Various dogs have different play styles that may not be compatible with your dog. Dogs do need plenty of exercise, but playtime should be a safe and fun experience for your dog. 10 Reasons Why You Should Skip The Dog Park, 5 Signs It’s Time to Change Your Dog’s Food, Contracting Various Diseases and Parasites, List of Fun Games to Play at Home with your dog (. Avoid taking multiple dogs to a dog park all at the same time. If you find that dog parks aren’t for you, we have some fun alternatives that can help you and your dog have some healthy outdoor adventures together. What I Want: My dog to live What I Fear: Note that I have not encountered this situation when at the dog park, but it has happened enough to run chills up my spine. most do not have rules in regards to unfixed pets BUT the do have rules against in season females being brought. Some private parks require registration sign in and issue ID tags that owners must wear while in the park. Nice suggestion, thank you for sharing. We take our pups to the small dog dog park. Hello, I’m glad you were able to find the right park for your parent’s dog. Multiple dogs off leash will go in different directions and you will not be able to efficiently watch all of them at the same time. You are right, without a backyard for your dog, sometimes dog parks are the only option (as long as they are safe). Aggressive Dog fights aren’t the only threat to your dog’s safety at the dog park. if you wish, you can cut the rose branch in three pieces, if you want to have a “gate” and the option to enter dangerous places. You don’t want your dog to feel overwhelmed or unsafe in a hectic environment. Dog Parks Are Not the place to Train your dog. As the dog’s owner, it’s your responsibility to keep your dog out of harm’s way. This reconfigurable Dog Park shifts, … We’ve had a few close calls! The fence is electrified and highly dangerous. Robin Bennett, CPDT-KA author, All About Dog Daycare, co-author, Off Leash Dog Play and Knowing Dogs Staff Training is an expert at canine body language. As an owner of a larger dog, consider the risk of your dog “accidentally” hurting a smaller dog. Depends on the dog park. Thanks for sharing. It is implied time moves differently within the dog park, and that it possibly occupies another dimension. Ask yourself:  Does your dog love to play with other dogs? Fortunately, the Yorkie survived, and both dogs lived to be old ladies, but it was so traumatizing for all of us. Do some dogs have personal toys that may cause conflict with the other dogs? Whether your pup eats another dog’s poop or just steps in it and licks his feet when he is at home, he can get a nasty parasite! Public Dog Parks should have rules that are posted for owners to read prior to entering the park. Fortunately, socialization isn't rocket science. Your dog running happily through a field with all of his best doggy friends? Unfortunatly, many dogs coming to the dog park are not trained, which puts your dog at risk. Owners are responsible for any harm their dog(s) inflict on any other dog(s) or human(s) ... Do not let non-members into the park, or allow other dog(s) who are not registered use your passcode to enter the park; Failure to abide by these rules may result in the revocation of dog park membership without refund. T he Association of Professional Dog Trainers is an organization that was created to educate its members, the public, and other pet-care related industries in the proper management of pet dogs. I take Layla to dog parks here in San Francisco, most of them are very friendly plus the dog owners have been going for years so it is like a community and we all know each other and our dogs. I was just thinking of a doggy play date app! It is best to know the potential dangers associated with dog parks before making the trip. Several years ago when a dog park opened in my area, imagine my glee: I felt like a dog mom in doggie Disneyland—the whole “finally, at last” feeling immersed me. Hello, First, know that a dog park is not a good place to actively train. While some dog parks may have a positive effect on dogs, there are others that pose many risks to you and your dog. The dog park will not harm you.” gather: rose branches, scissors, a taglock of you, your preferred warding incense, a small witch’s bottle , salt, a box to lay this spell in. Hi Rebecca, a doggy play date app would be a cool thing to create! So, your dog could still obtain another strain that he is not vaccinated for. Some dog owners believe taking their dog to a dog park not only lets them exercise but also socialize with other fur-friends. He was my best friend and companion for 14 short years. Only the “hardcore” parents are out there. Her years of helping doggy daycare owners train their staff as well as manage … Is there a separate area for the smaller dogs to play? Those are some very interesting points! It is possible you will see hooded figures in the dog park. The dog park will not harm you." I just found out the public park in town is not pet friendly anymore. Since one of my current dogs is a Maltese, I’m reluctant to take her to the dog park. Even though there is a section for small dogs, I’ve seen bigger dogs in it when I walked by it. Is there a group of dogs congregating at the main gate? The goal of this document is to provide, in outline format, a compilation of the advantages, disadvantages, … When you put people and dogs together from all walks of life and enclose them into a confined space, there is often trouble. Thank you for sharing Robin. ; Do Not use a chain collar the dog park as it can be a choking hazard. Thanks for sharing Dorothy. Lots of dogs mean lots of dog poop. One thing I found, days with bad weather are generally the best time to go to dog parks.