How to Keep Safe at the Dog Park
There's no safer place for your pet than the local dog park, right? Sadly, not always. To help keep your pets safe when socialising here is our list of top things to be aware of when spending time with your best friend at the dog park.
Pack mentality
Did you know that a group of as few as two or three dogs can trigger pack behaviour? Friendly and well socialised dogs should have no trouble forming a pack amongst themselves and having fun as a group, but owners should be aware that dogs with aggressive or dominant traits could quickly turn a friendly pack into an aggressive one.
Give aggressive or poorly trained dogs a wide berth
Dogs have a heightened sense of excitement at the dog park which can trigger a group mood to go from happy to agitated in seconds. Poorly socialised, disobedient or aggressive dogs will be on edge in this kind of environment, so it is best to give them a wide berth until you get to know them better.
As a precaution, it is best to socialise your dog with familiar dogs or those whose personalities you are aware of. Always be aware of any changes to the mood of the group if a newcomer arrives at the park, and if in doubt consider switching to a solo walk.
Be well-read in canine behaviour
Dogs give out lots of information about how they are feeling through their body language. Much more so than through vocalisation. Being able to read not only your own pet's body language but others too will give you a good idea how the group as a whole is feeling, and when it may be time to head for home.
Be friends with someone of your own size
While the idea of your pet having friends of all sizes is appealing don't forget that size can matter should things take a turn for the worse. If you are unsure of how your pet mixes with others try to find playmates of a similar size first before slowly introducing larger friends.
Don't become distracted
Keep 100% of your attention on your dog at all times while at the dog park and don't allow yourself to become distracted by other pet owners. Always be on the look out for new arrivals and how their presence affects the behaviour of the group. If in doubt, put your dog on a lead temporarily or switch to a solo walk.
Watch out for toy or food aggression
If you know your pet has issues with food or toy aggression try individual walks or playtime in the garden instead of attending the dog park. Food and toy aggression can quickly escalate in a group environment, and may even become dangerous. If you identify signs of aggression in others the best thing to do is head for home.
Feeling poorly?
If your dog is feeling under the weather as a courtesy to others it is best to stay away from the dog park until they are feeling better, or have been given a clean bill of health from a veterinarian. Unwell dogs may behave differently than normal, and could feel more protective and defensive toward others. Not to mention they risk spreading illness to other pets.
As the saying goes 'prevention is better than a cure', and for this reason we recommend having your pet vaccinated and neutered before socialising in a group environment.
Unkempt conditions
When visiting a dog park, especially one you haven't been to before, always check for hazards such as dug holes, broken fences, sharp objects and a build up of dog waste (or lack of waste bins).
Due to financial cuts many councils are having to restrict how often dog waste bins are emptied, and some are removing them from public areas completely. If the waste bins in your park are going unattended consider giving your local council a ring, or visit a more regularly maintained park.
Have good recall and obedience skills
Before entering an environment where dogs will be off lead it is sensible to ensure that your pet has good obedience and recall skills. Ideally, you should be able to get your dog's attention and carry out a recall at any time, regardless of any distractions.
Knowing your pet's fear triggers is another sensible safety precaution and means you can act quickly to diffuse a potentially dangerous situation before it escalates, or remove your pet from one should it occur.