What You Need To Know Before You Go To The Dog Park
For pet owners, dog parks are an invaluable resource. They provide a safe place for the exercise and socialization of a puppy, while instantly connecting you with a local community of pet parents. You can have a coffee and chat with other dog lovers while your pet socializes in its own way: by running freely, making friends and enjoying the park in general...
... Sometimes even a little too much.
But in addition to the fun and excitement, new pet parents who visit the park for the first time can find the game without an intimidating leash. To avoid any problems, it is important to understand the dog park etiquette before setting foot in the park.
To spend the best possible time at the park, follow these simple tips on what to do and what not to do to take your puppy to the dog park:
What to do: Take your puppy to the park often
Parents of pets should allow plenty of time in their schedules to spend quality time at the dog park, notes Anthony Newman, certified trainer and founder of Calm Energy Dog Training. When a dog is physically and intellectually engaged, annoying behavior at home tends to decrease - but a weekly outing is not enough.
"It is essential to socialize your dog outdoors, in a natural park, with many other dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds, on a regular basis, every day, ideally several times a day," Anthony Newman tells Dodo. "I see so many problems caused at the weekend by dogs that have obviously been locked up all week." Remember: A busy dog is a happy and healthy dog.
Don't: Assume that long walks are equivalent to time spent at the park
In terms of exercise and socialization, a walk unfortunately does not offer the same benefits as the time spent in the park.
"The biggest design mistake I see today is that walks are all it takes to exercise," says Newman. "First of all, they don't tire most dogs, even for two-hour walks. Secondly, they don't let the dog socialize - even during pack walks, which I liken to an elevator ride with strangers."
I have never seen a behavioral problem that has not been significantly improved by the increase in what I call "an exhausting and satisfying mental, physical and social release" outside, without a leash, in the park with other dogs.
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What to do: let your dog play
While it can be difficult to leave your puppy free in an unpredictable environment, dog owners should try to leave their overprotective tendencies at home, Newman advises. "I always say that the fighters have to play fighting, that the grunts have to play grunt, that the hunters have to play the hunt, that the guards have to play guard... you have to let it go!
Some types of games may seem more aggressive than they actually are, so it's important to know what type of behavior is (mostly) innocent. The "reciprocal" game is always acceptable - first it continues, then it continues; he puts her neck in her mouth, and then she does," Newman said. "Jumping or riding is not even as bad as they say, unless it's a dominant fighter who jumps another."
Don't do: let your dog hide
"Too many shy or anxious dog owners allow their dogs to hide under the benches or just behind/in front of their feet," says Newman. This shy behaviour can lead to socializing problems, especially if the owner assumes that his dog does not like the park and stops frequenting it.
Surprisingly, letting a dog hide near you can even make problems worse with other dogs. Fearful dogs that are reactive/aggressive are much more likely to react when they are in what I call their owner's "leg perimeter" because they feel protected - far more often than they actually protect their owner, which most people think," says Newman. Instead, owners should encourage their dog to have positive interactions with other puppies in the park.
What to do: bring your puppy (vaccinated)
You may have heard that the dog park is not a place for a puppy, but Newman insists that it is simply not. "Don't believe the alarmists!" exclaims Newman. "It is obvious that if there are aggressive dogs or dogs that play too hard, and if the puppy is extremely small, we want to be careful for safety reasons. But frankly, problems are extremely rare with well-socialized dogs, they help puppies get out of their shells and teach them social norms and good manners." The sooner puppies can interact with a wide range of dogs, the better.
Yuruani Olguin, certified dog trainer, gives similar advice to dog owners who have a new puppy at home. "I recommend bringing the puppies to the dog park after the age of 6 months and making sure that the first visits are brief so as not to overwhelm them, ideally at an off-peak time when there are not too many dogs," Yuruani Olguin tells the Dodo. To prepare your puppy at the dog park, Yuruani Olguin recommends starting with hours of socialization for puppies, kindergarten classes for puppies and individual play sessions.
But keep in mind that interaction with other puppies rather than with a diverse group of dogs will only be useful to a certain extent. "Puppy playgroups are most useful when unvaccinated puppies can't do otherwise according to the veterinarian's recommendations," says Newman. "Otherwise, it's like 500 children together, without adult supervision, without teachers."
Don't Do: Be afraid to break the game
Your dog doesn't need to have an obedience degree to succeed in the park, as long as he knows the most important commandment - "come."
Olguin recommends that owners carefully monitor their dog at the park (instead of looking at their mobile phones) so that they can frequently interrupt the game, recalling their dog for quick check-in. "Games that have a lot of breaks don't usually give rise to dogfights, because the situations are defused," she says.
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