Dog Park Etiquette

Dog Park Etiquette

               Taking your dog to a dog park can be a lot of fun and a great way to have your pup get some exercise and interact with other dogs.  But there are some precautions and potential negative experiences that can occur in a dog park setting—think dog fights and exposure to infections and parasites. Let’s learn more about how to keep your dog safe and have a good time at the dog park!

               Before taking your dog to a dog park, make sure he or she is properly vaccinated.  Spread of infectious diseases such as kennel cough or parvovirus tend to increase in situations where there are large numbers of dogs interacting with one another.  Routine vaccines help to protect your dog from these potentially serious infectious diseases.  Regular use of most monthly heartworm preventatives has the added benefit of protecting against common intestinal parasites such as roundworms and hookworms which can also be more prevalent at dog parks.

               Which brings us to another point—pick up after your pet!  If your pet poops in the park, make sure to clean it up.  Removing feces reduces the chance of parasite eggs maturing and infecting other dogs.  Be a good pet parent and clean up your doggie’s doo doo to keep everyone safe and happy!

               Also, NEVER bring unspayed females to the dog park, especially when they are in heat. This is just creating a recipe for disaster as males may become more aggressive or may try to mount your dog to breed her if she is not spayed.

               Keep identification on your dog and keep a leash handy, but DON’T keep your pooch on a leash if all the other dogs are running free.  This can signal out your dog out and draw unwanted attention to your pup.  If you are checking out the park for the first time, you may want to keep your dog on leash around the perimeter of the yard, but she should be off leash to run and play and interact with other dogs.  You don’t have to follow your dog around if he or she is playing well with other dogs, but do try to keep visual contact with your dog so you can spot any potential problems. 

               Some dogs simply do not play well with others. If your dog does not generally interact well with other dogs, if he is a bully and is constantly mounting or attempting to fight with other dogs or if your dog is cowering or looking stressed (lip licking, ears back, tail tucked, etc.) the dog park may not be the best place for your dog.  Some dogs simply don’t enjoy interacting with other dogs or become too overwhelmed when there are large numbers of dogs present.  If your pooch does not look like she’s having a good time, call it quits.

               What do you do if you see a dog fight?  First, don’t panic and DON’T reach into the melee and try to pull the dogs apart.  If there is some sort of object nearby like a pole or bucket, you can try to use this to get the dogs apart or try making loud noises like whistling or clapping to get the dogs’ attention.  Most fights are brief skirmishes with minimal injury.  If a serious fight erupts and if you MUST intervene, try grabbing one dog by the back legs where the hips meet the body and lifting the back end off the ground like a wheelbarrow while someone does the same to the other dog.  Please use caution and try to avoid being bitten.  It is instinct to grab the dog’s collar but you are far more likely to be bitten doing this so try to avoid grabbing the collar until you are sure the dog has calmed down.  Assess damage, leash the dogs and remove them from the area immediately.  If any dog involved is seriously injured, take him or her to the vet.

               Follow the rules posted at your dog park, remember to watch your dog for any signs that she is distressed or not having a good time and make sure she is fully vaccinated, not ill and on parasite prevention prior to checking out the dog park.  Dog parks can be a fun place for socialization and exercise, but use caution to keep your pup from having a bad experience.

               This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.

https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/play-exercise/dog-park-rules-etiquette?lightboxfired=true#

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/stopping-dog-fight-confrontation-fighting-dogs/