Dog Parks. What a great idea! Imagine being able to take your
buddy to a big, open field and letting him or her safely play
and run around with dozens of other dogs. What a great way to
provide exercise, especially for those rambunctious, high-energy
teenagers that often become destructive and "self-employed" at
home when they have nothing else to do. How many of us have come
home to torn sofa cushions, shredded plants, neighbors
complaining about incessant barking, etc.?
Dog parks can provide a wonderful opportunity for your dog to
learn appropriate dog-to-dog behavior with dogs of all ages,
sizes and temperaments. In addition to all these benefits, dog
parks often offer us humans a chance to get out of the house and
spend some time socializing and meeting new friends.
Most people who take their dogs to dog parks are respectful,
polite, responsible, and look out not only for their own dog,
but for other people's dogs as well. After all, if one dog gets
hurt, everyone is affected. And most dog parks are well
maintained, clean and safe. With so many benefits to taking your
dog to a dog park, are there any disadvantages?
Not a month goes by that I don't hear from one of my clients
that his dog or his neighbor's dog was hurt at a dog park. And
in 99% of the cases, it all had to do with the attitude of the
human. A well-known actor (this is L.A. after-all) brought two
of his dogs to a park and as soon as the dogs entered, they
zeroed in on a Lab who was resting underneath a picnic table.
Within seconds, cries and growls filled the air. People rushed
to help the Lab who sustained multiple puncture wounds. When the
actor finally arrived at the scene, he simply declared, "Hey,
dogs are dogs, they were only playing."
On another occasion, a woman came directly from a rescue with
her new 80 lb dog and wanted to see how he would behave around
other dogs. The dog attacked a small, blind Pekinese and caused
several thousands of dollars in medical care.
In other cases, dogs are hurt because of how they play: some
dogs are much more physical than others, resulting in
unintentional injuries. Others never learned appropriate dog
etiquette because of the lack of proper socialization when they
were young. As a result, their pushy behavior often results in
misunderstandings that trigger fights.
In addition, not every dog likes to visit dog parks. Older dogs
sometimes care less about being around other dogs and are
perfectly content interacting only with their humans.
Well-intentioned as some people are, they can facilitate
problems because they fail to read their dog's body language,
which is telling them, "Get me out of here!"
So what should you look for? Visit a park before you bring your
dog. Talk to people. Safe parks all have one thing in common: a
good park is one where people will not put up with aggressive
dogs and they look out for one another. Make sure there is a
separate area for small dogs. How clean is the park? Is water
available? If you find yourself stepping over mounds of feces,
it's a good bet that park isn't for you and your dog. See if the
park has a ranger that oversees activities. This is rare but
really says a lot about safety.
Once you've chosen a dog park, don't bring food or your dog's
favorite toys as that often causes problems. Notice how other
dogs are behaving and if play becomes to rowdy, interrupt it
before a problem arises. If your dog seems fearful, leave the
park.
Know your dog. If your dog displays aggression or fearfulness,
don't take your dog to a dog park. You can work on behavioral
problems with a trainer but in the meantime, you can take your
dog for walks or jogs, play fetch, hide-and-go seek and
"find-it."
There are wonderful dog parks out there that benefit both
people and dogs. To find them, do a little investigation, use
your good common sense, be responsible and keep a watchful eye.
You and your dog can have a lot of fun!
About the author:
Paul Owens is the author of "The Dog Whisperer" DVD and the
book, "The Dog Whisperer, A Compassionate Nonviolent Approach to
Dog Training". He has been Certified by The Association of Pet
Dog Trainers and Endorsed by the National Association of Dog
Obedience Instructors. Paul is the Director of Raise with
Praise, Inc. Dog training. For more information, visit
www.DogWhispererDVD.com.
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