Dog Parks: Pros and Cons by Dog Whisperer Paul Owen
Dog Parks. What a great idea! Imagine being able to take
your buddy to a big, open field and letting him or her safely
play and run around with dozens of other dogs. What a great
way to provide exercise, especially for those rambunctious,
high-energy teenagers that often become destructive and "self-employed" at
home when they have nothing else to do. How many of us have
come home to torn sofa cushions, shredded plants, neighbors
complaining about incessant barking, etc.?
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Dog parks can provide a wonderful opportunity
for your dog to learn appropriate dog-to-dog behavior
with dogs of all ages, sizes and temperaments. In addition
to all these benefits, dog parks often offer us humans
a chance to get out of the house and spend some time
socializing and meeting new friends.
Most people who take their dogs to dog parks are
respectful, polite, responsible, and look out not
only for their own dog, but for other people's dogs
as well. After all, if one dog gets hurt, everyone
is affected. And most dog parks are well maintained,
clean and safe. With so many benefits to taking your
dog to a dog park, are there any disadvantages? |
Not a month goes by that I don't hear from one of my clients
that his dog or his neighbor's dog was hurt at a dog park.
And in 99% of the cases, it all had to do with the attitude
of the human. A well-known actor (this is L.A. after-all)
brought two of his dogs to a park and as soon as the dogs
entered, they zeroed in on a Lab who was resting underneath
a picnic table. Within seconds, cries and growls filled the
air. People rushed to help the Lab who sustained multiple
puncture wounds. When the actor finally arrived at the scene,
he simply declared, "Hey, dogs are dogs, they were only playing."
On another occasion, a woman came directly from a rescue
with her new 80 lb dog and wanted to see how he would behave
around other dogs. The dog attacked a small, blind Pekinese
and caused several thousands of dollars in medical care.
In other cases, dogs are hurt because of how they play:
some dogs are much more physical than others, resulting in
unintentional injuries. Others never learned appropriate
dog etiquette because of the lack of proper socialization
when they were young. As a result, their pushy behavior often
results in misunderstandings that trigger fights.
In addition, not every dog likes to visit dog parks. Older
dogs sometimes care less about being around other dogs and
are perfectly content interacting only with their humans.
Well-intentioned as some people are, they can facilitate
problems because they fail to read their dog's body language,
which is telling them, "Get me out of here!"
So what should you look for? Visit a park before you bring
your dog. Talk to people. Safe parks all have one thing in
common: a good park is one where people will not put up with
aggressive dogs and they look out for one another. Make sure
there is a separate area for small dogs. How clean is the
park? Is water available? If you find yourself stepping over
mounds of feces, it's a good bet that park isn't for you
and your dog. See if the park has a ranger that oversees
activities. This is rare but really says a lot about safety.
Once you've chosen a dog park, don't bring food or your
dog's favorite toys as that often causes problems. Notice
how other dogs are behaving and if play becomes to rowdy,
interrupt it before a problem arises. If your dog seems fearful,
leave the park.
Know your dog. If your dog displays aggression or fearfulness,
don't take your dog to a dog park. You can work on behavioral
problems with a trainer but in the meantime, you can take
your dog for walks or jogs, play fetch, hide-and-go seek
and "find-it."
There are wonderful dog parks out there that benefit both
people and dogs. To find them, do a little investigation,
use your good common sense, be responsible and keep a watchful
eye. You and your dog can have a lot of fun!
About the Author
Paul Owens is the author of "The
Dog Whisperer" DVD and
the book, "The
Dog Whisperer, A Compassionate Nonviolent Approach to Dog
Training". He has been Certified by The Association
of Pet Dog Trainers and Endorsed by the National Association
of Dog Obedience Instructors. Paul is the Director of Raise
with Praise, Inc. Dog training. For more information, visit
www.DogWhispererDVD.com.
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