The unwritten rules of the dog park

Ah, the dog park: a magical place where all the puppies romp and play, socialize, and run out their energy.

There is, however, a bad vibe which can quickly overcome even the best of days and cutest of dogs. Dog fights and uncommunicative/uncooperative owners are not uncommon. So, what’s one to do?

There are, believe it or not, some simple rules to alleviate tension at the dog park, although they're not often followed or understood.

Rule #1 Keep Moving: It is not unusual to see owners in a circle, chatting. Did you know that by doing this, you are creating a territory? Your dog now has something to guard, and as we know, that’s not always a good thing. By continuing to move around the park, you are encouraging your dog (and likely other dogs) not to worry about protecting their space, but to go and play. So, get those steps in and stay warm!

Rule #2 No Toys: It is so tempting to whip a ball across the park and get your dog doing double time, however, toys and sticks create competition. If you are the only one at the dog park, by all means, get your Chuk-It out and get the exercise you need; but leaving the toys at home encourages your dog to socialize with fellow canines. Some dogs are ball possessive/aggressive, and even if yours isn’t, you don’t want to cause a fight. If you insist on bringing a toy, the two main things to remember are: 1) understand your toy is fair game and 2) know how to recognize tension and be able to remove the toy from the equation.

Rule #3 Fixed Dogs Only: Before you bite my head off about this one, this is not because I think your unfixed dog is aggressive. Scientifically speaking, however, your unfixed dog gives off a hormonal scent that sends threatening signals, which can make otherwise friendly dogs react contrarily to how they might usually. A female in heat is another story should always be kept out of ; even fixed males will begin fighting for her affection, and she should be kept far, far away.

Rule #4 Understand Body Language: Barking, snapping, snarling, etc are all part of communication in dog world. If you immediately discipline your bubba, or cast blame on another, for vocalizing appropriately, you encourage skipping this step and going straight to physical.

When you begin to identify the difference in normal behaviour versus aggressive, you not only encourage communication but will likely be able to stop a fight before it even happens. Also, understand every time a new dog enters the park you will likely see some vocalization and posturing as pecking order must be re-established as the new dog finds his place within the pack. You can learn more about the way dogs communicate and things to keep an eye out for by reading this previous article.

Even if your dog is the picture of perfection, it’s important to remember that not everyone’s dogs are. By following rules like this, you are supporting your fellow dog owners in training and ensuring all the four-legged kids are socializing in a conducive manner. The owners of those not-always-perfect dogs will thank you thoroughly, trust me.

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