Dog Parks , Heaven or Hell?
by Victoria Rose
Nanny 911 for Dogs

That depends.

Generally speaking, it depends on how the park is run. With good management, a dog park can be a safe, fun place to play. With iffy management, safety is dependent on what mix of dogs and people are there at any given time.

Some dog parks have people assigned to screen out inappropriate dogs and make sure everyone follows the rules. These are the safest parks. Other parks have rules but no one enforces them, and they have no screening process, so any dog can join in. This is when safety gets sketchy.

Ultimately it is up to each doggie parent to be responsible for his or her own dog’s protection.

Safety in parks without staff can be increased if those concerned about safety band together to educate new users and implement peer pressure to thwart undesirable (both canine and human) behavior.

The number one consideration affecting the safety of a dog park is the appropriateness of the dogs.

Some people say they go to the dog park all the time and have never had a problem. They think it is the greatest invention since sliced bread.

Others’ dogs have been traumatized and/or injured in dog parks and they cannot, or will not, go back.

Even the nicest, friendliest dog in the world is threatened or scared or beaten up or attacked enough times, he can become fearful and/or dog aggressive. A lot of work is required to get these dogs to be calm around dogs again.

What kind of experience you’ll have at the dog park depends on who is there at the time. You and your kid can have a GREAT time if you are vigilant, educated and proactive.

Following are notes from my safety talk two weeks ago at the

new fenced dog park in Keizer. I hope you find them helpful.

APPROPRIATE DOGS:

ARE:

1. ü      Friendly and outgoing
2. ü      Well-socialized
3. ü      Confident
4. ü      Comfortable in crowded situations
5. ü      Healthy – no diseases or parasites or diarrhea, of course, but also, no aches and pains as they are risk factors for aggression when they get hurt or think they are going to get hurt
6. ü      Happy meeting and playing with new dogs

HAVE:

1. ü      Basic manners (No mouthing, crowding or jumping on people; no marking humans)
2. ü      Appropriate, safe play styles (no body-slamming or bullying)
3. ü      Basic obedience, most-importantly “Come” and “Leave it”

Allow your kid to interact ONLY with appropriate partners with whom his play style is compatible and whose owners are vigilant and conscientious and not too busy socializing to properly manage their dogs.

INAPPROPRIATE DOGS:

ARE:

1. ü      Uncontrollable
2. ü      “Too young” and therefore, easily traumatized by other dogs (which can damage that pup for a lifetime)
3. ü      Not fully-vaccinated (usually safe two weeks after final vaccs)
4. ü      Fearful (bite risk)
5. ü      Overbearing
6. ü      Obnoxious
7. ü      Bullies - aggressive or overly-aroused and intimidate or hurt other dogs
8. ü      Aggressive
9. ü      Possessive of owners
10. ü      Overly-reactive
11. ü      “Rude” (owners of rude dogs often blame other dogs when they responsively growl or snap to set boundaries)
12. ü      Dogs who play and get aroused and start fighting – some fighting breeds are prone to this
13. ü      Excessive barkers (it’s annoying to neighbors and other park users and can instigate aggression)
14. ü      Intact males who are territorial and wanting to claim the females
15. ü      Females in season – intact male dogs will fight around them

HAVE:

1. ü      Handlers physically or mentally incapable of controlling them
2. ü      Serious behavior problems, either with other dogs or humans. Dogs with “issues” need behavior modification in a controlled environment – not in a dog park

If your dog is unaccustomed to other dogs, this is not the place to find out how he’ll act. You need a more-controlled environment.

BEGINNING – WHEN ARRIVING – BASICS:

Our NUMBER TWO job is to let our dogs have fun.

Our NUMBER ONE job is to protect them.

It all starts with educating yourself and being prepared:

• Study appropriate dog behavior
• Recognize when a dog is tense, stressed, fearful, threatening, aggressive
• Learn to read body postures, communication signals and social behavior
• Know the difference between play and real threats
• Learn to spot and avoid “bullies,” those dogs which are aggressive or overly-aroused and intimidate or hurt other dogs (usually while oblivious owners downplay their behavior claiming, “He is just playing.”)

Keep #’s in cell phone or car glove compartment:

• Dog Control
• Police
• Parks Department
• Emergency Vet Clinic and your own vet

Report aggressive dogs or people (get plate #’s off cars)

Bring only friendly, well-socialized dogs and steer clear of those which are not

Don’t bring more dogs than you can handle

BRING WATER!!!! Dogs NEED – not just WANT – water when out and about

Careful about bloat

• Food - Don’t feed dog, then exercise (wait 2-4 hours); don’t exercise, then feed (wait 1 hour)
• Water (Regulate intake when exercising) – Dogs need water while exercising, but “too much” can kill them.

If he’s overly-excited, exercise him at home first to take the edge off, but don’t get him exhausted as that may make him irritable

Training:

• LEAVE IT
• COME
• Calm in car – When dogs are hyper-excited arriving in the car, you are starting out on the wrong foot

If possible, come during non-peak hours (daytime during the week and on rainy days)

Drive up – Watch for a few minutes

• If handlers are being responsible and dogs are playing nicely – ok!
• If irresponsible, not watching or supervising, rough/bullying/intimidating – leave and come back later

Leash up from car to entrance and from exit to car

Dogs should be under control walking to gate

• Teach him to “Look at me” and “Ask permission” to go play
• People who get dragged to the gate by dogs are not in control of their dogs and are not appropriate for dog park play

If park has double-gated enclosure at entrance, don’t allow other dogs to join you in the small gated area. It’s a small space, not good for introducing dogs.

Remove leash before entering. Leashed dogs can experience stress and become aggressive.

Remove all collars except a plain buckle collar. When dogs bite at each other’s necks, they can become entangled in chain or pinch collars, resulting in:

• Broken teeth
• Broken jaws
• Strangulation

Don’t go into the play area if dogs are crowding the gate. This could stress your dog, causing fear and/or aggression, or cause the others to “gang up” on him. Ask the owners to call their dogs away first.

IN THE PLAY AREA:

1. q       Start inexperienced dogs with short visits as it can be stressful
1. o       Work up to longer sessions
2. q       Take ownership; Band together
1. o       Create sense of community
2. o       Educate new people
3. o       Use peer pressure to ward off people with inappropriate dogs
3. q       No hanging around gate or congregating
1. o       Call your dog away from the gate when others are entering
4. q       KEEP WALKING!!!!! Prevents territorial behaviors which dogs can develop when handlers stand around too long
1. o       When people congregate, many dogs become protective of their people and their space, making scuffles more likely to occur
5. q       Careful with food and toys as they can encourage bad manners or a dog fight
6. q       All dogs have different play styles – learn your dog’s style and be able to identify that of others
7. q       Pick your dog’s playmates – he’ll tell you if he’s having fun or not - Learn to read him
8. q       If someone asks you to keep your dog away from their dog – respect that (They are picking their dog’s playmates)
9. q       Stay close to your dog at all times - Keep your eyes on him 100 percent of the time - monitor ALL interaction
10. q       If play escalates into not-so-fun play - call a time-out or move on or leave
11. q       Keep your dog from jumping on or crowding other users
12. q       Stick close to the fence, trees or boulders - Dogs can knock down and injure full-size men
13. q       Teach your dog to jump up and “stay” on boulders or other platforms or obstacles to provide an escape plan from potential problems

Photo: Jetta on boulder at Minto Brown Dog Park

1. q       Discourage digging holes which can break feet and legs of dogs and people
2. q       Discourage sharing water bowls and toys as this can spread disease
3. q       Don’t walk bare-footed or sit in the grass (traces of feces are everywhere)
4. q       Be aware you can pick up fleas, lice or skin mites from infected dogs
5. q       Carry two poop bags per dog and always clean up after him (it’s common decency and reduces threat of disease)

Be willing to leave if it’s not safe and people aren't being responsible.

The dog park is not a “Free For All.” You control your dog, I’ll control my dog and if they are a good match, we’ll let them play. Otherwise, we each move on.

CHILDREN

Small children should not be in a dog park, period.

• Not all dogs there are good with children
• Kids are at face level to dogs; some dogs feel threatened by kids looking them in the eye
• Energetic dogs can knock children down, seriously injuring them
• Stressed dogs can bite
• Some parents find it difficult to handle dogs and children at the same time

If children do attend, they should:

• Ignore dogs they don’t personally know
• Stand sideways to dogs – it’s less confrontational
• Avoid looking directly into dogs’ eyes
• Not run, scream or ride their bikes (Running, squealing, screaming kid = prey)

TOOLS TO DISCOURAGE OR STOP DOG FIGHTS:

• STOP play if it seems to be escalating out of hand
• Spray mouth with Binaca breath freshener (won’t hurt him, even if accidentally sprayed into his eyes)
• Spray with Spray Shield (harmless citronella spray)
• Blast air horn
• Shoot with water from water bottle
• Blow loud whistle

IF THERE IS A DOG FIGHT:

1. Ø      Avoid grabbing collars or holding leashes tightly – can trigger defensiveness/aggression
2. Ø      Don’t scream or yell as it is arousing
3. Ø      Keep your hands away from faces - your own dog WILL bite you
4. Ø      Remember that an injured dog will bite anyone near
5. Ø      Consider grabbing dogs by flanks and pulling them away backwards, turning, turning, turning to keep them off balance
6. Ø      If your dog is not in the fight, get him away so he doesn’t jump in
7. Ø      If there are injuries, exchange info – may end up going to vet – be responsible if your dog hurts another – you are liable for vet bills

If there is a dog fight, somebody probably did something wrong (brought an inappropriate dog, made the wrong play match, didn’t give enough supervision, failed to stop escalating play)

Following are articles/more info I can share with you if you email me:

1. Picking the right playmates for your dog
2. Rude dogs
3. Breaking up a dog fight
4. Cautions about fighting breeds in dog parks/play groups
5. Bloat
6. Water Rover
7. Spray Shield
8. Great deal on poop bags

Be proactive, practice precautions, control your dog, play with others who control their dogs, be educated, careful and aware and dog parks can provide VERY fun experiences for you and your kid!

Also… remember I have a play group of 30 friendly and safe dogs in Salem. Ask me to send you the registration form. Once in the group, I will send you the roster of dogs and you can set up your own play dates.