Dog parks are great - until they aren't

Part 2 - Dog Parks

PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE DOG PARK:

Before you go to a dog park, learn about them. Go without your dog on different days, at different times and watch what is going on.

Notice if people are paying attention to their dog. It is possible to make small talk while focusing on what dogs are doing but it takes practice! Eyes should be on your dog.

Is the park clean and well maintained? You may see that grass has been destroyed and that is natural where so much running goes on. Trash and broken fences speak to an indifference about the use of the park and that would be a red flag. Do people clean up after their dog? Many dog parasites and illnesses are spread through dog poop. Do not assume every dog is worm or parasite free. Clean up poop, if it’s not yours, clean it up anyway. This is good dog park etiquette.

Closely observe dog to dog interactions. Things happen quickly and rather than focusing on tails or ears, (can you read the emotional state of these dogs?) see if you can read the overall body posture. If a dog's body is neutral, with a loose easy movement, that speaks to a relaxed state of mind. If a dog's body is stiff and the dog is making itself look as tall as possible, that suggests a tense state of mind. A dog that is looking away or whose body position and movement suggest avoidance the message being sent is, I do not want to engage. Shooting slow motion video of dog interactions will help you learn a lot about dog communication and play.

Notice the relationships that people have with their dogs.

If a dog has a good recall, and If they check in with their person often, I am more inclined to consider this dog stable and the dog - person relationship a good one.

The exception to this would be if the dog has a shock collar around the neck and is forced to check in. To me, this would signal a lack of relationship and says: I do not have the ability to control my dog.

Dogs who don’t check in with their person and have to be chased down when it is time to go home, indicate a dog that is living without boundaries and lacks training in important behavior skills like impulse control.

All of these dogs may be perfectly friendly and sweet, but I would be wary of any dog park where you see dogs like the last two described.

Some dog parks are fenced while others are wide open. When choosing a dog park this may be a deciding factor. If your dog does not have a solid recall (returning to you when called) an easy choice is a fenced dog park. Please consider the following:

If your dog has any behavioral issues around impulse control, fear based issues, or confidence issues, then putting unknown dogs together in an enclosure can be setting your dog up for failure.

A fenced dog park can be anxiety inducing for many dogs especially if the dog - person relationship is lacking. A fence removes from a dog the option of flight in a conflict situation. Fight becomes a remaining alternative.

Be prepared when you go to a dog park and have with you:

• Poop bags, (even parks that keep them stocked may run out).

• A whistle to blow in the event of a dog fight. This sound may distract the dogs long enough to redirect their attention.

• A bottle of water, kept on you. This too can be used to break up a serious dog fight and water, along with a dog bowl, will help keep your dog hydrated

• Your cell phone. It may be handy to shoot some slow motion video of dog interactions to help you understand them better.

• Great dog treats, kept stored in a plastic bag so you are not sending scent signals to every passing dog that you have treats. Use treats for emergency compliance. Do not give out dog treats to other dogs in the dog park. It can lead to big trouble.

PREPARE YOUR DOG FOR THE DOG PARK

As mentioned above, there should be good communication between you and your dog. General obedience training that is consistent creates a good relationship.

Exercise your dog before going to the park. A long sniffy walk before arriving at the park is better than suddenly lighting up all senses by suddenly arriving at the park.

Your dog should have a solid recall:

DO NOT recall your dog only when you are ready to leave. This will train your dog that coming to you is not fun! Instead, call your dog, make a big fuss of him, give him a treat if there are not other dogs around, and send your dog back to play several times during your dog park visit.

Taking a puppy to a dog park is a sketchy thing. They cannot go before they have their rabies shot. I would recommend a socialization class before I would consider taking a puppy to a dog park. If you feel you must, take a trainer and set your dog up for success by keeping it on leash and the exposure to other dogs very limited and selective.

If you don’t have a good sense of how your dog gets along with other dogs, a good doggy day care can provide you with that information. Sign your dog up and allow it to attend once or twice weekly for at least a month. In addition to the initial evaluation, you will have the multiple day interactions that will make your decision to go to a dog park informed.

In a dog park I have seen a dog terrified of the unwanted advances of another dog. It was hiding itself under a bench to try and escape, only to have their person drag them out from their safe space while telling the terrified dog to stop being a wimp. Their person may not have understood the fear in their dog and that is just a sad shame.

Play should be loose, with dogs taking turns and lots of brief breaks. Your body language should be loose too. Do not stand stiff legged around romping dogs, bend your knees slightly to be absorb impact. Prepare yourself for the showing of teeth, neck biting, wrestling, slamming bodies

and noises. This is how dogs play and it can make people nervous. Some dogs prefer a game of chase and others like to push and tumble. Some dogs only like one style of play while others are diverse. it takes all kinds.

Keep your visits to the dog park short. There are people whose dogs love to hang out at the park, but if your dog wants to play without end, limit them to 15 or 20 minutes of play. We all know that if the party goes on too long someone will end up in tears.