Dog parks can be safe, but so can bungee jumping. What’s important for both is following the safety rules. You don’t run onto the bridge, grab the harness, and jump! And you don’t drive to the dog park, grab your dog, and enter! First, you learn the rules, then you follow the rules.
If you do follow the rules, you can have a great jump off that bridge and survive without incident, just as you can have a great visit to the dog park and survive without injury . . . to you or your dog.
What are the rules?
- Before you visit, socialize your dog well with other dogs and with people.
- No puppies, please, and probably no elderly or infirm dogs.
- Learn to read dog body language and to act on what you see.
- Train and consistently reward an immediate fast recall.
- Know the dog park you will visit. Observe it first without your dog.
What is socialization?
Guide dog organizations adhere to this plan for puppies in homes with “puppy raiser” families: make sure the pup has one new positive experience every day. These experiences include meeting humans:
- of all kinds, from babies to senior citizens, in uniform, on crutches, sitting down, standing up, laughing, wiggling, running, jumping . . .
- in all kinds of places, from quiet rooms to boisterous gatherings, indoors, outdoors, upstairs, downstairs . . .
- in all kinds of weather, at all times of day, at home and away.
Each and every positive experience for an otherwise innocent puppy adds to his résumé of things that were safe. No matter what may happen later in his life, one unforeseen unpleasant experience will be so far outweighed by all his positive experiences that the pup is much less likely to be affected adversely if something bad happens to him.
Simply put, the more safe and enjoyable experiences the pup has in unfamiliar situations, the more likely it is that a bad experience will not erase his confident outlook on life.
One excellent place for an inexperienced dog (and owner!) to gain confidence through positive and rewarding life experiences is in a well-run and well-taught class. Puppy class is a must for the very young, but even an adult dog that is new to you can benefit immensely from a beginning pet dog class that is geared toward teaching owners how to understand dog body language and dog behavior. Take advantage of the support and education that good dog classes offer both you and your dog!
Classes provide wonderful opportunities for socializing your puppy or adult dog with expert help—that is, of course, if you choose a class with an expert in charge! Unfortunately, not all classes are run by experts. I was recently told about a tiny dog, Yorkie-sized, whose owner hoped for help with changing the dog’s mind about other dogs. (The dog behaved aggressively when approached and could not be allowed to play even with dogs of her own size because of her unfortunate behavior.) Instead of putting the tiny dog in a situation where she could gain confidence, the folks who ran this particular “training organization” assigned Miss Yorkie to an “aggressive” dog class comprised of her tiny self and half a dozen gigantic barking, lunging, screaming big dogs who were completely out of control.
What did the tiny dog learn? She learned excellent responses to basic commands because her owner worked with her at home. What else did the tiny dog learn? She learned that, yes, she was absolutely right, all those other dogs were trying to get at her . . . because, in fact, they were! In her perception, that was enough to convince her that no other dogs were safe. Her “aggressive” behavior—which was actually fearful behavior—got much, much worse as a result.
What that little dog and her owner experienced in that ill-conceived class was neither socialization nor behavior modification. Instead, it was very close to abuse by ignorance. Go to watch classes without your dog before you sign up for anything. Act on your gut feelings. If it looks wrong, don’t go there!
What is dog body language?
Learning about dog behavior and dog body language should be at the top of the list of what every good dog training class offers its students, whether their canine companion is a puppy or an adult dog. In addition to what owners learn in good classes, there is much excellent information available online. Once you understand the basics, you can sit at your computer to watch videos of dogs interacting and practice interpreting what you’re seeing. Your instructors will no doubt recommend books and DVDs to continue your education so that, when you are finally ready to observe dogs at a dog park, live and in person (without your dog!), you will have a good idea of what you are seeing.
What about that “recall”?
What else should you and your dog learn before your first dog park visit? I say: a good, fast, reliable recall. That means, whenever and wherever, your dog will come now when you call him. He will screech to a halt in front of you, allowing you to reach down, take hold of his collar, and attach his leash.
How long does it take to train a fast, reliable recall? Go to a competition dog show and see how many of the dogs entered accomplish the task! Not all of them, that’s for sure—and they’ve been in training for competition. If you begin on the day you bring your pup or dog home and practice multiple times every day (for meals, for treats, for play, to go outside . . . the list is endless), you may have a reliable recall in a few months. Then your job is to reinforce that reliable recall positively every single time the dog accomplishes it, which should allow you to maintain the speed and fervor with which your dog responds.
Why do you need a reliable recall in a dog park? For the same reason you teach your children to return to you immediately when you call them. It’s a matter of safety, a matter of survival. In a dog park situation—or really in any situation in which your dog is off leash and there are enticing distractions—the dog must listen to you. He must value your rewards more highly than any rewards he might be getting from the distractions . . . and that includes other dogs. If you cannot get a reliable response from your dog when you are calling him away from other dogs, you and your dog are not ready to visit a dog park.
What else should happen before my dog’s first visit to a dog park?
Once you’ve met all the safety requirements and you’re absolutely sure you and your dog are ready to visit your first dog park . . . don’t. Don’t take the dog, that is. Go by yourself, or go with a friend whose dog is a regular attendee there. Go often, not just once. Observe the dog park at various times of day. Figure out what days and times the park is least crowded. If you see a particularly rowdy dog or dogs that normally show up at a particular time, make a mental note not to show up at that time yourself. Why ask for trouble? If you get to know or recognize the dog-park regulars who play appropriately and seem well socialized and well trained, figure out when they attend and consider joining them. Pick the best possible scenario for your own dog’s success with his first visit!
When you do go with your dog, don’t plan to stay very long. Don’t even enter the actual fenced dog park area unless you are very sure no bad experiences might be lurking on the other side (like that dog bully or unobservant owner you’ve decided to avoid). Keep your dog on leash for that visit and perhaps many visits to come, if it seems best to you. Always leave before your dog wants to go! Keep the visits short and sweet to build up your dog’s “good experiences” résumé. Go often, stay a short time, see how it works out. If you have done your homework, you will know if your dog is enjoying the visit or if he’s uncomfortable, uncertain, or unhappy there. If it’s not working well for your dog, leave! Find another dog park that suits you better. Oh, and get advice from your class instructors if you encounter reactions from your dog that you simply don’t understand.
Dog parks are not for all dogs, and there’s nothing “wrong” with dogs for whom they just don’t work! Educate yourself and educate your dog. Don’t take chances or assume that everything will work out well just because you really want it to. Be honest with yourself and with your dog. Dog parks can be great if dogs are safe there, but if you feel your dog is not safe, find a different dog park or arrange with friends or neighbors for your dog and their dogs to play together elsewhere. Your dog will benefit from having good doggy friends, wherever they meet.
