DOG PARKS: Dos and DONTs (and why I rarely if ever would bring my dog to one) Dog parks are a delightful idea. Dogs running free in nature, playing with all their buddies, while owners converse about their furry loved ones. However, we forget one glaring aspect of it all: People are idiots. Excuse my vehemence, but I am so exasperated by the lack of common sense and the lack of DOG sense when it comes to dog parks. There are hundreds of resources out there that will agree with me that dog parks are accidents waiting to happen. Why are dog parks so dangerous??? Owners rarely recognize warning signals and bring their bullying, fear aggressive, insecure dominant, resource guarding, gender-specific, frustrated, under-exercised, over-stimulated, rude, hyperactive, unneutered or in heat, under-trained dogs there for the whole purpose of EXERCISING. Then they decide to do it EVERY SINGLE DAY. Now you can add territorial to that list. God forbid you take your dog to the dog park the day THAT dog is there. Also, owners frequently just want to tune out....sit down on a bench, get on their cell phone, and ignore everything their dog is doing. Owners also frequently have ZERO clue how to break up a dog fight, and make things ten times worse with their frantic screaming and vain beating over the head with the chuck-it stick. Good luck with that one. However, if you do choose to go to a dog park (and you might have wonderful experiences), please follow these rules: (These are ALL listed as #1 because they are ALL important) #1: If you want to take your dog to the dog park, please refrain from doing it EVERY SINGLE DAY. Your dog will think he/she owns the park, and will learn to be very territorial and pushy with the dogs there. #1: WALK YOUR DOG before going to the dog park. This way they play more nicely, respectfully, and arent frustrated and out of their minds when they get there. #1: DO NOT PET other dogs or your dog when they are being sniffed. This creates conflict of interest and can create fear responses, resulting in your dog being attacked. #1: If you want to throw the ball for your dog, do it OTHER than the dog park. The dog park is for your dog to play with other dogs. Why bring a ball and toys when other dogs might not play nicely with other dogs when toys are involved??? If other owners have toys out, be prepared to recall your dog and leave if there is an issue. #1: PICK YOUR PACK. Check out the park first. Look at dogs, how their dynamics are, if anyone is being a bully or being excessively harassed, and most importantly, look at owners. Are they paying attention? Are they overly fearful and cautious? Are they the people your want YOUR dog being around? If not, go somewhere else and come back another day. #1: DO NOT BRING YOUR UNNEUTERED MALE to a dog park! I dont care if your male is fantastic with other dogs, other males might not be fantastic with him. Your sweet unneutered boy will be a target, a victim, and will learn bad experiences, traumas, and learn that he can defend himself heavily if needed. Not a fun behavior to re-train. #1: I wish I didnt need to say this, but DO NOT bring a female in heat. I shouldnt need to explain further. #1: KEEP MOVING. Walking around in circles might seem funny, but I promise you, it keeps the pack moving and engaged. It keeps you focused on your dogs behavior, and negates and prevents fights. Trust me, Ive handled packs of 90 dogs at a time.....staying in one place can create problems. MANY issues can be calmly prevented by calling the pack in a happy cheerful voice as you walk away briskly. They forget the issue and come running over to see whats exciting and new. #1: This is similar to the one above: DONT let you or other dogs use you as backup. If dogs are playing right next to you, move away and keep walking. Fights can happen just because you are right there in the middle of it. #1: DO NOT LET YOUR DOG MOUNT OTHER DOGS, and DONT let dogs mount yours. If the other owner is going to let their dog mount yours, control it yourself. You do not want YOUR dog telling the other dog off and creating a fight. Mounting is not always about dominance, its usually about too much excitement, but its the quickest precursor to a fight. #1: PRAISE your dog in a calm (loud if youre at a distance) voice when he/she is sniffing the new dog that just arrived. It can keep situations calm and respectful. CORRECT the second your dog put his head OVER another dogs head, or if a dog does it to yours. Over the shoulder is play behavior (although its a precursor to mounting), lining up shoulder to shoulder is play behavior, but head over the others dog is over-dominance, and will start a fight one day. Dont allow it. #1: DO NOT BRING YOUR LUNCH AND WALK AROUND EATING A CHEESEBURGER AROUND A STRANGE PACK. I saw it happen today. One piece of that food drops, it starts a fight. Dogs crowd around you jumping at you for it, it starts a fight. Eat somewhere else. #1: If there are size groups and you bring your little dog into the big dog group, be prepared for injuries. Just because your little dog can play with the big guys, doesnt mean THEY can play well with yours. Your small dog can be body slammed, rolled, and injured, let alone seen as a little fluffy prey item. If you must, ask owners first if their dogs are used to being around small dogs. #1: DO NOT BRING YOUR SMALL CHILDREN TO THE DOG PARK! ESPECIALLY if they are not confident around big dogs. Once again, I saw it today. Six year old children nervous and fearful around big powerful breeds, screaming and cowering, making the big dogs excited and jumping on them. Its dangerous for your children, bad experiences for them, and just plain stupid. #1: DO NOT LEAVE HARNESSES, BUCKLE COLLARS, PRONG COLLARS, FACE HALTERS, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT ON YOUR DOG!!!! They can get caught in another dogs teeth and quickly start a fight, and worse case scenario, break another dogs jaw while the other dog gets strangled. Why let your dog park day end in trajedy??? Snap collars, quick release collars, stretchy collars, or naked is the way to go. #1: If a fight breaks out, DO NOT SCREAM YOUR HEAD OFF! It will only make matters worse. Stay quiet---it will help your body react quicker in the moment. DO NOT STICK YOUR HAND IN FRONT OF THE FACE IF YOU LIKE YOUR HAND. Stay quiet and as calm as possible, grab hind legs by the flanks, and try to enlist other CALM owners to help. Hitting the other dog will have zero effect. There are many ways to break up a fight--privately message me if you want more detail. If your dog was the victim, praise them like theres no tomorrow no matter how shaken up you are---let them know you are happy, and excited, and they are such a good dog, and act like you just got off the happy train to Disneyland. Your dog will INSTANTLY pick up on that happy energy and you can skirt trauma and bad memories. Trust me, I know how hard that is---but Ive healed my pack from dog attacks that way to keep them social--its our reaction to the attack that leaves our dogs traumatized. Be brave for your dog--dont cry and coddle them no matter how scared you are--it will seriously make the difference between a traumatized dog and a dog willing to trust again. There are PLENTY of better ways to socialize your dog. One-on-one play dates are much more relaxed and less overwhelming for your dog. Pack walks are the best ways to for dogs to bond with each other. The beach, forest, or river are better neutral areas, provided you have proper recall for dogs who dont want to be bothered or dogs on leash with fearful owners. If you walk into a dog park (without your dog first), see dogs playing respectfully without over-dominating or bullying each other, no packs teaming up on other dogs, owners paying attention, no small children, absence of toys (or dogs sharing well and you are confident your dog will have no issues), then that day might be a great day for your dog to have some fun. Otherwise, pick another day and go walk your dog with his friends instead. I dont normally get this direct and firm in my postings, but this is serious stuff. I can control 80 dogs at a time in a pack. I CANT control other people. Its not the pack that creates the problems, its the presence of PEOPLE that create the fights. Their bad choices, bad upbringing of their dog, lack of rules and proper socialization, and just plain poor common sense, can lead to teaching your dog nasty habits that are tough to break, and can quite possibly end in an expensive vet visit, a traumatized dog, and a traumatized owner. Play it safe.
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 01:53:05 +0000
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