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6 Super Safety Tips for the Dog Park!

6/27/2016

10 Comments

 
In this article by Dr. Wayne Hunthausen, we offer 6 awesome safety tips for taking your lovable pooch to the dog park!
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by Dr. Wayne Hunthausen, veterinary behavior consultant 
​
1. Visit your Veterinarian. Your dog should be current on vaccinations and flea and intestinal parasite preventatives before running around with other dogs at the dog park. Before a dog park visit it is also a great time to talk about your dog's temperament and whether he's ready to engage with other pets and people in an off-leash environment. 

2. Know Commands. You need to be able to control your dog if a problematic situation arises. Make sure your dog knows some basic obedience commands - "Come", "sit", "stay", and "leave it" - in order to get him out of trouble. 

3. Find the right spot. You want to find the dog park that's just right for you and your dog. Ideally it should have: 
> adequate room for dogs to run 
> secure fences 
> a double gate for entry 
> a seperate area for small dogs 
> a safe, sheltered area
> a source of drinking water
> posted rules of conduct. 

If you visit a park and it's too congested or you see overly assertive or aggressive dogs or owners who aren't watching their dogs, keep looking. 

4. Be prepared. Take these essentials with you: 
> bags for cleaning up messes
> drinking water, in case the park doesn't have a source
> toys unless your dog guards them
> a leash
> a cell phone in case you need assistance. 

It's also a good idea to take something to break up an aggressive situation between dogs, such as a vet-recommended animal deterrent spray or compressed-air horn. 

5. Be watchful. When you first arrive, wait until no other dogs are at the gate. One it's clear, you can take your dog off the leash and let him run through the gate. Watch your dog, but also keep an eye out for overly excited or aggressive dogs near him. If your dog starts acting fearful or overwhelmed, use a basic command in an upbeat voice to call him back. Also, don't hesitate to call animal control if a dog is acting inappropriately and the owner isn't being attentive. 

6. Known when to intervene. Playful dogs bounce around, wag their tails and have relaxed postures and facial expressions. Be watchful for signs of aggression - growling, a stiff posture, raised hackles and tail, a closed mouth or a stronger focus. Don't yell if your dog and another dog start growling at each other, because that could trigger a fight. Instead, use a basic command to call your dog back to you and move to another spot. If a fight does break out, don't grab your dogs collar- you could get hurt. Instead, use your deterrent spray, a horn, or a water hose to break up the dogs. 

                                                                           Article was provided by dvm360.com

10 Comments
Ellie Davis link
10/9/2019 12:49:59 pm

I liked that you mentioned you need to make sure that your dog have all the vaccinations, flea and intestinal parasite preventives that he needs before taking him to the park. My husband and I adopted a dog, and we are looking for advice about when it should be a good time to take him to the park. I will let him know that he needs to have all the vaccinations that he needs before taking him to the park.

Reply
Bob link
7/28/2020 08:05:20 pm

I appreciate what you said about giving dogs adequate room to run. That way they can be safe and exercise without interruption. I'll have to consider getting a vet to do bi-annual check-ups for my labs.

Reply
harlequin great dane puppies for sale link
9/1/2020 01:41:10 am

Hey thanks for posting these useful tips here about traveling by air with service animals comments from, I really hope it will be helpful to many. I like how you have researched and presented these exact points so clearly. Appreciative content!!

Reply
Bob link
12/17/2020 09:31:56 pm

I like your dog tips. My dog is limping. I should take him into the vet.

Reply
Tez link
6/29/2021 06:42:04 pm

Great tip about bringing a cell phone with you to call for assistance. My dog has been looking sickly and I'm worried he's going to pass out. I'll have to bring him to the vet to prevent an emergency.

Reply
Thomas Clarence link
8/4/2021 02:54:31 pm

Thank you for pointing out that it is important for a dog to be current with all of the vaccinations. From what I have heard, it is really important to make sure that dogs are vaccinated so that they can't get rabies. Rabies can be really dangerous to humans, so it would be important to make sure any dog you own is vaccinated.

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Mia Evans link
7/6/2022 12:05:50 am

I totally agree when you said that we should make sure that the park is right for you and not too congested. I guess I should look for an animal petting park that has a huge area to take my two kids with me this weekend. It will be their first time experiencing this that is why I want it to be perfect and safe for them.

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John Carston link
9/1/2022 07:43:19 pm

I never knew that you should consult your veterinarian for vaccinations to ensure the safety of your pet. My sister told me a couple of days ago that she was planning to have her pet vaccinated to prevent the unwanted virus and disease, and she asked if I had any idea what would be the best option to consider. Thanks to this instructive article, I'll be sure to tell her that she can consult a well-known animal hospital as they can provide more information about the process of vaccination.

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Carlos Kuhns link
9/19/2022 02:54:39 pm

Your dog should be current on vaccinations and flea and intestinal parasite preventatives before running around with other dogs at the dog park. Thank you for sharing your great post!

Reply
Millie Hue link
1/21/2023 04:17:47 am

Thanks for pointing out that our pets should be vaccinated before meeting other dogs such as going to a park. I will follow your advice now that I plan to get a dog this year because I live on my own. It will help if I can learn the types of pet vaccinations, the interval, and their costs so that I can prepare my budget as well.

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