It is important to have realistic expectations about your dog’s suitability for going to a dog park. If he isn’t polite or friendly with others, get help to change his behavior before you socialize him in a public setting.
1. Owners are responsible for the actions of their dogs.
2. Open only one gate at a time when entering or leaving facility.
3. Children under the age of 10 must have adult supervision and cannot be left unattended.
4. Dog owners must stay in the off-leash area within view of their dogs and have a leash within reach at all times.
5. All dogs must wear collars with a current license and must be up-to-date on all vaccinations.
6. All dogs must be leashed outside the boundaries of the off-leash area, including to and from the parking area.
7. Aggressive dogs are not permitted within the off-leash premises.
8. Dogs must be removed from the off-leash area at the first sign of aggression.
9. A dog that is in season or ill is not permitted in the off-leash area.
10. Dog waste must be cleaned up immediately by owner.
11. Dogs must be under voice control – they should be able to obey owner voice commands.
12. Puppies under the age of four months are prohibited from using off-leash areas.
13. Owners are responsible for filling any holes their dogs may dig.
Leave the Lattes and Cell Phone At Home
Collisions with rambunctious dogs are common, and it doesn't take much to upend a steaming beverage on someone else or a dog. And even if it's not already prohibited by the posted rules, don't bring alcohol or come tipsy. You can't pay attention to your dog while on your cell phone or listening to your iPod. It takes about 1/100th of a second for a dog to go from nice to mean, and by the time you hang up your iphone, 3 dogs can gang-up on and eat your dog. Turn off your cell phone and bond with your best friend.
You Are Responsible For Your Dog(s)
That means you are In Control of your dog at all times…if a dog doesn’t want to be humped by YOUR dog, you need to get her/him off the other dog. Don't expect other dogs to “correct” your dog or “teach it a lesson” – that's your responsibility before you even come to a dog park . Too many people make the mistake of letting their animals run free and completely disconnecting from them the entire time their dogs are out socializing. By sitting on a bench and waiting until it’s time to go home, you are potentially setting your dog up for getting hurt or starting a fight. Dogs don't instinctively know how to behave in groups. They learn their code of conduct through interactions when young. Unfortunately, many miss the early lessons because they're not exposed to other dogs or were taken from their litter mates too soon, and they have trouble catching up. While other dogs their age know when a look means back off, these naive newbies think everything is fair game.
Breaking Up A Fight
Many times it's more noise than real fighting. The worse things you can do are to panic and scream. Never try to pull your dog off by his collar. The chances of getting bit are very high. Try to grab the dog by his hind legs or, even better grab him by his hip/waist. You can really dig in his fur and skin and pull him off. The typical reaction for a dog is to look back and to see what grabbed him. That is your chance to pull him off the other dog. Please, use your common sense. If you think the situation is too dangerous let other people handle it! If your dog started the fight, you should ask the other persons involved if everything is ok with them and their dog!
Toys
Toys are great…for home. If your dog has a favorite toy at home, DO NOT BRING IT TO THE PARK! It can trigger possession and aggression. Chances of a fight breaking loose are very high. If you bring that fancy new frisbee to the park, count on getting it dirty & destroyed.
Children
It's called a dog park and not a fair ground or playground. It's no problem to bring your kids if they know the rules and aren't afraid of dogs or being jumped on. Rules for kids (and adults): NO frantic screaming, crying or running around.
Don't Turn Your Back
Use all your common senses at the park. A dog usually sticks in a close perimeter around the owner. Which means if he is playing and romping around it will be most likely around your knees. Just be aware and ready to react quickly and jump to the side. A collision can be very painful! Do not turn your back on playing dogs!
Learn to Recognize What Appropriate Play Is Like
Play is usually bouncy and is punctuated by short rests. If wrestling matches or chase games go on too long, they can escalate into a fight. Monitor your dog’s play and interrupt every now and then to remind Fifi that her alpha animal is paying attention. This also reminds her to check in with you every so often. High set, slow wagging tails or not wagging at all and ears held straight up are signs to watch out for that either dog is considering a possible conflict. Be quick to intervene before it leads to anything more.
Respect Other People At All Times
We often share the parks with people who are there without dogs—like bikers, joggers, and families with children. Keep your dog close and focused on you when you approach someone who doesn’t have a dog. Absolutely do not let your dog run up, bark, jump and say hello, or chase anyone. Some people aren’t comfortable around dogs, but everybody has a right to enjoy the parks and trails. Avoid disciplining another park user’s dog. If you must use force to break up a fight, so be it, but do not attempt to “punish” someone else’s dog once the conflict is ended. If you find another dog’s behavior unacceptable, take your own dog out of the park rather than “correcting” someone else’s dog.
If your dog has never been around other dogs before – don’t go to a dog park until he’s had a chance to be around other dogs in other situations so you have a better idea of how he reacts to other dogs.
If you aren’t sure how your dog will behave, don’t be ashamed or embarrassed to muzzle your dog the first few times he goes to a dog park. Better safe than sorry.
To learn more about dog park etiquette at Seize the Leash. Want our advice? Follow the rules. It's the easiest way to ensure you and your pooch have a great time.
