Skip the booze, coffee or a picnic. Keep the cell phone stashed, and focus on frolicking with your dog.
5. Clean up your own dog's droppings.
Dog parks are not compost heaps. Many facilities offer collection bags and garbage bins for pet refuse. Even if signs are not posted, dog owners need to pick up their own pets' piles.
6. Be willing to leave the pet park early, if your dog misbehaves with other animals.
Flexibility is a key to a successful dog park trip. If your dog is in a tussle, bullied or otherwise uncomfortable, take him out of the scene till later.
Pet Park Dog Don'ts
1. Avoid going to the dog park after dark or after hours.
Pet play parks often post hours of operation, which polite dog owners honor. Besides, safety warrants playing outside in daylight.
2. Never bring unfixed male dogs or females in heat to a public pet park.
Intact male canines do not belong in free play with other dogs. Loosing stud dogs and females in season can disrupt an entire pack at the park.
3. Do not unleash your dog, if he is not trained to obey your verbal commands.
Even in a fenced pet park, it's dangerous to release a dog that will not come or stay at your call.
4. Don't feed your dog or offer him treats around other dogs.
Unshared food and treats can initiate multi-dog battles. Save the food and water till you leave the pet park.
5. Stop tossing toys near strange pets.
Flying discs and tennis balls make fun play with dogs, but be careful around others, so your toss doesn't become a tussle.
6. Never allow your dog to bully other people's pets or children.
No one likes a thug, particularly at the pet park. A aggressive dog is unsafe for public play.
The basics of dog park etiquette may be summed up easily. If pet owners are courteous to one another, looking out for their own animals, then both animals and humans may enjoy their excursions with no ill will, dirty droppings or tossed trash left behind.
More from this contributor:
10 Tips for Teaching Dogs to Behave with Ringing Doorbells
5 Ways to Protect Your Pet's Paws in Every Season
Easy 5-Step Guide to Introducing Other Dogs to Your New Puppy
Published by Linda Ann Nickerson - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
Linda Ann Nickerson brings decades of reporting and a globally minded Midwestern perspective to a host of topics, balancing human interest with history, hard facts and often humor. View profile
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9 Comments
Post a Commenti am not fond of rules # 3 & #4. of course dogs need water when romping!! as far as having a dog ON a leash with the other dogs OFF
leash is not a good idea either. Dogs behave differently on leash.. or behind fences for that matter, than when off leash in a neutral area like a park.
Why on earth can't un-neutered males enjoy playing in a dog park? Very few male dogs are neutered here and seem to play with each other just fine. I think it's a myth that intact males are aggressive. Obviously in heat females shouldn't be loose in a park, but intact males that have been socialized and well trained are not a danger.
Watching your own dog and Picking up after them SEEM to be be common sense, but I had to hold a dog that was not mine because he was being aggressive. Owner was not much nicer. Too bad...
Sorry, I have a problem with rule #4:Withhold water until after the park? Are you nuts!? I understand and wholeheartedly discourage the bringing of food, human or canine or otherwise. But to withhold water is like telling a jogger "You can't drink until after you've completed your exercise," and we all know how quickly humans get dehydrated. Try doing that with a fur coat on! My park has a spigot to offer water to the dogs (BYOB--bring your own bowl) and we have had *maybe* 2 scuffles over water in the last 6 years I've been a member?
While traveling, we visited a great dog park in Missoula. It was on an island and offered water play, field and woods. The dogs loved it.
I agree with you, Linda. Dog owners/walkers need to act responsibly when taking dogs to a dog park.
Sophie
Excellent.
Good advice
Great tips.