“The dog is the god of frolic.”
-- Henry Ward Beecher
I had a client tell me once that her veterinarian warned her not to take her dog to dog parks. When I asked her the vet's reasoning, she said, “Because owners don't watch their dogs at parks.” My response to her? “Well, even if one dog owner is not watching his dog at the park, the rest of us are.” And it's true; when Tails Up Pet Care handlers take your dog to the park, our eyes are on them and the dogs they are interacting with. To be honest, I LOVE dog parks, so I am going to respectfully disagree with that veterinarian's opinion. Just like any environment in the world, there are safe, fun, and considerate ways to enjoy a dog park. And in this dog lover's opinion, there is nothing that can turn around a bad day quite like seeing dogs joyfully frolic at the park. If you haven't experienced this phenomenon, I highly recommend it; I dare you not to smile! With that being said, here's some Dog Park 101 to make your time there more pleasurable:
Know how to properly enter and exit the park. Dog parks have a little enclosed area upon entering where you remove/ replace your dog's leash. Once unleashed, you can open the gate to the park and they will run in, most likely while being greeted by every dog there. Ever tried unleashing your dog while the gate to the park is already open? Not a great idea, and not easy. Once that gate is open, your dog will want IN! Commence pulling on that leash. Try getting it off now! Be sure that after you enter and exit, all the gates latch properly. This will prevent an escape and is Safety 101 at the dog park.
Keep an eye on your dog. Most people that bring their dogs to the park do so because the dog is friendly and socialized; it's rare that you will encounter an unfriendly pup. But just like humans, dogs can be unpredictable. Although it will be nearly impossible to see every single movement that your dog makes, just be attentive. Awareness allows you to move your dog away from a potentially sticky situation before anything bad happens, or to leave the park in the uncommon instance that an unfriendly dog arrives.
Ask questions and communicate with other owners. You will find that most humans that bring their dogs to the park are also friendly. They want what you want: for their dogs to get tired, to have fun, make dog friends, and play with those friends. I like to meet other dogs that come into the park, ask the owners their dog's name, and sometimes chat with them. You can meet some great people and animals this way. You can even arrange to come back at the same time if your dogs hit it off. By the same token, if your dog has a behavior that is harmless but can make some people nervous, address it right away when new people enter the park. For example, we play a labradoodle named Kona, who is very friendly and well-socialized. When a new dog is entering the park, she always barks. This can make some owners feel anxious, so I immediately tell them that's her way of greeting them. And it is! Kona is saying “welcome, let's play”. It puts their mind at ease, and they soon find out what a sweetie she is.
Clean up after your dog. This is probably a no-brainer, but it falls into that dog etiquette category. Most parks have bags and/ or scoops for your convenience. If you see someone else's dog doing their business and they haven't noticed, it's okay to point it out in a nice way. Sometimes people just miss it. Dog owners are typically quite polite, thank you for pointing it out, and go clean it up. Everyone wants a clean park (and clean shoes) to enjoy.
Enjoy the time with your dog. A lot of dog parks have benches for humans (and some dogs who think they are human), which is great. And I am definitely not saying that you shouldn't ever sit at the dog park. But if you are physically able, it will definitely enhance your own experience to spend some time in the thick of it with your dog. If they like balls, throw them (this is where your Chuck-it is a life saver). If they are just romping around, enjoy the view from the inside. Encourage them to play, to run. Chase them. Have your kids chase them (and BONUS, you have a tired dog AND tired kids!). Be there when they stop by to get attention and love. Do be careful not to be mowed over by running dogs, though. Being in the middle of the action will certainly make you smile.
Be prepared with water and treats. Water is essential at the dog park; your pup will be running around like crazy and needs to hydrate. It doesn't matter if it's winter or summer, your dog will be thirsty. Some parks have water available, but to be on the safe side, bring your own. In my car, I always carry an old milk jug full of fresh water, along with a dog bowl. I also have dog treats, but this is totally optional. In the case of some kind of scuffle, or if you need to get your dog away from another dog's toy, a treat would be a great distraction. Just be prepared for begging from other dogs! If you want to give a treat to another dog, be sure to ask their owner first. You never know if they might be on a special diet or have an allergy.
Taking your dog to the park is truly one of life's simple pleasures. That's what makes our job at Tails Up Pet Care so amazing. And we'll get up every day, go to the dog park, pick up the poop, and dust off the muddy paw prints, because it's the best gig around. We wouldn't have it any other way. Now you can try it yourself....on our day off!
-- Henry Ward Beecher
I had a client tell me once that her veterinarian warned her not to take her dog to dog parks. When I asked her the vet's reasoning, she said, “Because owners don't watch their dogs at parks.” My response to her? “Well, even if one dog owner is not watching his dog at the park, the rest of us are.” And it's true; when Tails Up Pet Care handlers take your dog to the park, our eyes are on them and the dogs they are interacting with. To be honest, I LOVE dog parks, so I am going to respectfully disagree with that veterinarian's opinion. Just like any environment in the world, there are safe, fun, and considerate ways to enjoy a dog park. And in this dog lover's opinion, there is nothing that can turn around a bad day quite like seeing dogs joyfully frolic at the park. If you haven't experienced this phenomenon, I highly recommend it; I dare you not to smile! With that being said, here's some Dog Park 101 to make your time there more pleasurable:
Know how to properly enter and exit the park. Dog parks have a little enclosed area upon entering where you remove/ replace your dog's leash. Once unleashed, you can open the gate to the park and they will run in, most likely while being greeted by every dog there. Ever tried unleashing your dog while the gate to the park is already open? Not a great idea, and not easy. Once that gate is open, your dog will want IN! Commence pulling on that leash. Try getting it off now! Be sure that after you enter and exit, all the gates latch properly. This will prevent an escape and is Safety 101 at the dog park.
Keep an eye on your dog. Most people that bring their dogs to the park do so because the dog is friendly and socialized; it's rare that you will encounter an unfriendly pup. But just like humans, dogs can be unpredictable. Although it will be nearly impossible to see every single movement that your dog makes, just be attentive. Awareness allows you to move your dog away from a potentially sticky situation before anything bad happens, or to leave the park in the uncommon instance that an unfriendly dog arrives.
Ask questions and communicate with other owners. You will find that most humans that bring their dogs to the park are also friendly. They want what you want: for their dogs to get tired, to have fun, make dog friends, and play with those friends. I like to meet other dogs that come into the park, ask the owners their dog's name, and sometimes chat with them. You can meet some great people and animals this way. You can even arrange to come back at the same time if your dogs hit it off. By the same token, if your dog has a behavior that is harmless but can make some people nervous, address it right away when new people enter the park. For example, we play a labradoodle named Kona, who is very friendly and well-socialized. When a new dog is entering the park, she always barks. This can make some owners feel anxious, so I immediately tell them that's her way of greeting them. And it is! Kona is saying “welcome, let's play”. It puts their mind at ease, and they soon find out what a sweetie she is.
Clean up after your dog. This is probably a no-brainer, but it falls into that dog etiquette category. Most parks have bags and/ or scoops for your convenience. If you see someone else's dog doing their business and they haven't noticed, it's okay to point it out in a nice way. Sometimes people just miss it. Dog owners are typically quite polite, thank you for pointing it out, and go clean it up. Everyone wants a clean park (and clean shoes) to enjoy.
Enjoy the time with your dog. A lot of dog parks have benches for humans (and some dogs who think they are human), which is great. And I am definitely not saying that you shouldn't ever sit at the dog park. But if you are physically able, it will definitely enhance your own experience to spend some time in the thick of it with your dog. If they like balls, throw them (this is where your Chuck-it is a life saver). If they are just romping around, enjoy the view from the inside. Encourage them to play, to run. Chase them. Have your kids chase them (and BONUS, you have a tired dog AND tired kids!). Be there when they stop by to get attention and love. Do be careful not to be mowed over by running dogs, though. Being in the middle of the action will certainly make you smile.
Be prepared with water and treats. Water is essential at the dog park; your pup will be running around like crazy and needs to hydrate. It doesn't matter if it's winter or summer, your dog will be thirsty. Some parks have water available, but to be on the safe side, bring your own. In my car, I always carry an old milk jug full of fresh water, along with a dog bowl. I also have dog treats, but this is totally optional. In the case of some kind of scuffle, or if you need to get your dog away from another dog's toy, a treat would be a great distraction. Just be prepared for begging from other dogs! If you want to give a treat to another dog, be sure to ask their owner first. You never know if they might be on a special diet or have an allergy.
Taking your dog to the park is truly one of life's simple pleasures. That's what makes our job at Tails Up Pet Care so amazing. And we'll get up every day, go to the dog park, pick up the poop, and dust off the muddy paw prints, because it's the best gig around. We wouldn't have it any other way. Now you can try it yourself....on our day off!
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