These dogs are enjoying a break together
Dog parks can be a great place for your dogs. Both our dogs grew up going to dog parks and meeting new dogs almost every day for the first couple years of their lives. I am so glad we made the effort to drive there so often – clearly this early experience has helped both dogs learn to accept other dogs.
Young dogs love playing at the dog park
And… what a fun place for you to join with other dog lovers, and laugh out loud at young dogs being clowns and carrying on together!
That having been said, after growing out of puppyhood, your dog might not enjoy the chaotic environment as much. You might find they would rather walk the perimeter than stand around with young dogs wresting and sprinting around. That’s o.k. too. But there’s only one way to find out if they like it…
Check out the closest dog park (or, shall I say, the nicest one within driving distance!). See if your dog likes it. If she’s not sure, maybe spend some time teaching her – start on the outskirts and gradually work your way in over the course of several visits. If it’s just not her thing, don’t lose sleep over it. A lot of people skip busy dog parks, and seek other quieter parks.
If you DO have a young dog, or an older socialite canine who loves dog parks, remember these concepts:
- a good recall will come in real handy. A dog park may well be your “college level recall”, so make sure to build up to this level.
- bring water and poopie bags. I like to wear a little sports pack with these things inside.
- dealing with dogs:
- a wide open area is the best place for dogs to meet – we see a big difference between meeting a new dog on a trail vs. in a field – always easier in the field. (p.s. in case this isn’t obvious, off-lead meetings are usually easier than on-lead too.)
- a great benefit of being amidst a bunch of dogs is they learn social skills from each other. Don’t be a Nervous Nelly… let them explore their own relationships. However, there will be occasional dogs with terrible social skills and you should step in to rescue your dog when she needs help.
- dealing with people:
- always remember these people love dogs too. Some of them will have different ideas about proper etiquette, and all of them will tend to feel their dogs are innocent 😉
- I suggest having a statement ready if you need to break something up and exit stage left, like “it was nice meeting you; we’re going to take a break for a little while”. Doesn’t really matter what you say – the point is to have a quick exit strategy instead of getting stuck talking to a person when your dog needs help. If your experience is like ours, 9 times out of 10 will be a breeze – sheer uninterrupted fun – I am just trying to prepare you for the occasional hiccup.
One last word of advice… you might want to bring your camera 🙂
