Those of you who know me, know how I feel about dog parks. My response is generally No. But if you really want to go, first ask yourself these questions: Do you have complete voice control of your dog off leash? Can you recall him from other dogs and people? Can you identify the signs of stress, anxiety, and over-arousal in your dog and others? Do you know which behaviors point to trouble? If you answered no to any of those questions, hold off on the dog park.
If you’re a dog park enthusiast and you’ve read this far, you are probably asking “Why do I need full voice control of my dog off leash if the dog park is fenced in and secure? What could happen?” Well, many things could happen, some of them with long-term ramifications.
First, your dog might form some bad habits and begin displaying learned disobedience if you haven’t done sufficient training. If you’ve been to a dog park, you have probably witnessed this scenario: the owner that arrives in tow by a frantically barking dog, pulling vigorously on the leash. The dog takes off as soon as it is released, and when called, ignores its owner and remains just out of reach, while the owner follows and tries to persuade the dog to come. This dog has learned that his owner can’t control him off leash and he has no reason to obey.
If you’re inattentive or fail to recognize problems and intervene on behalf of your dog, your dog will learn that you are helpless and unable to keep him safe, eroding his trust in you. A dog that is bullied, body slammed, or chased by another dog while the owner stands by showing no concern learns his owner is ineffective. And he learns to avoid other dogs.
And you know that dog that stands by yours and rests its head over your dog’s shoulders? It isn’t being cute or affectionate. This is a dominant posture and must be pre-empted immediately.
The trauma of being attacked by another dog can have long-term effects and cause aggression in your own dog. While some dogs may be able to shrug it off, others can be changed by what the owner might have thought was a minor incident.
I frequently work my dogs outside a dog park – it’s a great place to proof obedience behaviors - and see some of the regulars in the park displaying behavior that spells trouble, while their owners do nothing to correct them. On some occasions all of the dogs are happy, running and playing nicely. But on a regular basis I see one large dog that body slams others at full speed, and others intent on excessive mounting, bullying another dog that has no interest in playing, and resource guarding. Many owners try to defend their dogs and attribute these behaviors to merely “playing rough.” They are unaware what constitutes proper behavior and what one dog is communicating to another. Think of the bully on the playground who gets a kick out of walking up behind another kid and giving him a hard shove in the back that catapults him forward. Sooner or later someone is going to turn around and lay him out with a swift right hook. I haven’t witnessed any myself at this particular park, but I’ve heard of a couple of fights resulting in expensive vet bills.
This is a shame. Dog parks are a great idea in theory – a large enclosed green area you can take your dog to so he can roam and romp off leash. A place where you can expose your dog to all kinds of other dogs, give him an opportunity to run and play with other dogs, or just wander around and explore off leash. If you do venture into one, take a moment to observe the dogs that are there first, making sure they are happy, wiggly, with relaxed expressions, and their owners are attentive. Try to go at off-peak times when the park isn’t crowded or perhaps even empty. All of your attention should be on your dog while he is off leash at the dog park so you can spot signs of stress or trouble in your dog or the others and take action. Avoid the park or leave quickly if you see any signs of tension, fear, stress, or bullying. Your dog will be happier for it.