Dog Park Etiquette
By Peggy J. Lee and Licsw, Star Tribune Newspaper, NOV 23, 2007
Dog parks provide canines the opportunity for playtime, socialization, exercise and mental stimulation - thereby reducing many behavioral problems at home. However, there are risks and dangers associated with frequenting dog parks, including injury and exposure to inappropriate dogs. Many incidents can be avoided by exercising common sense and understanding canine behavior and body language.
The obvious:
• Have the appropriate dog licenses, tags and permits. Obey park rules.
• Make sure dog's vaccinations are current.
• Clean up after your dog.
• Do not bring a dog with a history of aggression toward other dogs or people. Do not bring a female in heat.
• Do not leave your dog unattended or let him out of sight.
• Have your dog trained to come when called, regardless of the circumstances in the park.
The important:
• Learn canine body language, a good resource is, "On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals," by Turid Rugaas. Many people become alarmed at normal dog interactions such as hearty physical and vocal play or dominance "scuffles" and create issues by overreacting. Other people do not recognize signs of true aggression or assume the dogs will "work it out."
• Not all dogs should attend dog parks. Anxious or fearful dogs may be too overwhelmed. Do not try to socialize this type of dog at a dog park. Aggressive or bullying dogs (including small breeds) are not appropriate candidates for attending dog parks.
• Puppies should be at least four months old and fully vaccinated to prevent contracting disease. Puppies also have a greater risk of suffering injury from rough play and long-term trauma if attacked or bullied. Use small dog areas when available.
• Utilize small dog areas. Be careful about mixing small and large size dogs because many small breeds are more fragile and can be injured by larger dogs during play or viewed as "prey."
• Do not bring small children into a dog park. Children are not safe in your arms or on your back if you are knocked down. The high-pitched voices of children can promote inappropriate behavior in a dog that is not socialized to children or has a strong prey drive. Do not allow older children to play with sticks, toys, food, etc., that can attract the mouths of eager dogs.
• Remove training collars such as choke or prong collars as dogs can get caught in them while playing. Remove all coats or bandanas. Do keep a regular collar on your dog at all times.
• Leashed dogs do not belong in an off-leash area. They become a target for other dogs to "investigate" which can create anxiety or defensiveness in the leashed dog and provoke an altercation.
• Do not overload a park. If a small park is full of dogs, chances for an altercation are increased.
Peggy Lee is a trainer and owner of The Canine Counselor, www.mydogcounselor.com.