10 Reasons to Avoid The Dog Park
Reasons Your Dog May Not Enjoy The Dog Park
I get it. Many of you need a place for your dog to run and play if you don’t have a fenced in yard. But there may be better options. The Dog Park isn’t right for every day.
Disease Risk: Dog parks can be a breeding ground for diseases such as parvovirus, distemper, and kennel cough. Yes, you know I am a firm believer in keeping our dog’s healthy naturally, but you just have no way of knowing if the dog’s coming into the park have any contagious diseases.
Lack of Supervision: Many dog parks lack proper supervision, which can lead to dogs getting into fights or injuring each other. If your dog is not well-trained or doesn't respond well to commands, it's best to avoid the dog park. If you see other unruly dogs or owners not engaged with their dog (that is to say on the phone, reading a book, or off chatting mindlessly) take your dog and go home for a walk.
Aggressive Dogs: You can’t always tell by looking at them. The aggressive behaviors may show up when toys come out, food is present or when two simply incompatible dogs comes nose to nose or play styles don’t match. Not all dogs at the dog park are friendly, and some may be aggressive toward other dogs or people. If you're not comfortable handling aggressive dogs, it's best to avoid the dog park.
Unaltered Dogs. These dogs can cause a ruckus among other altered dogs, but it can also create some drama in the pack in general.
Lack of Space: Some dog parks are overcrowded, which can lead to dogs feeling stressed or anxious. This can also lead to fights breaking out more frequently.
Not Suitable for Small Dogs: Some dog parks may not have designated areas for small dogs, making it unsafe for them to be around larger dogs.
Not Suitable for Older Dogs: Older dogs may not be able to handle the physical demands of a dog park, and may be at risk for injuries.
Not Suitable for Puppies: Puppies have not fully vaccinated and should not be exposed to potentially diseased dogs in the park.
Not Suitable for Dogs with Specific Training Needs: If your dog is in training for a specific task, such as service or therapy work, the distractions and lack of control in a dog park can be detrimental to its progress.
The dog park can be stressful and overwhelming. For a dog not skilled at social interactions, things can go south fast. Even the highly aroused, happy go-lucky-dog can create a problem when they don’t respect boundaries of other dogs. If you are looking for socialization activities with a dog that’s new to you, has reactivity issues, aggression issues, or even fear and anxiety — the dog park is not the place to fix socialization. You could create a major setback for your dog — or others!
If your goal is exercise — you have many ways to achieve that. A reputable doggy daycare may be a better option, or a 1:1 play day with a a doggy friend. Play and engagement with you is really all they need though and I can teach you some great activities and game play.
If you’re trying to address behavior — the dog park isn’t the place to do it. Call me and I’ll help you teach your dogs the right skills, social experiences, and learn to read your dogs and others — before you being testing the waters at the dog park.
If you must go to the dog park, please remember these 10 Ways To Keep Your Dog Safe At The Dog Park.