Doggy Details
Doggies and People
Cats
Horses
Dog Park Etiquette
Posted on January 29, 2010
Yesterday, Mac, Maize and I met a couple of friends and their dogs at the local dog park. Usually it is a pretty nice playtime between our dogs, since they know each other and this cold weather does not draw too many other dog owners out there. This time, though, I had Maize, who is new to our pack and stirred up the group a little bit. Then there was a lady with a 3-months-old puppy getting everyone riled up and getting himself tossed on the ground whining every few seconds. Another friend of mine is very considerate by keeping her young dog out of the dog park, because she knows very well how much he harrasses other dogs and gets in trouble for it.
So I was thinking about dog park manners and when not to take your dogs there and remembered a nice little write up the association of pet dog trainers (APDT) did on their website. Here are a few important ones:
DO NOT:
- ever bring a dog that is under 4 months of age
- bring or use treats when other dogs are nearby (tough one for myself)
- allow a dog to bully another
- bring intact males or females in estrus to the park
- spend your time talking on a cell phone – supervise your dog!
DO:
- make sure your dog is up to date on vaccinations
- supervise your dog when they are playing and interrupt any rough play
- be willing to leave a dog park if you feel that your dog is either being a bully, the play is getting too rough or your dog is just not having fun
- make sure your young dog is not being bullied or learning bad manners from the other dogs
And I love this last one: Be cautious about taking advice from other park patrons who are not dog professionals! 
Do your own research!
Read the whole article here.
And a book on the topic that has been highly recommended to me is Off-Leash Dog Play: A Complete Guide to Safety & Fun by Robin Bennett. I bought it once as a gift and only got to flip through it once, but I think now is the time that I need to get a copy for myself!
So, be safe and have a fun weekend with your pups!
Leave a Comment
1 Comment so far
Ha ha ha, I like this blog. And as the “mother” of a couple of loudmouths- I know that sometimes you just have to leave before everyone else. I think these suggestions would help out more if they were posted outside dog parks. Because we can all use reminders, sometimes.