Do’s and Don’ts at the Dog Park
with Dr. Ashley Peters
Do: know basic obedience
It's important that your dog has basic obedience training when going to the dog park. Your dog will be off leash and interacting with other dogs and people. If a scuffle arises, you should be able to call your dog back and have them respond to you.
Most of the time dog parks are enclosed, but when a new person is entering the dog park, you don't want to risk your dog slipping out. Work on commands such as come, sit, and stay. You may even want to work on a recall command (in case of an emergency).
Do: wait until your dog is old enough
Young dogs are still growing and maturing with not only their bone structure, but also their immune system. Larger dogs can potentially injure your dog, whether from playing too roughly, jumping on/stepping on, or even having a negative reaction to your younger dog. Young dogs are also more susceptible to illnesses they can pick up from other dogs (viruses, gastrointestinal parasites, etc). Depending on your dog’s age, if they have not been spayed or neutered yet, they can attract unwanted attention or even pose the risk of an unwanted pregnancy. You definitely want to wait until your dog is up to date on their vaccines (at least 4-5 months old) before taking them to a dog park.
Do: keep your dog up to date with vaccinations and preventatives
If your dog is going to the dog park, they should be up to date on all of their core vaccines and a few lifestyle vaccines we deem important in the Chicago area (Rabies, Distemper/Parvo, Bordetella, Leptospirosis and Canine Influenza).
Your dog should be on routine heartworm prevention as well as flea/tick/parasitic prevention. We are commonly using either the all in one monthly Simparica Trio chewable or a combination of an annual Proheart injection for heartworms and quarterly Bravecto chews for fleas and ticks. Talk with your doctor about what the best prevention for your pet is!
We also recommend checking regular fecal samples (at least 1-2 times a year) to make sure your dog hasn't picked up a gastrointestinal parasite.
Make sure your dog's identification is up to date, especially in case they get away from you. Make sure they are microchipped with the information registered to you, and that any dog ID tags on their collar have your most up to date information.
Do: a test run
It's not a bad idea to bring your dog to the park during a not so busy time of day to practice and see how things go.
Practice entering the park so you can see the types of gates in place (to prevent your dog from escaping).
Let your dog walk and smell the different areas. If the park is empty or mostly empty, you can practice letting your dog off leash, and then calling them back to you to make sure they'll respond to you.
We do not recommend going off leash in parks that are not securely enclosed or designated for off-leash activity. Please remember even if your own dog is polite and responsive, they may encounter a situation where a leash could have prevented it.
Do: be respectful of other dog’s sizes
You can expect dogs of all breeds and sizes to go to the dog park. If you have a very small or young dog, you’ll want to be careful taking them into the dog park where a large dog could potentially step on or injure them. You may want to try to go to a place that only allows smaller dogs inside. If your dog is large or overbearing, be aware of small dogs at the park and monitor your dog closely. Even with the best intentions accidents can happen! Check out Logan Square Dog Park or Wiggly Field Dog Park for small dog enclosures!
Don’t: rush the intro
It's important to make sure your dog is properly socialized with other dogs prior to going to a dog park. Your dog should be comfortable meeting and interacting with other dogs in a controlled environment before letting them off leash.
If your dog shows any signs of aggression (dog aggression or aggression to people, for example) they shouldn't be going to a dog park and we recommend working with a behavior specialist.
Before entering the dog park, take a good look around and observe what's happening. If the dog park appears overcrowded or has an unruly dog present, you may want to avoid going in that day.
When first going to a dog park, make sure to have gradual introductions to new friends. You want to make sure both dogs seem comfortable with each other to prevent an unwanted incident or injury.
Monitor your dog closely while at the dog park. If you see signs of your dog bullying another dog, trying to mount another dog, etc. you should intervene and try to regain control over your dog before the situation escalates.
As dog owner's, it’s important to recognize dog behaviors and body language before going to the dog park. A wagging tail doesn’t always indicate joy and raised hairs along the shoulder blades are a sign of high alert. It's important to interpret how your dog is acting around other dogs and also how other dogs are acting towards your dog accurately. Interpreting these behaviors can help you intervene before a problem or scuffle happens.
Don’t: forget about the weather
Avoid hot and humid days or very cold days.
Brachycephalic breeds (ex: pugs, bulldogs) are very susceptible to heat stroke.
Use appropriate gear such as booties or jackets for cold weather, they even make life jackets if they’re going in the lake!
Make sure to offer your dog water regularly but especially on hot days.
Don’t: leave a mess
Make sure to bring plenty of poop bags to clean up after your dog. Dog feces can attract unwanted rodents and spread disease, and can be a source of infectious disease spread between dogs.
Don’t assume the park will have these readily available!
Don’t: overstay your welcome
Don’t keep your dog at the dog park for extended periods of time. If you have an older dog, let them go have their fun, but don't stay to the point they are getting overly tired. Dogs can get sore and tired just like we can. If your dog appears tired, bored, or is exhibiting unwanted behaviors (playing too roughly, aggressively, etc.) then it's time to leave the dog park.
We hope you found these tips useful and that they help you keep your pet happy and healthy! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask us. As always, we’re here for you and your pets.
Sincerely,
The BLVD Team