Know Your Dog Park Etiquette

By Julie Cantonwine

Let’s face it, not everyone loves your dog as much as you do. When you are out with your walking buddy, there are a couple of things to remember when approaching strangers. One of my favorite sayings is; “If you love em’, leash em.” Always have your dog on a leash at all times when walking through neighborhoods and parks. I try always to not let my dog go up to another walker, unless they show some kind of welcoming behavior towards the dog. Some folks are extremely fearful of dogs and in that case, your dog just nudging up close for a “mid-body sniff” is not going to work out so well for anyone involved.

A local dog park can be both a perfect place for you and your walking buddy to blow off some steam, or it can be the most traumatizing place for your pooch. The dog park scene has become a great invention for most dog owners who live in a metro area. The success of the dog park culture, however, relies on the dog owners themselves.

Three things to remember when thinking about the culture of our favorite dog parks: Appropriate dog behavior, appropriate human behavior, and rules of engagement. Not all dogs are good dog park citizens and dogs with serious behavior problems in relation to other dogs and humans should have their social activity someplace besides a public dog park. Dog park dogs should be friendly and outgoing. A good rule is no bullies allowed. Your dog should be responsive to basic commands or cues. Come when called, sit, and “leave it” are good ones. Only take your healthy dog to the dog park. Not only is there a concern for parasites and other diseases, but also a dog that is stiff or injured can become uncomfortable and protective of his space.

Human behavior is actually a bigger responsibility when it comes to taking your dog out to a dog park. You may consider visiting the park without your dog at first, just to see how the culture is set. When taking your walking buddy for the first time, maybe arrive during off peak times when there are not as many dogs. This will allow you and your dog to sniff out the new territory without too many distractions. Be sure and remove the leash as you enter. Mixing on leash and off leash dogs can cause some stress and lead to aggressive behavior. Minimize any kind of toy play while visiting the dog park. Toys can cause stress between dogs as well. Pay attention to your dog at all times. It is always fun to catch up with your dog park friends, but it just takes a split second for things to get out of hand and for a dog to get seriously injured by another dog.

One way to have a successful dog park “culture” is to engage with other owners and communicate when things are not going to well. If a human or his dog’s behavior is not appropriate, then try and gently educate them on proper behavior. Don’t be shy when it comes to communication because the after effect could be a serious injury to a person or another dog. Turning a blind eye could compromise the safety of other dogs and humans.

In the end, most dog parks are a great place to exercise and socialize your walking buddy. Basic commands and a sturdy leash may save you some heart ache down the road and positive communication between humans will keep the dog park culture safe for all to use. A healthy pet is a happy pet.

Julie Cantonwine owns Healthy Pets Northwest, Inc., located in Portland, OR. She can be reached at www.healthypetsnw.com.