The dog park is a great place for your dog to make some friends, burn off energy and bond with you. But if you’ve never been, the dog park can be a little intimidating. What’s okay, and what isn’t?
To help you prevent any dog park faux pas, we made this handy list of the unspoken “rules” of the dog park.
1. Thou Shall Pick Up After Your Dog
Your dog is going to poop at the dog park. It happens. When it does, be sure to pick it up both as a courtesy to your fellow dog park visitors (if you don’t pick it up, someone has to!), but also out of respect for other dogs’ health. As Lori Scarlett, DVM, noted in a recent article on dog park etiquette:
“Dog poop can carry a lot of different parasites, including intestinal worms, Giardia, and coccidia. If not picked up quickly, the worm eggs or protozoal cysts can get into the ground, where they will stay happily for months to years. Then when dogs step in the area and later lick their paws, they will ingest those eggs and develop intestinal worms.”
She also notes that dogs who engage in coprophagy, aka “eating poop,” can find their health at risk if consuming stool with worms.
You get the point. Clean up after your dog!
2. Thou Shall Keep an Eye on Your Dog
Yes, your dog is at the dog park to run around, make friends and have a good time. But being there doesn’t mean you get to take a break and play on your phone. Whenever you’re at the dog park, it’s your responsibility to keep a watchful eye and monitor his interactions with other dogs.
Ask yourself, how is his body language? Is his posture relaxed? Is he doing the classic “play bow” gesture when approaching other dogs? Is he sniffing respectfully? Great!
On the other hand, is your dog’s tail stiff, or between his legs? Is his posture rigid? If so, he’s showing signs of discomfort. Sometimes it’s just a matter of switching play buddies. (Lucy, for example, doesn’t get along with dogs that paw her face, and will sometimes snap as a form of correction, but gets along much better with dogs that respect her boundaries.) If your dog is consistently exhibiting signs of stress, running away from other dogs in a frightened manner, hiding, etc., consider going home for the day before things escalate.
3. Thou Shall Not Bring a Dog in Heat to the Dog Park
This is a HARD no. A dog in heat invites unwanted mating, fights, etc.
4. Thou Shall Share
Another basic fact of dog park life: Other dogs are going to drink the water you set out for your dog, and your dog is going to drink water from another dog’s bowl. It’s just the way it is. As a courtesy, if you notice your dog guzzling from a different dog’s bowl, top off that dog’s bowl with some water of your own.
And a note about dog toys: It’s okay to use them when you’re alone at the park, but when other dogs are around, put them away. Dogs who are protective of resources can become defensive when playing with a toy, so for everyone’s safety, keep them out of the equation.
5. Thou Shall Not Bring a Puppy to a Dog Park
Puppies under 16 weeks are typically too young for their vaccinations, meaning they’re too young for the dog park. And even if your puppy is vaccinated, you might want to wait until they’re a little older. As our vet pointed out to us, young dogs can lean bad behavior from other dogs at dog parks. Instead of the dog park, try obedience classes, which help him get exposure to other dogs under the guidance of an expert and teaches him learn invaluable lifelong lessons. Getting a solid recall under your belt, for example, is priceless for the dog park.
6. Thou Shall Not Bring an Unvaccinated Dog to the Dog Park
Vaccines keep your dog, the dogs around him and the people around him healthy. A heart worm preventative should also be part of your dog’s health routine, along with flea and tick medicine.
7. Thou Shall Be Polite at the Gate
The entrance to the dog park is likely the most stressful part of the park experience for many pets. Dogs on the inside love to rush over to greet the new visitor. Some dogs love that, while other, more timid dogs are overwhelmed when bombarded at the entrance. These high-stress situations can quickly escalate to a snap or fight.
So if you’re at the dog park and see a new dog about to come in, do everyone a favor: Call your pup over (or walk up to him and hold onto his collar/harness) and give the new pup a few moments to acclimate to the space. That breathing room can make all the difference for an anxious dog!
8. Thou Shall Take Responsibility
If something should happen and your dog instigates a fight, offer your contact information to the other dog’s owner. If your dog caused injury, offer to cover the vet costs. Like being in a car accident, it’s on us to be accountable.
9. Thou Shall Not Bring Treats
We mentioned toys can encourage aggression from resource-guarding dogs. And given that dogs are generally food motivated, imagine what could happen when you have treats among a crowd of resource-guarding dogs!
It may seem like a good idea to bring treats to the park, but if there’s a consistent theme among this list, it’s this: When going to the dog park, it’s up to everyone to take the proper precautions to make it a safe environment.
10. Thou Shall Have Fun!
If you’re safe, keep an eye on your dog and follow the above common-sense measures, both you and your dog can have a blast — just like this pup!
Did we miss anything? Comment with your thoughts!
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