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So you’ve got a friendly, social dog and a nearby park that is just perfect. Time to go play, right?
Not quite.
Just because your dog is park-appropriate and the facility you found is five-star doesn’t mean that it’s safe all the time. There are other factors to consider once you actually get to the park but before you release your hound. Are there adverse environmental factors? Who else is there today? What are the other humans doing? Let’s take them in order:
Are there adverse environmental factors?
If there has been a lot of rain lately, there may be big muddy areas. While not necessarily a safety concern, do you want Fido getting back in the car covered in mud? If there’s a lot of standing water during the summer, and it’s been a while since the last rain, might there be lots of mosquitoes? Dogs get bitten just like people. And neither enjoys it! If it’s winter, is it icy? Are there drifts high enough to allow a dog to hop the otherwise perfectly good fence?
Who else is there today?
This is probably the most important of the three questions, and one that needs to be answered not just when you arrive, but every time a newcomer enters the park. Look at which dogs are in the park. Spend a second or two to see how they are playing. Are there dogs there that you already know don’t get along with yours? If there are strange dogs, how are they interacting with each other? If you see anyone getting bullied, cowering, or posturing, you may want to take an on-leash walk around (outside the dog park) until the inappropriate dog leaves. When a new dog comes in, see how they greet everyone. Learn to read body language, because that will tell you a lot about the dogs in the park. Trust your instincts. If you see a dog come in that you don’t like, then it’s time for you to leave. Remember, it’s up to you to keep your dog out of a potentially bad situation.
What are the other humans doing?
So you see Fido’s best friend is in the park, playing nicely with a small group of strange dogs. Everyone is getting along fine. What are the people doing? Hopefully they are keeping an eye on the dogs while the chat, toss tennis balls, or just hang out. If you see anyone engrossed in their phones, talking with their back to the dogs, or otherwise ‘checked out’ from their surroundings, that’s a signal for you to be even more vigilant. I work under the assumption that I’m going to have to respond to a change in the situation first, and just hope that someone else will step in as well. I also assume that I read behavior better than anyone else. That way I don’t rely on other people to assure the safety and well-being of my dogs.
I know that many dog people (competitors, trainers, and other related professionals) frown on dog parks. As pointed out by a recent commenter, things definitely can turn ugly fast. But I believe that you can safely take your dog to parks if you are willing to put in a little effort and be willing to walk away if you see anything you don’t like. Be alert. Keep vigilant.
And remember that your dog relies on you to make good decisions and keep him or her safe.
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