Five Dog Park Ettiquette Tips

You finally took the plunge and adopted a puppy! Now is the time to consider all the needs that may come up some time in the near future, such as what kinds of food to buy, how will I train my dog, what facility will I choose for dog boarding, and what activities do I want to get my dog involved in to ensure his or her happiness? I can’t answer all of these questions, but I will give you five tips about going to the place that dogs love most: the dog park.

Tip #1: Walk your dog around the park or down the sidewalk for a little bit before going into the dog park. While a trip to the dog park is always exciting for your dog, you don’t want your dog going into the park at peak excitement. This can lead to dangerous behavior toward other dogs and humans just from your dog being too energetic upon entering.

Tip #2: Be aware of the gates. Some dog parks have a series of gates to enter and exit through, while others just have one gate or no gate at all. You always want to know where the gates are and how many there are in case your dog tries to escape. You also want to make sure to open and close the gates securely so that no one else’s dog unwittingly gets out. If the dog park has no gate, then you will be taking a risk of letting your dog off the leash.

Tip #3: Unleash your dog once you’re inside the designated area. Many dog owners don’t realize that their dogs become a target if they are the only dog on a leash at the park. Since everyone is trying to minimize any risky dog behavior, make your dog fit in as soon as possible by letting him or her off the leash.

Tip #4: Follow all the park’s rules about dogs AND children. Pay attention to how many dogs you are allowed to bring and what ages of children are allowed. You don’t want to be overwhelmed by bringing too many dogs to the park. Plus, very young children are at-risk of injury if left even for a minute unsupervised.

Tip #5: Let dogs socialize and teach each other. Sometimes, however, this socialization make take a downward turn and the dogs start fighting. A harmless scuffle can do a lot to teach your dog some behavior rules. Dogs certainly need to learn from other dogs the rules of the playground so to speak, so let them be free to fight mildly.

Whether you’re new to owning a dog or a seasoned veteran, if you’re in need to a reputable place to send your dog for behavior training or dog boarding, please check out the website www.citizencanine.net. They offer Puppy Prep School and a longer Bow Wow Bootcamp with experienced trainers. In addition, they also offer doggie day care, adventure hikes, and overnight pet boarding. Their facility is rated 5-star and they were voted “Best of the Bay Area” by San Francisco Magazine for kennels.