Dogs were built to roam and, more than anything, love running around free. Dog parks, therefore, can be a great way to grant your lovable furball some much-desired freedom where they can blow off some steam.
It's a important to stick to some basic rules, however, to make sure that going to a dog park remains a positive experience for both you and your dog. Here are some tips to keep both you and Fido safe and happy:
1) It's a good idea to train your dog in the following behaviors before taking them to a dog park:
- Recall (coming when called): This is easily done by creating positive associations with your dog's name, and then training them to come to you when called. Simply stay stationary and say your dog's name, and when they look at you, give them a treat. Proceed to moving away from your dog and calling their name. When they catch up, reward! Do this multiple times throughout the day, sometimes catching your dog off guard by calling from another room, and rewarding them lavishly when they come to you.
- The Collar Grab: Sometimes a dog will come when called, but as they notice you are about to put them on a leash, they run away. This is easily counter-conditioned by adding a collar grab as one of the steps in recall training. Simply grab a dog's collar as you give them a reward so they get used to having their collar grabbed when they come to you.
2) Rules for safe engagement at a dog park:
DONT'S
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Don't bring your dog to the dog park if they are sick.
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Don't bring your puppy if they are less than 4 months of age or if they haven't had all of their rounds of shots.
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Don't bring an unneutered male to the dog park - it may result in fights! Don't bring a female in heat as it will definitely cause a stir and may result in fights (and a lot of unwanted mounting).
- Don't bring food or treats to the dog park. Dogs may end up following a person with food on their person around like the pied piper and it could cause fights as dogs vie to get a treat.
- Toys like balls should only be surfaced at your discretion. If toys result in dogs fighting over who gets to play with the toy, it's best not to bring them to the dog park, or only break out a toy when no other dogs are around.
- Don't let your dog mount other dogs. Intervene quickly and body-block your dog by stepping in between your dog and the object of its affection to let your dog know they should stop. Repeat as many times as necessary until your dog gets the message (maybe even taking your dog outside the park to calm down, and then coming back in to give them another chance to do something else). The other dog owner will appreciate this greatly!
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Don't let play with other dogs get too rough or one-sided. Play can take on different forms depending on the breed and temperament of a dog. Active breed or high energy dogs like to play a variety of games that simulate hunting or herding behaviors. This can include "take down" maneuvers like grabbing another dog by the scruff of the neck, bumping into each other with body slams to knock each other off balance, and nipping at the feet or hindquarters of another dog. To a certain extent this is normal and natural, but if play gets too rough or one-sided, it's best to intervene and calm the dogs down. One-sided behaviors to look out for are:
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A dog pinning another dog down so that it can't get up.
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A dog chasing and nipping at another dog that does not want to play or be chased (usually that dog will be fleeing from the other dog and perhaps try to hide behind its owner or under a park picnic table).
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A bigger down overwhelming a smaller dog or puppy that can't match their play style or energy level.
DO's
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Keep an eye on your dog. It's important to moderate your dog's interactions to ensure play remains safe and that dogs are mutually interested in each other.
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Bring poop bags and pick up after your dog.
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Bring a portable water bowl for your dog - water bowls at dog parks carry the risk of communicable illnesses such as giardia.
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Keep small dogs in the small dog area if they get overwhelmed by bigger dogs. Some small dogs like French Bulldogs often prefer to play with bigger dogs, so this up to owner discretion.
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Keep moving. If you keep moving around in the dog park, it ups the chances that your dog will keep on an eye on you, too, and stay out of trouble. Remaining stationary ups the chances of your dog getting too involved with pack dynamics and could lead to your dog getting involved in a dogfight should one break out.
- Know how to break up a dogfight if one should occur. The best way is to remain calm (tell screamers to be quiet), grab the fighting dogs by the hindquarters, and then lift their back legs off the ground. Once the legs are lifted, pull the dogs apart, stepping backward in a curve so that if a dog tries to redirect their fury back at the handler, they won't be able to reach them.
3) If your dog only sticks by you and prefers not to socialize, the dog park may not be for you:
Sometimes, dogs prefer the company of humans or would enjoy going for a long walk or a hike rather than going to the dog park. If you notice your dog does not interact much with the other dogs at the park, preferring instead to remain near you, there's a good chance they are not enjoying the dog park as much as you would like. If this sounds like your dog, honor what their behavior is telling you and think about taking them somewhere else for some special outdoor time.
Alexandra Bassett is a professional dog trainer and the owner of Dog Savvy Los Angeles, a dog training and behavior company based in Los Angeles. She has volunteered to train shelter dogs for over a decade and specializes in solving problem dog behavior. She lives in Los Angeles and is available for free consultations. For more information, please visit her website: www.dogsavvylosangeles.com