Earlier this month we ran a piece about dog parks where we tried to unpack their contentious reputation. As it turns out some dogs love them, some dogs hate them, they have a lot of benefits, and can also be really frustrating. But across all our research, interviews, and reading one thing quickly became apparent: the problem isnât really with the dogs. The problem is with Dog Park Jerks. Yes, it’s a new term that weâre proudly coining.
To be clear, Dog Park Jerks are people who act badly in these spaces. But theyâre not âbad people.â Dog parks can be super stressful environments. Anytime our beloved pets are in a situation where they could face confrontation, bullying, or complex pack dynamics things are likely to get tense. You can hardly judge someone for losing their cool, or misunderstanding dog park etiquette. But itâs still important to understand how our emotions and behaviour can compound things and make a bad situation worse.
Any dog park regular can regale you with horror stories involving owners. Whether itâs a lack of manners, surplus of stress, or selective blindness to their dogâs poop, some people seem legitimately confused about how to behave.
So we decided it was time to help everyone out and outline some fundamental rules of dog park etiquette. Because we know you love your dog, now spare some love for your neighbours.
The DOs of Dog Park Etiquette
Do make sure your dog is up to date on their registration, vaccinations, and parasite control.
Ensure your dog always wears their collar with ID and registration tags attached.
Do keep your dog on-leash until theyâre in the designated off-leash area.
Not only should your dog remain on-leash for safety reasons (you donât want them dashing out onto the road), itâs also good dog manners. It allows you to control their initial introduction to the park and other dogs, and stops them bolting straight over to an unfamiliar animal. But…
Do remove your dogâs leash before he joins the group.
Itâs harder for dogs to use body language to communicate while on-leash. Also, playing and running around with a leash attached creates tripping, tangling, and choking hazards.
Do stick to the size-appropriate areas.
If your park has sections for big and little dogs, respect them. Even the gentlest big dog can accidentally injure a smaller pal during play. Also, a smaller dog that feels threatened or overwhelmed can easily lash out.
Do pick up your dogâs poop.
Do we really need to explain this one?
Do ask before giving treats.
We know for many people giving treats is a sign of love, but itâs impossible to know if a dog has health issues or is on a restricted diet. Most dogs will happily gobble up anything, even if itâs bad for them, so check with their owner.
Do be realistic about your dog.
This might be the hardest directive, but itâs important to be honest with yourself about your dog. Even the sweetest pet can be a menace in the park. A good way to tell if theyâre trained and socialised enough for this outing is to ask yourself, do they always come when theyâre called? That means not just at home, but also in noisy and distracting environments. You need to be confident you could call them back from a game that gets out of hand or a confrontation.
Dogs without strong recall behaviours arenât ready for the dog park.
The DONâTs of Dog Park Etiquette
Donât get distracted.
This is really the golden rule. Your dog is your responsibility, so pay attention at all times. You came here for your dog, not to catch up with emails, chat on the phone, or socialise with your neighbours. Obviously, be nice and polite to everyone around you. But donât forget your dog should be the focus of your attention.
Donât bring an over-excited dog
This might seem counter-intuitive, but make sure your dog has had some exercise before you get to the park. An animal thatâs been cooped up all day and is desperate to burn off energy is more likely to get in other dogâs faces. Take the long route, let them have a descent walk, or even throw a ball for them in the backyard first. It will help them be relaxed when they meet the other dogs.
Donât take a puppy to the dog park.
Until your dog is at least 12 (preferably 16) weeks old, and has all their vaccinations, they need to stay away from areas where theyâll come in contact with other animals. As always, chat to your vet about when theyâre ready to head out into the world.
Donât take your dogâs favourite things to the park.
As a rule, assume anything you take to the park for your dog to play with could be taken or damaged by another pet. If theyâd be sad to lose it, leave it at home. Not only can this avoid later frustration, but it also minimises the chance theyâll get territorial over an object.
Donât use it as a chance to socialise a dog with behavioural issues.
This isnât the place for you to start socialising a dog or help them work through behavioural issues. They wonât get used to it, learn to play nice eventually, or work it out between themselves. Dogs that struggle with other animals need focused, expert behavioural training. You canât expect them to instinctively know how to behave in these stressful situations. If pets are becoming distressed or are being picked on, itâs up to the humans to step in. If your dog is creating issues, you need to take them home.
For more on life with dogs, check out:
Do Dogs Actually like Dog Parks?
A State-by-State Breakdown of Pet Rental Laws Around Australia
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