It’s a beautiful sunny day. What
better way to spend it than at the dog park with your four-legged best friend.
Before you head out to enjoy the afternoon, there are several things you need
to consider to ensure you and your pet have a safe and enjoyable time.
One of your first considerations is
how well your dog has been socialized. It’s important that your dog has
experienced all different types of situations before you take him to a dog
park. It is best that socialization starts when your pet is a puppy. Make sure
your dog has experiences with men, women, and children as well as other dogs.
- If you’re unsure how your dog will react with others, have him play with one or two dogs first before exposing him to a dog park full of dogs. Keep in mind that dogs react differently on a leash and off. If you discover that your dog does not play well with others, it is best not to make the dog park part of his experience.
- The dog park is also not the best place for a puppy. The larger dogs can overwhelm a puppy and unintentionally hurt the smaller dog.
- If you have more than one dog, it is best not to bring more dogs to the dog park than you can handle. Even if your dogs are well behaved, you never know when you may need to react quickly to remove your pooch from a bad situation with another dog. If you have too many dogs with you, it is impossible to keep a close eye on all of them and be close enough to handle any problems.
Like any outing, it is important to
leave the house prepared. When going to the dog park, you’ll need to bring with
you water, bags and a leash.
- Your dog will get quite thirsty playing and running with the others. You want to make sure he has plenty of water to rehydrate himself.
- The excitement of play can cause your pooch to take a bathroom break. It is typically in the dog park’s rules that you clean up after your dog. It is also good dog owner behavior. Some dog parks will provide bags, but it is best to take your own supply just in case.
Safety is always a consideration for
your pet.
- Make sure your dog is up-to-date on all vaccinations before going. While most dogs you encounter will have had their shots, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
- Dogs have been known to get tangled up in each other’s collars. It is important that your dog wears a quick-release collar to the park incase this happens. That way you can quickly release your pet and the other dog to keep them both from choking.
- Being on a leash can cause a dog to become more protective of its owner and territorial. You’ll want to take your dog’s leash off once at the park. This will keep things on a friendlier track.
The final things to consider are
children, food and toys. If you plan on bringing your children with you, it is
important that they are comfortable around dogs. Small children can become
overwhelmed with the attention of even friendly dogs. Also, if your dog is
overly protective of your children, it might not be a good idea to bring the
kids to the park. Toys and food can make your dog territorial. It is best to
leave both at home.
It’s always a joy to see your dog
running and playing and having fun. Just make sure you go prepared and keep a
close eye on your pooch by calling him over from time to time or calling out
praise if he is being a good boy. That way both of you are sure to have a
wonderful day.
CBW-SA
