take my dog to a dog park

Yeah, the people at dog park often suck-hard-but it is necessary if your dog doesn’t socialize any other way for your dog to interact with dogs at a dog park. Under no circumstances should you ever disobey the rules of your respective dog park, which usually include (and if these rules aren’t included, follow these anyway)

Under no circumstances should you ever, ever, ever EVER take a dog younger than four months-that’s sixteen weeks, people-to a dog park. Do not use the excuse that “My dog has been around big dogs and knows how to handle himself.” Because you know what? Your dog doesn’t know my dog, and I’m not about to be chastised for my dog wanting to play rough with a puppy when your puppy shouldn’t be there in the first place. Would you put your four year old in a high school cafeteria and expect it to socialize appropriately?

It is unfair to take a sick dog to a dog park. And sick doesn’t necessarily mean coughing, vomiting, sleeping all day-this could mean mange, worms, and other harmless afflictions. Just because it’s harmless doesn’t mean I want my dog to have it.

DO NOT EXPECT YOUR DOG TO BEHAVE LIKE A HUMAN. You know why? Your dog is NOT, in fact, a human. It’s a dog, and you should respect that and enjoy it. Dogs bark at each other to communicate, they have body language that might display something opposite of what we might logically assume (I suggest reading about canine body language!) and they might not get along. Just like you wouldn’t expect all the people in the dog park to go to a dinner party and get along, no questions asked, you should not expect every dog to get along with every dog in the park.

Don’t handle other people’s dogs. I make the exception of a pat on the head or letting him lick your hand—but other dog owners do not. Never give a dog that is not your own treats, and most importantly, do not discipline a dog that is not your own. It is rude, unfair to the dog, disrespectful to the owner, and makes you look like a jackass. if a dog has done something that you feel warrants discipline that he or she is not receiving, talk to the owner.

HAVE A GREAT TIME! It is so much fun, and be so relaxing for you and your dog. Your dog with worship you if you provide it with appropriate exercise, socialization and independent playtime that are accessible at a dog park.

And loves the dog park. The one by my house is more of an off-leash hiking trail for dogs than the typical fenced-in area dog parks i’ve seen around. There is a stream and a small pondish thing she loves to swim in.

Folks regularly take sick, aggressive or just plain rude dogs to dog parks, and many of those people are clueless that they’re doing anything wrong.

I’ve taken my boy to the dog park a few times, but won’t do it any more after a few bad experiences with bullying and/or aggressive and/or unsupervised dogs. I’ve learned that it’s safer to exercise him on his own, or with a small group of dogs that I know well. It’s just not worth the risk to turn him loose with strange dogs with unknown temperaments, whose owners may be irresponsible dropkicks.

I would especially NEVER take a puppy to a dog park. One bad experience can ruin a young pup’s temperament for life.