Dog walkFor many, dog park fun is all about socializing – for both you and for your four-legged friend. It’s also a great time for exercising for your pooch, which can help with weight management and his or her mental health (afterall, a bored dog can be a destructive dog). Spending time at the dog park, however, has its responsibilities, too; and it’s important to know the etiquette and safety that is needed for a happy dog park experience.

There are some simple rules every pet owner should follow at the dog park, including you. These rules will not only help you and your pet avoid any health and safety issues that might arise, but will help keep other pets and pet owners safe, as well. Following these rules will help to ensure that your your dog is a model citizen and should reduce the odds of an accident or injury.

Basic Training

If your dog doesn’t immediately come when he or she is called and know basic obedience commands, he or she isn’t ready for the dog park.

If you are taking a dog to a dog park, he or she must be able to come when called and follow your commands the first time they are given, no matter his or her size and temperament. This is as much for your pet’s safety as it is the safety of other pets and pet owners, and shouldn’t be dismissed for any reason.

Basic Health and Dog Park Safety

Taking an unvaccinated dog to the dog park not only poses a risk to that dog, but also poses a risk to all the other dogs that will come into contact with him or her, too. Dogs that have not been vaccinated (or kept current on their vaccinations) are not only at a higher risk for contracting diseases, but are also more likely to spread them, as well. If your pet’s not current on his or her vaccinations, please call us for an appointment.

Likewise, don’t take puppies under five months old to the dog park, either; as they are more susceptible to disease and illness until their full vaccination schedule has been complete. Once your dog is fully vaccinated (and has some basic training under his or her belt), then the dog park is a go!

Keeping It Clean

In addition to basic training and vaccinations, the most important aspect of dog park etiquette is picking up after your pet. Not only is stepping in dog poop gross, but leaving unattended waste for someone else to deal with is just bad manners. Likewise, feces can carry a host of disease-carrying bacteria that can transfer to other pets if consumed.

Please, pick up after your pet!

The Rest of the Rules…

  • Aggression and bad behavior can happen when you get a bunch of dogs together. This is where obedience training comes in handy. If there is a dog that your pet isn’t getting along with, it may help to pick a different day or time to visit the dog park in order to avoid conflict.
  • Be sure that your pet has been spayed or neutered before going to the dog park. Intact males can be more aggressive than those that have been neutered, and unspayed females can pose other problems, as well.
  • If your dog park offers separate areas from larger and smaller dogs, make sure to pick the side that fits your pooch best. This helps with aggression issues, and it keeps smaller dogs from being accidentally hurt by a larger dog.
  • Be aware of your dog. Just because he or she is in a fenced in area doesn’t mean you can stop paying attention to what is going on.
  • While bringing some water for your pet to stay hydrated is very important, leave the food and treats at home (or at least in the car). Feeding at the park with other dogs around can cause aggression issues and possibly lead to fights.
  • Likewise, keep your pet’s favorite toys at home, too. Many a turf war has started over a prized ball or bone, and you don’t want your pet’s favorite toy to be the cause of consternation.

    • If you aren’t sure if your pet is up-to-date on vaccinations, or that he or she has the training needed for dog-park fun, give us a call. We’re happy to help you ready your pet for some dog park fun!