Should I Take my dog to the dog park?
5 reasons to avoid dog parks.
I have been walking dogs for 9+ years and the dog park used to be my go-to spot to exercise multiple dogs at once. I mean, why not? It’s easy, you just have to get the group to the gate and then you walk freely while the dogs play. It sounds pretty innocent, right?…but is it?
Here are some things to consider before taking your dog to a dog park.
#1 People don’t watch their dogs.
You would think, and hope, that everyone at the dog park is paying full attention to their dogs, but unfortunately that is rarely the case. Most of the people who go to dog parks are the people who do not want to deal with controlling their dog on a leash or just want to socialize with the other owners. Not to say, there are not good dog owners in dog parks, but the bad ones can ruin it for everyone. Even if you are a great owner and you watch your pups every move, they could still get attacked by a dog whose owner is on the other side of the park. Then what happens? You have to pull someone else’s dog off yours, putting you at risk of getting bit and your dog at risk of getting hurt. Never assume that just because it’s a dog park that all the dogs are friendly and under control!
#2 Your dog could leave traumatized.
Consider a young dog who has not spent much time around other dogs and is already timid and fearful. If you take that dog to the dog park to “socialize” and they get attacked by an unsupervised, dominant dog, your dog may never be the same after that. Incidents like this are pretty common and could leave that dog fearful and aggressive toward other dogs for years, if not the rest of their life. The dog park is NOT a good place to socialize a dog and will, more than likely, make matters worse for a timid, fearful or under socialized dog.
#3 They might develop behavioral issues.
Dogs learn from each other and poorly behaved dogs might be teaching your dog bad habits. The uncontrolled, chaotic play might seem fun but can actually teach a dog to be rude. By rude, I mean, approaching other dogs, people and children too quickly or demanding attention by jumping up. The high intensity of a group of dogs playing can also make your dog reactive. Letting your dog run wild in an over aroused, adrenaline state with 10 other dogs actually teaches them to react to fast movements and touch. If your dog chases bicycles & cars or jumps when you pet them from behind, you might try staying out of the dog park, your dogs attitude might change. Back when my dog and I were dog park regulars, he was nipping at people who came in our front door. We cut the dog park out and continued training as usual and sure enough, the nipping stopped.
#4 Playing can get TOO rough.
Sure, dog parks can be fun if everything goes as planed, but when things go wrong, things can go very wrong. I have heard way too many horror stories of things getting too rough and dogs getting seriously hurt. One incident, I’ve been told, was 2 seemingly innocent Golden Retrievers playing unchecked and one of them literally bit off, and ate, the other dogs ear. Another time, a lady told me that her German Shorthaired Pointer is terrified of playing with other dogs because he was trampled and impaled by a stick that almost killed him. You may not have seen something like this happen yet but it is more common than you think and you don’t want your dog to be part of the next horror story.
#5 They are an incubator for diseases and parasites.
If I haven’t convinced you to ditch the dog park yet, maybe this will. Dog parks are full of nasty bacteria, viruses and parasites that could harm your dog and even spread to you. In theory, all dogs in a dog park are supposed to be up to date on all their vaccines but the reality is, many owners don’t follow this rule. Close contact play with unvaccinated dogs is a really great way for your dog to get sick. And on top of that, parasites like fleas, heartworms, hookworms and giardia spread rapidly among all dogs, vaccinated or not.
My suggestion to you is to stay out of dog parks. The risk is just not worth the convenience. There are better, healthier, ways to socialize and exercise your pup. Consider having doggie play dates with dogs that know each other like friends or neighbors. Do this in a controlled space like your home or yard. Let the dogs play, but cut it off if things get too rowdy. Don’t let the rude, pushy behavior slide and help your dog to read social ques by separating them when the other dog shows signs of being done. If you are looking for a dog park substitute for exercise, teach your dog a new activity. Don’t be lazy, take them running, biking, swimming, hiking or teach them fetch or agility. There are so many other ways to get outside with your furry friend. So, do yourself a favor and find a new hobby outside the gates of any dog park.
