Common Behavior Topics:
DOG PARKS
Should I take my dog to a dog Park?
My personal feelings about fenced-in dog runs
The topic of dog parks can be a polarizing one among dog professionals - there are many potential concerns or dangers, and these should not be taken lightly.
I don’t need a perfectly trained dog to enter a dog park; however, before I ever set foot into a dog park, I want to have done some foundational work. We’ve practiced the attention games, we’ve worked around other dogs, and we’ve practiced attention on-leash outside of the dog park. When I actually take the dog inside for the first time, we try to go on a rainy day, during off-hours. We work outside the park for a few minutes, and I allow the dog to observe/greet through the fence. If all seems calm, we go inside for a few minutes. When we leave, I give the pup LOTS of treats and attention outside of the park.
Before I enter a dog park, there are a few more factors that I consider:
01.
How familiar am I with my dog’s play style? How many experiences with other dogs has my dog already had?
I want my dog’s early experiences with other dogs to be positive: I tend to start with known dogs in small groups.
The goal is for my dog to learn appropriate greeting and social skills, as well as arousal regulation. This can be achieved in organized group obedience classes, co-walks with neighbor dogs, or even private training lessons.
During these sessions, I’m working on many of the foundational exercises mentioned in Foundational Exercises (up/down game, recalls, collar grabs).
When the dog turns his attention back to the other dogs, is he trying to wrestle?
Trying to start a chase? Jumping on the other dogs’ backs? Rolling over on the ground? Is he too aroused to even interact appropriately? You will have to gauge your own comfort level in managing your dog’s particular play style. Consult a trainer if you need help assessing your dog’s reaction.
02.
How resilient is my dog?
If something scary happens at the dog park, how quickly can they “shake it off”?
How will they react if another dog guards a toy, or corrects them for playing roughly?
When they are startled, can they bounce back? Or do they shut down, or try to escape? If they are afraid of loud noises, have a tendency to flee when scared or panicked, or have had exclusively bad experiences with other dogs, I would avoid the dog park.
03.
What is the vibe of the park itself?
Is it clean? Is there water/mud pooling in any areas?
How crowded is it? I stand outside the park and observe before I enter. Are any dogs crowding the entrance? How loud are the dogs and people (lots of growling/yelling)?
What does the general culture of the park seem like - are people on their phones or attentive to their dogs?
I only enter a park when it is fairly empty (no hard and fast rule because it is size and layout dependent - but in general, I want my dog to easily be able to get away from uncomfortable situations).
I prefer parks with multiple exits and entrances when possible - a single “airlock” means dogs can fixate on the entrance and pounce as soon as dogs come inside.
I have a STRONG preference for a size division - large dogs can hurt small dogs even unintentionally.
04.
How comfortable Am I with the risks involved?
Taking your dog to a fenced run means accepting certain risks, including risk of contagious disease, injury, or behavior problems developing.
There are few "perfect parks" that tick all of my boxes. But to help minimize risk:
I prefer parks with obstacles that break up the space. This tends to prevent dogs from fixating during chases, and breaks up the sightlines.
I also prefer more natural substrates (grass, mulch, dirt/pea gravel) or artificial turf, rather than concrete. Concrete is easier to disinfect but I am not comfortable with how hard it is on a running dog’s joints (as well as being slippery after it rains). Personally, I only bring my dogs to concrete runs for brief breaks.
I accept that there is a risk of bringing my dog into grass and dirt that other dogs have been on, because it is a more natural surface more forgiving to their bones and joints - you will have to make that risk assessment for you and your dog.
Beware of maturity - Around 12 - 18 months old
It is absolutely normal and expected that dogs will become less social as they mature. Puppies are often little social butterflies, and as they reach adolescence, they will develop play style preferences. Any prey drive they have intensifies, guarding of resources can increase, and their tolerance for "rude" behavior from other dogs decreases.
This is a combination of nurture and nature - some dogs WILL NOT LIKE OTHER DOGS at maturity, and there is no amount of training or socialization that will prevent that. This usually kicks in around 12 to 18 months of age.
BADRAP has a great article here about dog-dog sociability. Although it is geared towards pit bulls, it is applicable to many, many breeds and types of dogs (herding breeds, guardian breeds, terriers, bulldogs, etc.). If your dog does not like playing with large groups of novel dogs, you still may find familiar, smaller groups of dogs that they enjoy interacting with.
Need help managing your dog around other dogs?
Contact us for training assistance - we can help assess your dog's behavior around other dogs as well as recommend a training plan.
