• HOME
  • ABOUT
  • TERMS OF USE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • CONTACT
  • WRITE FOR US
Dog Breeders Guide
Advertisement:
  • Home
  • Dog Breed Articles
  • Dog Pictures Gallery
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Dog Breed Articles
  • Dog Pictures Gallery
No Result
View All Result
Dog Breeders Guide
No Result
View All Result
Home Dog Breed Articles Dog Care

Are Dog Parks Good for Every Dog?

Admin_AT by Admin_AT
August 14, 2014
in Dog Care, Dog Care & Health, Dog fun
0
Wouldnt it be nice if all dogs at the park got along as well as these two? Taking your furry friend to the dog park requires that you do a behavioral inventory first.

After three years of tireless volunteer fundraising and campaigning, our communitydog parkis finally open! The dog park team worked hard to ensure that our park is a special place for our local dogs and their people, and that included requiring that all human dog park members attend an hour-long orientation session that detailed the rules of the park, and more importantly, canine body language.

Advertisement:

The mandatory class raised eyebrows around town. People wondered what we could possibly tell them that they didnt already know about dog parks anddog behavior. Since I’m on the front lines of the local dog world in my store, I knew that there was plenty for the future members to learn. The most important lesson? What kind of dog should visit a dog park.

As the grand opening date approached, many people stopped by my store and expressed their excitement. “I can’t wait to bring my dog to the park to get socialized,” they’d say to me. When I dug a little deeper about what they meant, the people usually told me that they didnt know how their dog was going to do in the park. They told me stories about how their dogs hadnt had a chance to play with canine friends since puppyhood, or that theythoughttheir dogs liked the company of other dogs but they werent quite sure.

Yikes!

One of my favorite slides in the orientation session included the following quote:

A dog park is for socializing, notsocialization.(Pat Miller, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, CDBC)

That simple sentence sums up why behavior can quickly go off the rails at unregulated dog parks. Dogs attending parks should have a history of appropriate play with other dogs – there shouldnt be any guesswork about how the dog is going to react to the unfamiliar environment and crowds of dogs. A visit to the dog park shouldnt be viewed as a free-for-all where an under-socialized or “troubled” dog can work out his issues. That’s unfair to the other canines in the park, and potentially dangerous. A dog park is for dogs that welcome the company of other dogs, and know how to respond accordingly to play and “cut off” signals when things get too rough. (On a related note, dog park attendees should have a good grasp of basic training cues like “come” and “stay” as well.)

We lost a few potential dog park members because of that slide. After my orientation sessions people told me that prior to the class they had no clue that their dog wasnt a good fit for dog parks. After taking an inventory of their dogs’ behavior, they realized that they could be putting the safety of their dog and the other canines at the park at risk. I commiserated with them (just because your dog can’t go to the park doesnt make him a bad dog!), and thanked them for their honesty.

Our locked members-only dog park is controversial because of the registration steps we require of our members, but I’m confident that our park will remain a safe dog playground for years to come.

Do you take your dog to the dog park? Would you be more comfortable attending a park with membership requirements like the one in my town?

Tags: dog caredog park
Previous Post

Pet Adoption Advice From A Vet

Next Post

8 Tips for Fitting in Pet Exercise

Related Posts

How to Teach a Dog to Lay Down
Dog Breeds

What to Consider Before Deciding to Breed Your Dog

July 6, 2022
Dog Care & Health

A Beginners Guide To Digestive Health For Dog Owners

June 14, 2022
10 Things Every Dog Owner Should Be Aware Of
Dog behavior

10 Things Every Dog Owner Should Be Aware Of

May 27, 2022
How to Teach a Dog to Lay Down
Dog Care & Health

The importance of digestive care for dogs

July 16, 2021
How to Teach a Dog to Lay Down
Dog Care & Health

Keep your dog’s digestive system in top condition

January 12, 2021
How to Teach a Dog to Lay Down
Dog Care & Health

Why Do So Many Dogs Tear Their ACLs?

November 16, 2020
Next Post
8 Tips for Fitting in Pet Exercise

8 Tips for Fitting in Pet Exercise

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
how to take care of a small dog breed

small dog breeds pictures

November 30, 2014
images of medium dog breeds list

images of medium dog breeds list

July 3, 2015

best of small dog breeds images

June 18, 2015

Fluffy Dog Breeds: Cute and Funny Dog

December 30, 2015
How to Teach a Dog to Lay Down

What to Consider Before Deciding to Breed Your Dog

0
Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire Terrier

0
Shetland Sheepdog

Shetland Sheepdog

0
American Cocker Spaniel

American Cocker Spaniel

0
How to Teach a Dog to Lay Down

What to Consider Before Deciding to Breed Your Dog

July 6, 2022

A Beginners Guide To Digestive Health For Dog Owners

June 14, 2022
10 Things Every Dog Owner Should Be Aware Of

10 Things Every Dog Owner Should Be Aware Of

May 27, 2022
Different Types of Leashes

Different Types of Leashes

February 19, 2022

Advertisement:

Please follow & like us :)

Facebook
fb-share-icon
Twitter
Tweet
Pinterest
Instagram
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • TERMS OF USE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • CONTACT
  • WRITE FOR US

© 2022 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Dog Breed Articles
  • Dog Pictures Gallery
  • ABOUT
  • TERMS OF USE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • CONTACT
  • WRITE FOR US

© 2022 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

This site uses cookies: Find out more.