Dog Park Etiquette 101

Dog parks, like any public parks, are fantastic places to enjoy the outdoors with the added benefit of being able to take man’s best friend along for the fun. It’s important to remember, however, that just like any public setting you need to keep the other attendants in mind with not only your actions but your dog’s as well.

One of the first and foremost items to keep in mind when attending a dog park is your dog’s waste. The majority of dog parks go to great lengths installing dog waste receptacles and dog waste bag dispensers throughout the park to give you an opportunity to clean up after your pet. While it’s very easy to let nature take its course keep in mind the patrons that may be following right behind you and discover your dog’s waste shortly after; definitely not shoes you want to be in.

Behavior is another major aspect to judging whether your dog is dog-park-ready or not. No dog under 4 months of age should be brought to a dog park (think of the equivalent of bringing a toddler to a public playground with much older children). If your dog is old enough to attend then make sure to take some precautions throughout the trip such as never letting your dog of his leash in an open area.

While we like to imagine the best side of our pets it must be remembered that dogs are, at heart, animals. No matter how domesticated they are you can never judge a dog’s behavior ahead of time. The other park-goers safety needs to be kept in mind. An active dog is typically a happy dog. Any fun activities you can provide your dog will increase the fun of the day. Parks that have dog park equipment present serve as a great option for keeping dogs occupied, but spurs of erratic behavior are always possible.

Bringing park equipment in mind, a park that offers a plethora of dog exercise equipment is a fantastic find. Park equipment helps serve as activities to keep your dog entertained, happy and out of mischief. Similar etiquette exists around the equipment just the same as the open areas of the park, though. If there are multiple dogs playing around a piece of equipment it’s probably best to lead your dog over to a less occupied one. Always keep your dog’s social skills in mind when judging where to take them. A dog that doesn’t necessarily play well with others may lead to regrets taking him into a group of other dogs. No one knows your dog better than you and for that reason the responsibility of keeping your dog out of less-admirable activities falls on your shoulders.

Taking advantage of pet waste receptacles and leashing a dog that wants to play may seem tedious and annoying but dog parks are intended to be fun for everyone. Because of that we all need to do our own individual part to make sure that every park we attend stays pristine for repeated visits.