I chose the subject of dog parks this week because I am involved with a group of people that have come together to get the wheels rolling for an “official” Los Osos dog park.
I am a trainer and a huge proponent of dog parks. Sometimes I even go to a park without my dogs, just to sit and watch and learn.
Dog parks are a remarkable benefit to dog owners but in my opinion, only when they are completely enclosed. Too many times I’ve seen people call their dog to come and the total opposite happens.
The park can be an exceptional educational experience both for a dog and its human owner. Watching your dog interact with other dogs and other people can give you extraordinary insight into your dog’s play style, idiosyncrasies, vocalizations and what its body language says to you, so that in the future you may be able to preempt any inappropriate behaviors.
For the dog, well, of course there’s playtime, but it also allows dogs an incredible opportunity to learn doggie social skills, just as you would have your child learn to play nice with other kids at the playground.
Learning these skills early on from other dogs, instead of humans interfering and attempting to teach them, will more likely prevent dangerous interactions and injury with other dogs in the future.
I’ve had many clients say they’re uncomfortable taking their dog to the dog park because of their dog’s behavior. What, you mean acting like a dog?
Sure there may be some mounting (normal), perhaps a tussle (normal), and, of course, the barking (also normal). They’re dogs and that’s what they do. And they’re at the dog park! Kids shriek and scream at each other on the playground, but no one seems to mind that. But what intimidates them for the most part is other people.
It’s the people that tell them how they should be “controlling” their dog. As if those people know your dog, or you. People may tell you your dog is doing something wrong, when realistically, your dog is being a dog — at the dog park.
Of course one does not want to create conflict with these people, so I suggest thanking them and then walking away. Or, alternatively, educating them a bit on how dogs attempt to elicit responses from other dogs in a variety of ways. There is nothing bad happening, unless of course there is a full on fight.
And, the most important rule that needs to be obeyed at EVERY dog park, is that NO aggressive dogs are allowed in. If you have a dog that you feel is aggressive with other dogs, get professional help immediately. Do not let that behavior go unattended.
If your dog is “leash reactive,” but plays nice off leash, take them to the dog park. If your dog is shy, take them to the dog park at a not-too-busy time, then walk away, do not hover, your dog will be fine. Let your dog learn how to be a dog.
If your dog likes to chase, dig, and wrestle, take it to the dog park. Sometimes you can gain much more canine understanding just by observing the dynamics of different dogs in a group. And it’s free!
Lisa Ellman has been working with a wide range of animals for over 20 years. Her passion, however, is dogs, and in 1996 she founded Good Dogma Obedience Training. With a foundation built on positive reinforcement, Good Dogma provides basic obedience training and behavior modification for the family dog and human members of the pack. Lisa’s comprehensive theory on training is a simple one: “Train the human, condition the dog.” Good Dogma is a monthly feature of Simply Clear Marketing & Media.
