Pets
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Tips for first trip to dog park
in Pets
Now that my puppy is fully vaccinated, I'm eager to take her to the dog park--we live in an apartment and don't have a yard, and I know she'll love being able to run off leash. But I'm also a little nervous--she's super friendly with both people and other dogs, but hasn't really had the chance to play with other dogs off-leash.
Our dog park has an area for small dogs (she's a JRT and about 12 pounds), but on the weekends there can be 10 or 15 dogs just in the small dog area--is that likely to be totally overwhelming for her? Should I try to take her during the week when there will be fewer dogs instead? Are there any signs I should look out for as far as her interaction with other dogs?
Thanks!
Re: Tips for first trip to dog park
Definitely go during an off-peak time.
It's hard to tell you what to look for. It's kind of a know-your-dog thing. I can tell when my dog is having fun and when he's overwhelmed.
Personally, I don't bring toys or food to the dog park. Usually, most dog parks don't allow them (but there aren't any "officials" there to enforce it, members police each other), because it can cause guarding issues but others on the board have stated these items are okay at their local parks.
Bring water and a portable bowl if your park doesn't have a doggie water fountain.
And bring bags to pick up after her if she poops at the park.
I have a JRT puppy as well and we LOVE the dog park!
The first time that I brought her, I kept her on her leash for the first 5-10 minutes and let the other dogs sniff at her. Once I saw that she was going to be friendly and not try to boss anybody around I let her "FREEEEEEE" ( I swear you could hear her screaming just like that as she was dashing about). I do tend to trail her around since she's the type to jump into any arguement just for the heck of it. I found that all the other dog people there are really aware of whats going on and friendly and if their dog is creating a problem they just leave.
She tends to stick to playing with dogs/puppies of her own size, and doesn't really bother the bigger guys.
It might be a good idea to go during the middle of the week for the first fews goes if you can, so you get an idea of how your dog will react and how well she'll come back to you if need be.
Dog parks are a BLAST! :-)
That's actually NOT recommended. Leashes inhibit normal dog body language and cause stress for the leashed dog as unleashed dogs approach him/her.
Ditto. In fact, if the park has multiple entrances, I always make a point to go through the least busy one, so I can get my dogs unleashed before they get bombarded by other dogs.
"The hardest thing is to live richly in the present without letting it be tainted out of fear for the future or regret for the past." - Sylvia Plath
If you haven't already done so, you might find it very, very interesting to read a little bit about canine body language, especially calming signals, before you go. Once you know what to look for, it's fun to watch the dogs "talk" to each other with their bodies, and it will make you better able to spot trouble before it happens.
Otherwise, I'd suggest going at an off-peak time and starting in a quieter area of the park. Scope out the park after you get there and avoid any situations where owners are not paying attention (on their phones, reading, etc.) or any other situations that look like trouble.
I've always had good experiences at the dog park, but taking it slow and supervising well are very important.
Good luck!
"The hardest thing is to live richly in the present without letting it be tainted out of fear for the future or regret for the past." - Sylvia Plath