Why Do We Not Recommend Dog Parks?

For most dog trainers, we discourage the use of dog parks due to several factors. Most dog parks don't require any vaccinations, so dogs can pick up all kinds of diseases, such as Kennel Cough or Parvo. There also isn't anyone there to regulate any rules or monitor behavior, so it is up to the owners. Unfortunately, most of the time, owners are too busy on their phones, reading a book, or talking with other owners, and are not paying attention to their dogs. Owners can also misread a dog's body language or not realize what is considered appropriate behavior in the dog world. Or in some cases, owners don't know how to socialize dogs and feel the best way to socialize dogs is to bring them to dog parks, not realizing their dog is aggressive towards other dogs. All in all, dog parks are a crap shoot and you really don't know what you're going to get.

If A Dog Park Is The Only Option

We understand that dog parks are convenient for some people or the only way to have your dog play with other dogs, depending on where you live. If a dog park is your only option, here are some tips to make sure your dog is safe:

• Go when there are less dogs. The less dogs that are there, the easier it is to manage the situation.
• Find a dog park that requires dogs to be up to date on shots. Some also go further beyond and temperament test dogs and determine who is allowed to go to that dog park or not.
• Advocate for your dog if you see your dog ignoring other dogs' corrections or if they're trying to tell the other dog they don't want to play.
• If your dog makes friends with other dogs, try seeing if the owners want to have a play date at a different location away from a dog park setting.

Dog Park Alternatives

• Scheduling play dates or pack walks with neighbors, friends, or family members who have dogs.
• Enrolling in doggy daycare where the dogs are monitored by trained staff.
• Breed-specific groups on social media that host pack walks and get-togethers.
• Going to dog-friendly restaurants or coffee shops with friends who have dogs.