My first dogs and I spent tons of time at the dog park.  With a Labrador and Aussie, I needed to provide them with a place to expel all that energy.  Every Saturday and Sunday, for years, armed with a frisbee we went to West Park to meet Marley.  To us, the dog park represented the freedom to run, friendships and fun.

Call it an occupational hazard, but now that I’m a certified dog trainer, I see dog parks through a different lens.   In this blog post, we'll explore the good, the bad and the ugly of dog parks.

The Pros and Cons of the Dog Park

Forget the bar scene. The dog park is a great venue for meeting someone that shares your passion for dogs.  And don’t worry about striking up a conversation, your fuzzy buddy will do it for you!  Your dog is likely to repeatedly steal another dog’s toy, jump all over someone with their dirty paws, or repeatedly rub against a perfect stranger for scratches and pets.  🤣 

Local dog parks are open to anyone.  There is a risk is your dog could be interacting with other pups that aren’t up to date on their vaccinations. Dogs in social settings have a higher risk for disease transmission so chat with your vet about your desire to visit any public location where people also visit with their dogs.  In addition to a rabies shot, your vet may also recommend: Bordetella, leptospirosis, canine influenza, preventatives for heartworm and flea and tick treatments. 

Tips for Choosing the Right Dog Park

Not all dog parks are created equal. Poor design and inadequate maintenance will contribute to your overall experience.  If your local dog park has poor drainage, during the spring and summer the grounds will become a swampy, mosquito pit.  For our family, a dog park without fresh water for a rinse or shampoo is a deal breaker. At minimum your dog park should have double-gated entrances, separate areas for small and large dogs and plenty of dog waste stations. 

A dog park with a walking path is preferable to an open field or bench seating.  Not only does a walking path provide exercise for the human, but paths keep owners moving and most importantly, paying attention to their dog’s whereabouts rather than looking at their phones.

Before heading inside the dog park, do a quick assessment.  How many people are busy staring at their phones?  How much dog poo is on the ground?  If you answered “a lot” these are red flags. It’s likely these owners won’t care about rules and won’t be able to deescalate a situation because they aren’t paying attention to their dog’s behavior.

Dog Park Etiquette

Let’s say you found a neighborhood doog park that meets your criteria, or have the opportunity to visit Dogwood, voted one of the best dog parks in America. Whether written or not, remember these rules to keep your experience a safe and positive one. Owners that don’t follow the rules ruin the experience for everyone else- don’t be that person. 

1. If your dog poops, you scoop. Sadly, not all dog owners are responsible or considerate.

2. Leave treats or food outside the park.  Treats in your pocket will get the attention of all the dogs. This is unfair to dogs with food allergies, have food aggression issues and owners who have worked hard to discourage begging.

3. Keep your dog’s special toy at home.  Your dog’s emotional IQ at maturity is that of a 3-year-old – and the concept of sharing is not understood. 

4. Ditch those squeaker toys.  That high pitch noise is irresistible to some dogs and increases arousal levels.

5. Refrain from picking your dog up.  Doing so will draw unwanted attention from other dogs.

Dog Playstyles

You are likely to observe several different play styles at the dog park.  No one play style is better than the other.  Some dogs will match their partners playstyle and others will be more selective about whom they will engage with. Playstyle is not related to gender nor breed or size.   

• The Chaser:  Whether it be another dog or an object like a frisbee or a ball this dog loves to run

• The Wrestler:  Throws their entire bodies into play, rolling on the ground and getting dirty

• The Peacekeeper:  Happy to run, bounce and barks on the periphery, will split dogs up when play becomes too intense

• The Tugger:  Always on the lookout for a formidable partner to share a stick with

• The Loner:  Loves the wide-open space and sniffs along the perimeter

• The Cat:  Short gentle touches for short periods of time

Pay attention to your dog’s body language and take note of which playstyle they enjoy. If your dog is engaging with the other dogs and they have loose body, then they are having a good time. If they seem hesitant or scared, on the other hand, today is not the day for the dog park.

Pro tip: keep your leash with you while at the park.  Having the leash readily available makes it easy to put your dog in a time out if arousal levels get too high, interrupt rude behavior like mounting and when it’s time to leave, you can simply clip them and go.  Allowing your dog to learn and practice bad behaviors will make it harder for them to unlearn.

The Dog Park Isn’t for Every Dog

For dogs that are socialized and friendly with other dogs, the park could be an ideal activity. However, if you have a puppy, a shy dog, or just adopted a dog, take a pass on the dog park. Too often I see dogs that are stressed out and over threshold, and wish the parents were more in tuned with what their dog was telling them. Despite being a teachable moment, most people don’t enjoy receiving unsolicited advice, so I simply keep quiet and move away.

If you have a dog that doesn’t enjoy the company of other dogs, is dog selective or shy - don't take them into a crowded space where they'll be forced into interaction. It’s ok for your dog to be an introvert; they don’t need to network.  Forcing your dog to interact with strange dogs will not help them to overcome their feelings and causes more harm than good.

Perhaps you have heard of the term socialization and so you think the dog park would be a good place to visit with your puppy?  Wrong! Puppies don’t belong in a dog park. Your puppy may be hurt physically by a larger dog roughhousing, or emotionally by inappropriate scary greeting.   Socialization is about creating positive interactions, not scary ones.  Socialize your puppy safely by attending a puppy training class, save the dog park experience for a later date.

If you just adopted a dog, a visit to the dog park should wait.  Instead, take your new dog for a walk and observe how they behave when they see another dog. Before trying out an off-leash environment, bond with your new dog over several training sessions – practice coming when called.  Strong bonds are built slowly over time in calm environments not chaotic ones.

So, What’s the Verdict?

Overall, dog parks can be great places for pups and their parents to interact but choose your local dog park wisely. Be sure that your pup is healthy and up to date on their vaccinations and keep an eye out for bad owners who may ruin the experience for everyone else. By following this advice, you and your pup can have a great time at the park!

If you’re still wondering if your pup is ready for the dog park, I’d be happy to educate you on dog body language, review video of your dog playing or even accompany you on an outing!

Please share with another dog lover or comment below

✌🏽❤️🐶