If you've already been to the dog park several times and your pet is loving their time there, that's great news! However, things can change so it's important to be aware of what you may be doing wrong. Watch your surroundings and be aware of how your dog responds to the other dogs. It's your job to be a “watch dog” when your pooch is playing and romping around.

1. Not supervising kids.
First, seriously think about if you really ought to bring kids. For so many reasons, it's a bad idea. Squeals and quick movements of kids can switch on a dog's prey drive. Kids can grab strange dogs' ears, tails or pet them in ways the dog doesn't like, which readily invites a bite.

2. Putting strollers, lawn chairs, and other items in the middle of the fields.
Dogs don't watch where they're going a lot of the time. Consider a dog in a game of chase, running full blast while looking behind to see where her chaser is, only to careen into a stroller, lawn chair, backpack or whatever. Major ouch.

3. Bringing in human food.
If you want to go to a dog park and see a bunch of dogs sitting and standing around staring at a human, by all means, bring human food. Or, if you want your lunch stolen by a slobbery thief, bring it to a dog park.

4. Feeding someone else's dog.
Big, big no-no. The dog owners who bring a baggie of biscuits to share certainly mean well, but feeding someone else's dog without permission is rude behavior.

Though you truly are a sweetheart, don't feed another person's dog without asking permission. Just as you wouldn't give food to a strange child in a playground, don't give food to a strange dog at a dog park.

5. Bringing dog-aggressive dogs to the dog park to socialize them.
Dog parks are often viewed as a place where dogs socialize. It makes sense, right? It's like a big old doggie cafe! Well, only within reason. For dogs who are already practiced at socialization, yes, a dog park is a place to meet and greet. But for dogs that need socialization, the dog park is not the place to do it.

6. Bringing fearful dogs to the dog park to socialize them.
Again, like dog-aggressive dogs, fearful dogs need calm, quiet, controlled environments with low stimulation levels to learn how to get over their fears. Fearful dogs could be afraid of too much noise, other dogs, sudden movements, other humans, trash cans or any number of things. If you have a dog that tends to be easily scared or nervous, a dog park is a nightmare.

To socialize a fearful dog, work with a trainer or take small-group classes. But avoid the dog park until your dog has gotten over her fears.

7. Giving out training advice.
Everyone is an expert, right? Well, not so much. But people at dog parks can sometimes think that because they have a dog, they're an expert. Again, they totally mean well and their heart is in the right place, even if their opinions are wrong. But let's face it, it's a bit obnoxious and could be potentially dangerous.

8. Letting a dog walker take your dog to a dog park without spying on them to make sure they know what they're doing. 

Yes, you should totally spy on your dog walker in this instance. I've received this sage advice from both trainers and responsible dog walkers. Not every dog walker knows what they're doing. Despite a lack of training or experience, some dog walkers feel it's a good idea to collect their pack of dogs from various homes and head to the park.

9. Blaming the breed for bad behavior.
This is something that goes well beyond dog parks, since many of us are guilty of blaming the breed rather than the individual dog for certain behaviors. We humans are amazingly good at stereotyping, and then taking those stereotypes at face value.

10. Forcing your dog to play.
I've watched dogs whom have no interest in playing, and are trying so hard to tell their owner that they just want to sit there or leave, be repeatedly encouraged to go play. I've even seen an owner literally pick up and toss her dog into the mix, trying to get it to play with other dogs. Your dog loves you, and you love her. And in a loving relationship, you listen to and respect with the partner has to say.

5 ways to make your experience at dog parks so much more enjoyable.

• Think about why you're going there in the first place: Really take a look at why you're going to the dog park. If it is to exercise or socialize your dog, then don't go. Dog parks should be a supplement to a dog's daily activity and socialization, not the primary source of it.

• Exercise your dog's brain and body before arriving: This may seem counterintuitive, since so many of us think a dog park is where dogs should exercise. But I promise, this simple step will dramatically reduce the potential for problems. Before you head to a dog park, run your dog and get out all that pent-up zoomy energy that can be the source of so much doggy drama

• Leave at the first sign of trouble: Okay, you've done everything right so far. You're at the dog park for the right reasons, you've exercised your dog to get the zoomies out, she's paying attention to you when you call to her, things are looking great. But in comes someone who hasn't done things right with their dog. It doesn't matter if you just got there, or if you have to stop mid-throw during fetch.

• Learn your dog's personality when it comes to group situations: What is your dog like in social situations? (And be honest. You're among friends here.) Are there personality types she clashes with? Does she tend to be an instigator, a moderator or the target? Is she fearful around certain types of dogs or in certain situations?

Know your dog's every quirk and know how to recognize both the signs that your dog is building up to a certain reaction as well as the triggers that cause it.

• Study up on a dog’s body language: This is the most important thing you can do for your dog. Hands down. Learn what it looks like when dogs are being dominant, nervous, unsure, overly excited.

Overall, be wise when you're at the dog park and make good decisions. Use common sense and if your dog isn't enjoying themselves or feels threatened by other dogs, then it's time to go home. If they are enjoying themselves, on the other hand, then have fun getting to know other pet parents and allow your dog to enjoy socializing with all of his or her new friends at the park!

Read more about these awesome tips, dog parks and things you should be aware of at MNN.