Happy Dog Parking - May 11

by Alyssa Willett

I know I’m not the only one who was excited about the warmer weather that’s starting to creep up. Dogs all over the city couldn’t be happier! Literally flopped over on to their backs “cockroach style” as soon as they hit the warm, green grass (and I think I saw a few people join in with them)! With the weather heating up, dog parks are becoming more popular and enticing. If you are new to the dog park scene, or are a seasoned veteran, there are a few things you need to keep in mind before you head out to the doggie playground.

Is your Dog Socialized?

First, is your dog socialized? Has he/she ever been around any other dogs (other than ones they may be living with)? There is a misconception that dogs automatically get along and become friends. While it’s true that dogs can be very flexible, if they are uncomfortable (or are not socialized enough to know the difference between a friendly approach and an aggressive approach) you may have some difficulties.

Dogs learn the proper play skills when they are puppies. If you’ve had your dog since he/she was a puppy and you were active in finding playmates and playgroups for your pooch your dog will probably know a thing or two about appropriate interaction. But that doesn’t mean he/she will get along with every dog. I had a puppy one time that met every type of dog imaginable, and loved other dogs, but she had no clue when dogs were giving her clues that they wanted to be left alone. It wasn’t until they snapped that she got her feelings hurt and learned a lesson. If you’re not sure about your dog, seek help from a professional trainer. And if you aren’t sure about how to read your dog’s behavior a professional trainer can help you with this too! A lot of behaviors dogs show that look scary are actually very appropriate!

Pay Attention To Your Dog!

If you are thinking you can do some work and let your dog romp and run in the dog park at the same time, think, think again. You have to be conscious in what is happening with your dog at the dog park. Think about it as if your dog is your child (which most people do feel this way); would you just let your child run around a play ground without watching them? Of course not! Too many things can happen! They can get hurt, run off, or get in a fight with another kid; same thing with dogs!

Your dog can be the most well socialized happy pup around but that doesn’t mean the dogs around him are the same way. There are so many different canine personality types at a dog park and you have to be aware of what’s going on in order to keep the atmosphere safe and fun.

Size Does Matter

Do you have a small dog that gets along with everyone? That has never had any issues with any dog, big or small? That is great news! But- that doesn’t mean you should take them to the big dog park. Some dogs have a very strong prey drive. One minute everything will be fine and everyone is having a good time. The next, your little dog is running for its life in what started out as a ‘follow the leader’ game and has now turned in to a ‘catch the little guy!’ game. Dogs can’t help themselves; its instinct. Some dog parks have a small park especially put together for your smaller breed dogs. It’s going to be safer for your little one to go to a small park with dogs its own size than risk getting into a dangerous situation with a group of bigger dogs at the big dog park.

Bathroom Etiquette

Nothing is more infuriating than watching a dog relieve themselves, seeing the owner looking at their dog as it’s reliving itself, and then not picking up after their dog. At one point or another someone (and with your luck that someone is you) is going to step in the mess that an irresponsible dog owner left. Would you walk in to a public restroom, relieve yourself, and then not flush? I certainly hope not; so why would you let your dog do that? Have the common courtesy to pick up after your dog. If you are among the few people that get ‘embarrassed’, don’t. It’s going to be a lot more embarrassing for you when a dog park patron yells at you from across the park to clean up after your dog.

Not a Place for Mating

Lastly, it’s time to touch base on a very touchy topic; unaltered animals. If you have an unaltered male it does not mean they are mean, or aggressive, or bad dogs. What it does mean though, is that they have a lot more testosterone running through their system and they are more likely to get over stimulated and pushy than a neutered male. This causes problems at dog parks, especially if there are more than a couple of dogs running around. Most parks have rules that you cannot have an unaltered animal at their park. It’s a safety precaution. Please do not put your dog and others at risk and if you have to go to a dog park go during an ‘off time’ when not many people are there. There is absolutely no reason a female dog in heat should EVER be in a dog park. Even if all of the male dogs at the park are neutered they can still get extremely riled up, and your female can get ganged up on and fights can break out.

There are plenty of other do’s and don’ts when it comes to dog parks and feel free to research about it. You’ll find some sites that fully support dog parks and can give you great tips and you will find other sites that don’t agree with dog parks and can give you information on why. Regardless of which route you take, to go to the park or not to go to the park, be smart about it. A dog park isn’t an option for all dogs. You know your dog better than anyone else, be honest with yourself; is your dog a dog park candidate? If the answer is ‘yes’ then ask around; go to different parks and find which one suits you best. Happy Dog Park-ing!

Alyssa Willett is the Adoptions Supervisor at Wayside Waifs.  Wayside Waifs is the largest pet adoption center in Kansas City, and is committed to finding homes for all adoptable pets. It places over 5,000 animals each year in loving forever homes. She can be reached at 816.761.8151 or by visiting www.waysidewaifs.org.