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DOG PARK SAFETY
place to take your dogs but you must
take precautions.
You can help your dog play it safe at
the dog park by following these
important guidelines.
Evaluate your dog
* Evaluate your dog ahead of time to
see if they will be a good dog park
dog. If they play too rough, are overly
shy, show signs of aggression or are
uninterested in other dogs the
dog park might not be right for them (
It might even be a place they don't
want to be)
* Make sure your dog is ready for a
dog park. Is he social and confident -
but not aggressive - around other
dogs and people? Is he physically fit
and heathy? Does he respond to
basic commands like come, sit and
stay?
* Not all dogs like meeting new dogs.
Find out how he will react before
forcing him to meet lots of unfamiliar
dogs. Invite a few mellow dogs over
to your friends big yard to play.
Check for obedience schools that offer
socialization classes for adult dogs.
Be sure to socialize puppies 8-16
weeks of age at puppy kindergarten
classes. Early socialization
is one of the most important things
you will ever do for your dog.
* A dog park is not the appropriate
place for dogs who have serious
behavior problems in relation to other
dogs or human. Dogs with these kind
of issues should be carefully
socialized in environments that are far
more controlled than a dog park while
their owners do behavior modi fication
work.
* Dog park dogs should be friendly
and outgoing without being
overbearing, obnoxious or bullying.
Dog parks are not a place to
rehabilitate fearful or aggressive dogs
or those that
don't know how to play well with
others.
* Only healthy dogs should visit the
dog park. Obviously, communicable
diseases and parasites are
unacceptable as these can affect and
infect other dogs.
* Be harshy realistic about your dogs
potential as a playmate. The dog park
is not the appropriate place to work
on fixing your dogs behavior problems.
Don't take it personally. Like humans,
all dogs are different. They don't all
feel the need to be with their canine
companions. Some dogs are happy
just to be wth you, their best buddy.
General safety tips
* Make your first visit without your
dog. Familiarize yourself with the
posted rules and how to park works .
* Be careful entering a dog park
gate. Other dogs tend to crown
around to greet arriving dogs. The
jostling and crowding can be quite
intimidating to many dogs and may
result
in a skirmish, or worse.
* The first few times you take your
dog to the park choose a time that is
not too busy. Weekday evening are
peak times. Weakends and holidays
tend to be busy all day long.
The first visit can be a little s tressfull
for both you and your dog, so keep it
short and happy. Gradually work your
way to longer visits.
* Complaints about you or your dog
threathens the success of these sites.
Remember, dogs must be leashed
upon entering and exiting the off-
leash ares. Please know and follow
the rules
* keep your dog up to date on
vaccinations and never bring a puppy
under 12 weeks into the dog park.
* Watch the park a few minutes
before entering with your dog. Are
the dogs playing nicely? If even one
dog is acting aggressively or the park
feels crowded come back later.
* If your dog is over excited, walk
them before going so that they have a
chance to calm down.
* Learn your dog's pattern of
behavior. some dogs don't like certain
breeds, colors, sizes and types of
dogs. The more you figure out your
dog's pattern, the more aware you can
be to keep your dog safe.
* Always watch your dog. Don't get
distracted reading, chatting or talking
on your phone.
* Keep walking. Walking defuses
defensive behavior and helps keep the
off-leash area neutral territory. This
means your dog is more likely to pass
by another dog with just a
curious sniff rather than a stare-
down. Limit the time you spend
standing or sitting and chatting. whe
folks congregate, many dogs may
become protective of their people and
their space, making scuffles more likely
to occure.
* Let your dogs off leash as soon as
you enter he off-leash area. Mixing
leashed and unleashed dogs can be
an explosive situation. Leashed dogs
and their humans, often display
body language and behavior that is
threatening to the free dogs and
provoke them to be threatening and
defensive in return. A leashes dog can
become a target by unleashed
dogs.
* Don't take any toys to the park your
dog is not willing to share.
* Dont use choke or prong collars on
your dogs while in the park
* While tidbits can be great way to
reward good behavior, be careful
about giving them to your dog when
other dogs are nearby.
* Recognize that by taking your dog
to a dog park, you are accepting a
degree of risk that our dog may be
injured or may injure another dog.
It's up to you to keep your dog safe as
you can in all situations and especially
at the dog park. Follow these tips and
always be observant and prudent, so
your dogs can have a blast playing
with other dogs all year round.
Dog Fights
Prevent a dog fight before it happens-
learn the 4p warning signs
* Posture
A dogs body language can
communicate fear, hostility or
submission. Learn to read and
respond to your dog's own body
language, and others.
* Packing
More than 2 ror 3 dogs packed
together can lead to trouble. Break it
up before it starts by leading your dog
to a neutral area.
* Possession
Whether it's you, a ball, or a treat,
most dogs will protect what is theirs.
Remain aware.
* Provoking
If your dog is continuously annoying
another dog or dogs, or provoking
attention, It's time to leave the park.
What To Do If a Fight Occurs
* Keep calm. Even the calmest, most
pleasant, well-adjusted person may
become upset, angry or belligerent, if
they or their dog is injured in a fight.
Emotional behavior is automatic; try to
remain calm and as objective as
possible.
* Don't scream and yell at your dog,
try to putll her off by the collar, or get
in the middle of the fight as this only
adds to the general arousal and
greatly increases either the dogs or
your chance of injury.
* Never reach y our hands into the
middle of a dog fight. You may get bit,
and often by your own dog.
* Distract the dogs and divert their
attention. A blast of water from a
water bottle, a loud whistle, or a
pocket air horn may work. Direct Stop
is a harmless but effective citronella
spray
* If your dog is not in the fight, make
sure he does not join in.
* If a fight occurs, control your dog
and remove him to a neutral area.
* Maintain a cool head. Getting upset
and yelling will only add to the frenzy.
* When warranted, exchange contact
information with the other dog
owners. If you can't because you must
attend to your dog, designate
someone else to get information.
Remember, owners are solely liable for
injuries or damage caused by their
dogs. This includes injury to another
dog or person, no matter how it
began, who said what, or whatever.
* Be knowledgable about dog body
postures, communication signals and
social behavior. You should be able to
recognize stress, tension, fear . play,
threats and aggression. Know the
difference between play (which can be
very active and sound violent) and real
threats. Know when to intervene and
when to stay out of an interation with
dogs. If you feel uninformed about
canine behavior, learn more before
takng your dog to a park. Harm can
come to your dog if you under-react as
well as over-react.
Protect Your Dog
If your dog seems to be fearful or is
being "bullied" by other dogs, don't let
her stay. thinking she will "get over
it" , that she will learn to "stand up
for herself". Chances are greater her
behavior will get worse.
Don't let other dogs threaten or scare
your dog. If they won't leave, then
remove your dog.
Remember that as your dog's pack
leader, it's your job to both protect
them and reign them in if they are
getting out of control. If your more
timid dog is being harassed or
frightened by others, take charge by
calmly removing your dog from that
situation. Your dog should learn that it
does not need to fend for itself, but
instead that they can look to their
pack leader to help them in scary
situations. That being said, it's not
wise to panic or be over dramatic.
Dogs respond best to calm and
confident behavior. The same is true if
your dog is bullying others or not
taking the hint that another dog is not
interested in playing. In that case you
should get control of your dog and
redirect them to another dog or
leave=2 0the park.
Children at the dog park
* Not all dogs are child-friendly. Never
allow your child to approach or pet a
strange dog without the owner's
presence and approval.
* Herding dogs may nip at children
while attempting to "round them up."
* A running, squealing or screaming
child may become a target for many
dogs, because the child resembles an
injured animal or prey.
* Direct eye contact is confrontational
to dogs. An interested child wants to
stare into a dog's face, but this may
provoke a dog unintentionally.
* Never let your child have toys or
food in a dogpark . A friendly dog
might knock down your child to get at
a bright ball or cookie.
* One adult to supervise several
children and the family dog is not
sufficient to ensure everyone's safety
and control. Be sure you can take care
of everyone you bring to a dogpark.
* All dogs have the potential to bite.
Health risks
* Children are more susceptible to
contracting intestinal worms and other
infections from touching grass where
feces or urine are present. That is one
major reason dogs are prohibited from
children's playgrounds and school
yards.
* Be sure your children (and you)
always wear shoes in a dogpark .
* Children can pick up fleas, lice, or
skin mites from infected dogs.
* Tennis balls may carry disease and
contamination.
_______________________________
This was compiled from a couple
different safety articles.
place to take your dogs but you must
take precautions.
You can help your dog play it safe at
the dog park by following these
important guidelines.
Evaluate your dog
* Evaluate your dog ahead of time to
see if they will be a good dog park
dog. If they play too rough, are overly
shy, show signs of aggression or are
uninterested in other dogs the
dog park might not be right for them (
It might even be a place they don't
want to be)
* Make sure your dog is ready for a
dog park. Is he social and confident -
but not aggressive - around other
dogs and people? Is he physically fit
and heathy? Does he respond to
basic commands like come, sit and
stay?
* Not all dogs like meeting new dogs.
Find out how he will react before
forcing him to meet lots of unfamiliar
dogs. Invite a few mellow dogs over
to your friends big yard to play.
Check for obedience schools that offer
socialization classes for adult dogs.
Be sure to socialize puppies 8-16
weeks of age at puppy kindergarten
classes. Early socialization
is one of the most important things
you will ever do for your dog.
* A dog park is not the appropriate
place for dogs who have serious
behavior problems in relation to other
dogs or human. Dogs with these kind
of issues should be carefully
socialized in environments that are far
more controlled than a dog park while
their owners do behavior modi fication
work.
* Dog park dogs should be friendly
and outgoing without being
overbearing, obnoxious or bullying.
Dog parks are not a place to
rehabilitate fearful or aggressive dogs
or those that
don't know how to play well with
others.
* Only healthy dogs should visit the
dog park. Obviously, communicable
diseases and parasites are
unacceptable as these can affect and
infect other dogs.
* Be harshy realistic about your dogs
potential as a playmate. The dog park
is not the appropriate place to work
on fixing your dogs behavior problems.
Don't take it personally. Like humans,
all dogs are different. They don't all
feel the need to be with their canine
companions. Some dogs are happy
just to be wth you, their best buddy.
General safety tips
* Make your first visit without your
dog. Familiarize yourself with the
posted rules and how to park works .
* Be careful entering a dog park
gate. Other dogs tend to crown
around to greet arriving dogs. The
jostling and crowding can be quite
intimidating to many dogs and may
result
in a skirmish, or worse.
* The first few times you take your
dog to the park choose a time that is
not too busy. Weekday evening are
peak times. Weakends and holidays
tend to be busy all day long.
The first visit can be a little s tressfull
for both you and your dog, so keep it
short and happy. Gradually work your
way to longer visits.
* Complaints about you or your dog
threathens the success of these sites.
Remember, dogs must be leashed
upon entering and exiting the off-
leash ares. Please know and follow
the rules
* keep your dog up to date on
vaccinations and never bring a puppy
under 12 weeks into the dog park.
* Watch the park a few minutes
before entering with your dog. Are
the dogs playing nicely? If even one
dog is acting aggressively or the park
feels crowded come back later.
* If your dog is over excited, walk
them before going so that they have a
chance to calm down.
* Learn your dog's pattern of
behavior. some dogs don't like certain
breeds, colors, sizes and types of
dogs. The more you figure out your
dog's pattern, the more aware you can
be to keep your dog safe.
* Always watch your dog. Don't get
distracted reading, chatting or talking
on your phone.
* Keep walking. Walking defuses
defensive behavior and helps keep the
off-leash area neutral territory. This
means your dog is more likely to pass
by another dog with just a
curious sniff rather than a stare-
down. Limit the time you spend
standing or sitting and chatting. whe
folks congregate, many dogs may
become protective of their people and
their space, making scuffles more likely
to occure.
* Let your dogs off leash as soon as
you enter he off-leash area. Mixing
leashed and unleashed dogs can be
an explosive situation. Leashed dogs
and their humans, often display
body language and behavior that is
threatening to the free dogs and
provoke them to be threatening and
defensive in return. A leashes dog can
become a target by unleashed
dogs.
* Don't take any toys to the park your
dog is not willing to share.
* Dont use choke or prong collars on
your dogs while in the park
* While tidbits can be great way to
reward good behavior, be careful
about giving them to your dog when
other dogs are nearby.
* Recognize that by taking your dog
to a dog park, you are accepting a
degree of risk that our dog may be
injured or may injure another dog.
It's up to you to keep your dog safe as
you can in all situations and especially
at the dog park. Follow these tips and
always be observant and prudent, so
your dogs can have a blast playing
with other dogs all year round.
Dog Fights
Prevent a dog fight before it happens-
learn the 4p warning signs
* Posture
A dogs body language can
communicate fear, hostility or
submission. Learn to read and
respond to your dog's own body
language, and others.
* Packing
More than 2 ror 3 dogs packed
together can lead to trouble. Break it
up before it starts by leading your dog
to a neutral area.
* Possession
Whether it's you, a ball, or a treat,
most dogs will protect what is theirs.
Remain aware.
* Provoking
If your dog is continuously annoying
another dog or dogs, or provoking
attention, It's time to leave the park.
What To Do If a Fight Occurs
* Keep calm. Even the calmest, most
pleasant, well-adjusted person may
become upset, angry or belligerent, if
they or their dog is injured in a fight.
Emotional behavior is automatic; try to
remain calm and as objective as
possible.
* Don't scream and yell at your dog,
try to putll her off by the collar, or get
in the middle of the fight as this only
adds to the general arousal and
greatly increases either the dogs or
your chance of injury.
* Never reach y our hands into the
middle of a dog fight. You may get bit,
and often by your own dog.
* Distract the dogs and divert their
attention. A blast of water from a
water bottle, a loud whistle, or a
pocket air horn may work. Direct Stop
is a harmless but effective citronella
spray
* If your dog is not in the fight, make
sure he does not join in.
* If a fight occurs, control your dog
and remove him to a neutral area.
* Maintain a cool head. Getting upset
and yelling will only add to the frenzy.
* When warranted, exchange contact
information with the other dog
owners. If you can't because you must
attend to your dog, designate
someone else to get information.
Remember, owners are solely liable for
injuries or damage caused by their
dogs. This includes injury to another
dog or person, no matter how it
began, who said what, or whatever.
* Be knowledgable about dog body
postures, communication signals and
social behavior. You should be able to
recognize stress, tension, fear . play,
threats and aggression. Know the
difference between play (which can be
very active and sound violent) and real
threats. Know when to intervene and
when to stay out of an interation with
dogs. If you feel uninformed about
canine behavior, learn more before
takng your dog to a park. Harm can
come to your dog if you under-react as
well as over-react.
Protect Your Dog
If your dog seems to be fearful or is
being "bullied" by other dogs, don't let
her stay. thinking she will "get over
it" , that she will learn to "stand up
for herself". Chances are greater her
behavior will get worse.
Don't let other dogs threaten or scare
your dog. If they won't leave, then
remove your dog.
Remember that as your dog's pack
leader, it's your job to both protect
them and reign them in if they are
getting out of control. If your more
timid dog is being harassed or
frightened by others, take charge by
calmly removing your dog from that
situation. Your dog should learn that it
does not need to fend for itself, but
instead that they can look to their
pack leader to help them in scary
situations. That being said, it's not
wise to panic or be over dramatic.
Dogs respond best to calm and
confident behavior. The same is true if
your dog is bullying others or not
taking the hint that another dog is not
interested in playing. In that case you
should get control of your dog and
redirect them to another dog or
leave=2 0the park.
Children at the dog park
* Not all dogs are child-friendly. Never
allow your child to approach or pet a
strange dog without the owner's
presence and approval.
* Herding dogs may nip at children
while attempting to "round them up."
* A running, squealing or screaming
child may become a target for many
dogs, because the child resembles an
injured animal or prey.
* Direct eye contact is confrontational
to dogs. An interested child wants to
stare into a dog's face, but this may
provoke a dog unintentionally.
* Never let your child have toys or
food in a dogpark . A friendly dog
might knock down your child to get at
a bright ball or cookie.
* One adult to supervise several
children and the family dog is not
sufficient to ensure everyone's safety
and control. Be sure you can take care
of everyone you bring to a dogpark.
* All dogs have the potential to bite.
Health risks
* Children are more susceptible to
contracting intestinal worms and other
infections from touching grass where
feces or urine are present. That is one
major reason dogs are prohibited from
children's playgrounds and school
yards.
* Be sure your children (and you)
always wear shoes in a dogpark .
* Children can pick up fleas, lice, or
skin mites from infected dogs.
* Tennis balls may carry disease and
contamination.
_______________________________
This was compiled from a couple
different safety articles.
- Maureen Kochan, Dog Fancy -
Contributing Editor found on
DogChannel.com - Daniel Q Estep, Ph.D. and Suzanne
Hetts, Ph.D. Animal-Link.org
adapted from www.dogromp.com, - Erin Kramer - "Tips for new visitors."
Sacramento Dog Training Examiner
A dog park can be a terrific place to
experience you have at the dog park
largely depends on the people who
etiquette.
Appropriate dog behavior
Not all dogs are good candidates for
dog-park play. A dog park is not the
appropriate place for dogs who have
serious behavior problems in relation
to other dogs or humans. Dogs with
these kinds of “issues” should be
carefully socialized in environments
that are far more controlled than a d
og park while their owners do
behavior modification work. Consider
the following carefully before taking
your dog through the gate into your
local dog park.
• Dog-park dogs should be friendly
and outgoing, without being
overbearing, obnoxious, or bullying.
• Your dog should be reasonably
confident and social. Those who are
fearful, aggressive, or reactive are not
appropriate for dog parks.
• Basic good manners are a park
prerequisite. Your dog should not
body-slam, mouth, jump on kids, or
mark (leg-lift) humans in the park, nor
should he jump in to laps of random
sitting humans without invitation.
• Your dog should be responsive to
basic cues – at least “come when
called,” “sit,” and “leave it/off,” so you
can get control of him if necessary,
and prevent him from harassing others.
• Barking should be kept to a
reasonable level, both for the comfort
of other park users as well as nearby
neighbors. Occasional barks of joy are
acceptable. Non-stop barking of a “fun
police” type dog is not, nor is barking
with more serious aggressive intent.
• Only healthy dogs should visit dog
parks. Obviously, communicable
diseases and parasites are unac
ceptable as these can affect and infect
other dogs. Structural un-soundness
that can cause pain (hip dysphasia,
arthritis, etc.) are a high risk factor for
causing aggression when a dog is hurt
or stressed by the anticipation of
being hurt.
Human behavior
This is even longer than the dog
behavior list. We humans are
responsible for our dogs’ behaviors,
hence we play a critically important
role in making sure proper etiquette is
adhered to, by our dogs as well as
ourselves.
Two dogs were running very fast and
slammed into this man from behind at
a high speed. All you can see of the
Shepherd-mix is the tip of his tail.
Boom! He went down like a ton of
bricks. No harm done this time. But
this common dog-park accident
demonstrates why small children
should not be in a dog park, for their
own safety.
• As a new park user, visit the park
without your dog to observe park
culture and practices. Arrange to take
your dog to the park the first time at
non-peak use hours to allow both of
you to acquaint yo urselves with the
environment without the stress and
distraction of multiple dogs.
• Obey all posted park rules, even if
you disagree with them.
• Don’t bring small children inside the
dog park. Occasionally, dogs who are
running fast in a chasing game will
accidentally run into a grown-up,
sometimes even knocking down a full-
sized man. Imagine what could
happen to your toddler and that’s just
from an accident, not even from the
attention of a large dog with a strong
prey drive who has never been
socialized to small children!
• Limit your use of toys or food treats
as necessary to avoid dog/dog conflict.
This may vary depending on the dog
population at the park during any
given visit.
• Keep puppies under the age of four
months at home. They aren’t fully
immunized yet, so are at higher risk
for contracting diseases, and are very
vulnerable to being traumatized by
another dog’s inappropriate behavior.
• Be harshly realistic about your dog’s
potential as a park playmate. The dog
park is not the appropriate place to
work on fixing your dog’s behavior
problems.
• Watch park play for several minutes
before you take your dog in to be sure
there are no dogs present who are
inappropriate play partners for your
dog.
• Remove your dog’s leash as soon as
you enter the off-leash area. Mixing on-
leash and off-leash dogs can cause
stress in the leashed dogs, which may
lead to aggression.
• Supervise your dog’s play. This is not
the time to bury your nose in the
latest copy of WDJ or your favorite
novel. Be prepared to interrupt
inappropriate play whether your dog is
the perpetrator or the victim.
• If someone complains about your
dog’s behavior, be prepared to
consider his perspective before de
fending your dog or just blowing off
the complaint. Apologize if your dog
has been inappropriate, and be willing
to leave the park if your dog is being
too rough. If you really disagree with
the person’s assessment of your dog’s
behavior, ask someone you respect for
her honest and frank opinion.
• Be polite, even if someone else’s dog
is inappropriate and the owner isn’t
controlling her dog or is unwilling to
take her own dog out of the park.
• Keep the dog-human ratio
manageable. A standard
recommendation is no more than two
or three dogs per human assuming
those two to three dogs can be
reasonably managed by one human!
=0 A
• Remember: not all dogs enjoy
playing with others. Be willing to leave
if your dog isn’t having a good time.
Some dogs enjoy a small circle of
intimate friends but aren’t keen on
crowds. Some enjoy park play as
youngsters, but less so as they
mature. If you love going to the park
but your dog doesn’t, go without him!
Go with a friend who has a more
gregarious canine, or go dog less and
socialize with other owners.
• 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.
• Honor the posted dog-park hours.
They are set for a reason often for
your own safety, or to maintain peace
and harmony with nearby neighbors.
• Of course, as always, clean up after
your dog religiously both inside and
outside the park. Be willing to clean up
unclaimed piles of dog poo from
visitors who don’t know or don’t follow
the rules of dog-park etiquette, or
perhaps who just didn’t notice their
dog leaving a fecal souvenir.
Be aware that dogs have different
play styles. Educate yourself about
dog behavior. Behavior that concerns
some dog owners may simply be a
rambunctious play style. Always
respect other dog owners wished if
they are not comfortable with how
your dog is interacting with theirs.
Simply move to another part of the
park for a while. Leash up and leave if
your dog is acting in an aggressive
manner or having a bad day.
_______________________________
Pat Miller, CPDT, is WDJ’s Training
Editor. Miller lives in Hagerstown,
Maryland, site of her Peaceable Paws
training center. For book purchasing or
contact information, see “Resources.”
