Dog Park Etiquette

Whether it is your first of many trips to the dog park or you are a dog park veteran, it is handy to know how these dog parks operate and what the etiquette is that may not always be listed on the gate!

Read on for our top 10 tips on dog park etiquette! 

1. Pick up after your pooch 

Although obvious, you would be surprised to know the number of people that overlook this one. As with any shared space, we pick up our rubbish, and our dog’s business and take them away with us. Most good dog parks supply both bags and a bin for this purpose, but it’s always a good idea to be prepared with some spare bags just in case. 

2. Avoid bringing food into the dog park
   As nice as your salami sandwich may be, leave it for after your visit. Although some dogs have table manners, other dogs will smell your picnic and may respond aggressively or be difficult for their owner to manage. 

3. Vaccinations
   Ensure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date and don’t bring puppies younger than 12 weeks. This is usually stated on the council sign outside the front gate as dog parks can be a hot spot for diseases and viruses. Pups who haven’t been fully immunised are at risk and are best kept away until their vaccinations are up to date.

4. Separate if required
   Separate small dogs and large dogs in their respective places, if available. When a dog park (and most do) has separate small and large dog areas, this is a really important rule to follow. A large Doberman could quite possibly mistake a Shitzu for a fun, fluffy toy to chase! Although a larger dog may not be a ‘vicious’ dog, it is natural that they can get quite excited amongst a pack of other dogs and potentially see a small dog as prey. 

5. Avoid being distracted
   Spending more time staring at your phone than supervising your pup is definitely poor dog park etiquette. As your dog is off the leash, it is important that she is supervised the entire time as personality clashes between dogs can sometimes go south fast!

6. Sharing is caring
   Avoid bringing toys or balls if your dog doesn’t share well. Knowing your dog well is important here, is she open to a friendly game of fetch with fellow dogs when she may not be the one who can get the ball every time? Or is this likely to cause safety issues for those around?

7. Pick your timing
   Female dogs on heat are a definite no in the dog park. Not knowing the other dogs at the park and who has been neutered, creates a potentially risky environment for female dogs on heat. Male dogs lose all sense and are unlikely to respond to commands and your female dog is likely to end up anxious from the situation, if not pregnant as well. 

8. To leash or not to leash?
   Keep your dog off the leash in off-leash areas. Although it may feel like a good idea to keep your dog close initially while you work out the dog park dynamics, having your dog on a leash can actually lead to your dog feeling more anxious and fearful as she is unable to get away from other dogs who are off-leash. This has been known to lead to fights that could perhaps have been prevented. Add to this that leashes can become intertwined around legs and other dogs causing trip hazards, it really is worth remembering to remove the leash as soon as you arrive. 

*A note about retractable leashes; definitely a recipe for injury! Between your dog essentially being ‘whip-lashed’ as the cord abruptly runs out as she is racing across the park, to other dogs running into the thin cord that sometimes isn’t very visible, they really are a terrible idea.  So keep a leash on hand for when you leave, but avoid using it during the visit.

9. No collar, no play!
   Ensure your dog has a collar on. When visiting a dog park although they are enclosed, there is absolutely a possibility of your dog escaping. Most dog parks have a double gate that helps to keep dogs within the enclosure, however, there is still the potential that your dog will squeeze out if they are quick enough. Ensuring they have a well-fitting collar with up-to-date identification tags will help keep them safe. 

10. Kid-free zone.
    Avoid bringing the family into the dog park if you have small toddlers or infants who are crawling or toddling about. There is an element of the unknown with other people’s dogs and whether they are kid-friendly. Definitely, a situation where it’s better to be safe than sorry. Fortunately, you can often find dog parks with a playground nearby, so bring the family along and enjoy some outside time together!

Is there something that happens at your regular dog park that should be on this list? Comment below, we’d love to know!