- Never bring your dog in on a leash
- Never loose track of your dog
- Never hold just one of two excited dogs back
- Never give food to a dog without the owners permission
- Never assume that other people know what they are doing
- Never EVER being a dog that is agressive (or unsocialized)
- Never bring a dog who is not obedient to the dog park
1. Never bring your dog into the dog park on a leash. It’s safe to assume that a large percentage of “incidents” at a dog park are caused by people who’ve brought their dog all the way into the dog park on a leash. An owner who is nervous or fears for their dog will pull back on the leash and draw the dog into an upright position. Chest and head up, shoulders back, is a dominant and or aggressive position. This forces the other dog to iether bend to the leashed dog and be submissive, or prove its own dominance. If you fear for your dog pick it up and walk out of the park.
2. Never loose track of your dog at the dog park. First it’s irresponsible for you to leave your dogs droppings lying around the park. Second It’s not anybody elses responsibility to dog-sit your dog. And most importantly if your dog gets in a fight at the other end of the dog park you might not be able to get there until its too late.
3. Never hold just one dog back. If you feel that playing has gotten too excited, or that there could be problems between your dog and another, holding just one dog back is akin to holding your sons arms so that he cant hit while the school bully pummels him… If you cant hold the other dog back for some reason, pick up your dog and leave the park.
4. Never give another persons dog any type of food unless they say it’s ok. Dogs, like people, can have alergies. If a dog is alergic to an ingredient in the treat you just gave them it could do anything from making them itch to killing them. Dont do it.
5. Not everyone is an expert in regards to their dogs. Whether its because the neighbor/friend/child brought the dog to the park, or because they are new to the dog park, or any other reason. Dont assume that people will be responsible for you. Aways be alert and aware and ready to deal with any problems.
6. Bringing an aggressive or unsocialized dog to the park is a bad thing. If the dog is aggressive then leave it at home. period. always. If the dog is unsocialized that you dont KNOW if it’s aggressive. Try finding a playmate or two, or take him on a trip to the pet store to see how he behaves first.
7. If your dog doesnt obey off leash then work on obedience first. While this isnt absolutely necessary it is very important, and could even save your dogs life. If he wont come when called how can you prevent him from getting in the middle of a fight and injured? Unless you run faster than he does, you cant!