Dogs are pack animals and accordingly, enjoy running and playing with other dogs. If they are available in your area, dog parks are a great place where your dog can run off leash and socialize with other dogs. Fenced in dog parks where your dog can be let loose to run and play are an excellent resource for city dwellers. Not only do they please your furry friend, but you can feel good knowing your dog is getting their social needs met.
Even though dogs are allowed to be off leash, your responsibility as your dog's master and teacher must remain intact. The dog park environment seems relaxed and in the dog's favor, but you still have the potential to maintain teaching your dog to be obedient. They must still, obviously, be supervised. Many dog park guests simply sit on the bench and wait for their dog to wear themselves out so they can leave.
In such an atmosphere, there is the potential for your dog to cause problems that you might not notice if you allow yourself to disconnect from your animal while they are at play. To prevent potential problems and to remind your dog you are master and they are still to obey you, take the time to do the following steps the next time you are out at the dog park.
1.Practice leashing your dog and removing him from the fenced area a few times . Go over a few basic commands he is used to, such as sit or stay, and reward him before returning him to playing. This technique will remind them that obeying you is still important, even when he is having tons of fun or is distracted.
2.When dogs are loose and at play, dominance aggression is sometimes an inevitable event. This social canine aggression can lead to dangerous power plays in which your dog, or someone else's dog, could get injured. You can minimize the potential for aggression cropping up by reminding your dog and nearby dominant dogs that you are in control of him. Do this by calling to your animal by name while they are at play, having him come to you and petting him before allowing him to return to the other dogs.
3.Be careful to keep a close watch on your dog and to dissolve or remove him from bad situations with negative behavior. Red flags include tense or aggressive body language, mounting, intense staring, snarling or nipping. Dominant dogs have a tendency to single out submissive ones while in a pack, as is the case in dog parks, . If your dog lies on their back, tucks in their tail or begins to urinate, remove him immediately, as this is a sign of being overwhelmed by stress and fear.
Making sure your animal is still listening and obedient, even while excited and at play, will ensure their safety and fun while out.
Good trips to the dog park can be a great experience for you and your dog. Remember a tired dog is a happy dog and playing at the park can give and your dog the much needed exercise and social interaction he needs.
The current trend is city and home communities responding to area dog owner demand by setting aside a small plot of their least desirable piece of land and designating it as the area dog park. Unfortunately these unmanaged and unregulated dog parks often turn to that of neighbor confrontation, injury and horror, even with the best of intending groups and dog owners. Let’s face it, without any oversight or enforcement, incidents are going to occur. So with this increasing number of these dog parks follow the increasing number of serious incidents being reported. The well intending community becomes the venue for headlines such as "Dog Killed" or "Child Mauled by Aggressive Dogs". The only safe alternative is that of a well run, private dog park where it is run as a viable business. A properly designed and managed private dog park is an entirely different experience than public parks because it will include dog screening, grounds maintenance, park rules enforcement and more suitable land parcels.
The benefits to a dog at an off-leash dog park or any open area of land are immense. Unleashed running elevates heart rate, increases metabolism, improves gastrointestinal efficiency, and extends muscles and joints, all of which contributes to general overall fitness. It is known that maintaining such a healthy lifestyle for your loved dog will increase longevity and reduce risk of all associated conditions and diseases that obesity can cause. The experience for a dog in open field run is like no leashed exercise. Benefits of off-leash play beyond fitness include socialization, that is, if experienced without incident. Well exercised and well socialized dogs make better community members as they are much less likely to contribute to neighborhood nuisances like chronic barking or aggression to other dogs.
If public parks could operate as the run private dog parks do, these benefits would be available to all community dogs near any type of dog park. Unfortunately, these community or city dog parks cannot staff, screen or have the resources to manage park operations. Thus, incidents will occur, often causing loss of dog's developed social skills and development of behavioral issues. Incidents like a dog being intimidated, bullied or even attacked by another dog will occur in parks not privately run. Such negative experiences can cause dog aggression, fear aggression or cause physical injury or death. Physical or emotional recovery of a dog from a traumatic incident requires a positive and secure environment that only a well managed private dog park can provide. The good experiences enjoyed in a well-managed private dog park is the primary reason that many loved dog owners everywhere chose private over potential chaos at a public dog park.
Even with the best of run private dog parks, the dog owners retain a high level of responsibility upon park entrance and must be willing to withstand the occasional park staff directive. They must carefully watch their dog, abide by all park rules, maintain the obedience skills of the dog and know their dog well enough to predict their dog’s behavior. Each dog owner should understand their dog’s postures, expressions and movement to be able to differentiate in off-leash situations when they are comfortable and when they are not and to identify or correct any potential troublesome behaviors. This too is critical to the enjoyment of the park by all.
While private dog parks are gaining popularity because they may be the only choice for safe and enjoyable off-leash fun, still do homework because none of the dog parks are regulated by any government agency. A good rule of thumb for any place intended to visit with a dog, learn your dog's body language and level of social skills, have good control and be comfortable with the facility layout and staff to lessen the chances of any possible incident with your dog.
Both Patricia Ellison & Terri Malueg-ray are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Patricia Ellison has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pets, Golf Guide and Pets. Patricia Ellison is an experienced Chihuahua Breeder and dog lover, her kennel is located in Chiloquin, Oregon. Patricia provides vital dog care and training information to dog lovers worldwide at. Patricia Ellison's top article generates over 880 views. to your Favourites.
Terri Malueg-ray has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pets. Terri Malueg-Ray, President & Founder of Royal Paws Dog Park & Dog Day Care, LLC, Alpharetta GA., Pet Tasties & Found. Terri Malueg-ray's top article generates over 880 views. to your Favourites.