How To Choose the Right Dog Park

Scout things out. Before taking your dog, or dogs, to the park for the first time, make a trip by yourself so you can scout out the lay of the land. Try to go at a time when the park is going to be busy so youʼll get an idea of who frequents the park and what the dynamics are likely to be.

Look to see how the park is physically laid out. Check to see if there are separate areas for small dogs and/or large dogs. Some facilities will separate the small dogs from the rest and leave the medium and large dogs together; others will separate the large dogs, and some have enough space to allow small dogs their own safe space as well as a separate area with enough room for the giants to cut loose without having to watch out for smaller fry. Those parks are fairly rare; they require a tremendous amount of space that is rarely open in urban areas.

Find out what the policies are. Find out whether you need a vet certificate or just a rabies tag. If you have an unaltered dog, see what the policies are regarding unaltered dogs. Some parks prohibit all sexed dogs, others leave it up to the owner to make the call. It goes without saying that taking a female in heat to a dog park is just plain asking for trouble.

Know the leash rules. Some parks are divided into "on and off" leash areas. Itʼs important to know where those areas are. Letting your dog off leash in the on leash area isnʼt just a serious dog park faux pas, it can cause a serious fight if an off leash dog runs up to one who is leash reactive. People who have their dog on a leash in a designated area shouldnʼt have to worry that another dog, however friendly, is going to enter their dogʼs space.

Observe the dog owners. Now that you know how the park is set up, take the time to watch the dogs and their owners. Take note of whether owners are watching their dogs closely and are actively involved with them or if they are busy talking on cell phones, reading, staring off into space plugged into their iPods, blissfully unaware of and deaf to the world. If you see that kind of irresponsibility from more than one or two people, youʼre probably going to want to find another place to take your dog.

Know your dog. Make an honest assessment, taking into account how much socializing your dog has been able to do. Does he even like being around other dogs or is he el lobo? If thatʼs the case, you may still be able to use the dog park to let him run, just make it a point to find out when the park is least used and let that be that your time. If your dog is a social creature, take advantage of the opportunities available in a dog park populated with dogs watched over by responsible owners, but set your dog up to have a good experience. Never take high value toys or treats to a dog park. Even the most affable dogs have been known to turn into snarling beasts when thereʼs a favorite treat or toy involved. It doesnʼt take having another dog actually snatch the toy to start the fight, sometimes all it takes is being in the vicinity.

Maybe your dog is somewhere in between the Lone Wolf and the Social Butterfly. Chances are thatʼs the case. Try to start your excursions when there are fewer dogs at he park to let him get comfortable with a strange place and strange dogs. As he learns to be more comfortable youʼll be able to go at times when there is higher traffic. If your dog has a BFF you can always set up times to meet, but itʼs good for him to interact with new dogs as well. Remind him that a stranger is just a butt he hasnʼt sniffed yet.