The weekend has arrived, and you and your pup are excited to spend time together. Your dog adores going to their favorite park—and there are plenty of benefits to taking them to the dog park for a few hours.
“Well-managed dog parks provide many benefits for both people and dogs,” says Stephanie Borns-Weil D.V.M., D.A.C.V.B., assistant clinical professor at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. “For dogs, open-air areas where they are permitted to move freely off-leash significantly enhance their quality of life. Dog parks offer an opportunity for dogs to meet their basic (and sometimes overlooked) needs for physical exercise, mental stimulation, and social contact.”
But as beneficial as it can be, the dog park isn’t free of challenges. From etiquette faux pas to dangerous mistakes, owners make common missteps at the dog park.
“Most mistakes are made because people lack information about dogs’ normal social behavior and communication,” says Borns-Weil. Here are the most common mistakes she sees and her advice to avoid them and keep your pup safe.
Not looking at your dog’s body language
Here’s a problem that can happen to the best of us: You may lack information about or fail to recognize your own and other dogs’ body language.
“To prevent negative interactions, it is important to understand what dogs are ‘saying’ with their body language,” Borns-Weil says. “Dog owners need to make sure that their dog is having fun with other dogs and not becoming defensive, avoidant, or shut down.”
She recommends learning about canine body language through reputable organizations like Fear Free Pets or your regional Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) organization. This can help you make sure your dog is having fun rather than feeling scared or stressed.
Not paying attention
“Although socializing with other humans is half the fun and benefit of a dog park, people must keep a close eye on their dog to make sure that they are behaving appropriately and having fun,” Borns-Weil says. “When the dog is off-leash, the phone should be put away and eyes should be on the dogs.”
Lack of attention to your pup is the number one cause of fights or accidents.
Having no awareness of “danger signs”
There are certain “danger signs,” as Borns-Weil calls them, to watch for at the dog park. These can include “pauses in play” or “more than three dogs wrestling or chasing,” which can signal a likely problem brewing between dogs.
“Most dogs will maintain the three-or-less rule themselves. When they do not, owners should intervene and call the dogs away,” Borns-Weil says.
Forcing dogs to interact
“When dogs hover around their owners’ feet or between their legs, their owner should not force them back out into play or allow other dogs to approach them,” Borns-Weil says. “Their dog is either taking a rest break or managing his or her discomfort with something in the environment.”
Owners should honor this time out. Pushing a dog too hard to socialize or play is a recipe for trouble.
Petting a dog without asking
When you’re surrounded by adorable pups, it can be so tempting to just reach out and pet every one of them. But this isn’t the best idea.
“To make public spaces truly comfortable for dogs, we have to learn to let them decide when, whether, and by whom they can be touched,” Borns-Weil observes. “Everyone knows how to ask an owner for permission to pet—but how do you ask the dog?”
She recommends these steps when “asking” a dog if you can pet them:
- Crouch down or keep your hand at your side (not extended toward the dog’s face).
- If the dog approaches and touches your hand or leans into your legs, offer a few quick strokes on the chest or neck (not the top of the head).
- Then stop to see whether the dog moves away (“No more petting, thank you”) or moves closer (“Hey, why did you stop?”).
- If the dog does not lean in or move closer, do not pet the dog.
Feeding other dogs at the park
“When food is present, dogs often abandon play and exercise to stand around and beg,” Borns-Weil points out. “The presence of free-flowing food also increases dogs’ arousal, which can lower the threshold for aggressive behavior. Also, some dogs may have special dietary needs to treat allergies or other medical conditions.”
The bottom line? Do your part and try to keep the dog park food-free.
Making your dog jealous
“Some dogs are sensitive about their owner giving what feels to them like undue attention to other dogs,” Borns-Weil says. “If your dog looks depressed, stressed, or defensive when you lavish attention on someone else, don’t do it. A quick pet (with consent, of course) when your dog isn’t looking won’t hurt, though.”
