Dog Park Etiquette

Emma visited her first dog park several years ago and since then, we’ve been to a total of 15 of them. For the most part, our visits are always positive experiences, but there have been a few times when we regretted going. Going to a dog park can be a very fun, rewarding time of socializing and play for both you and your dog as long as everyone follows certain etiquette and guidelines. Hopefully these tips that I provide help others have a positive dog park experience!

Is Your Dog A Good Fit For A Dog Park?

First, you need to determine if your dog is suitable for a dog park. Consider the following before bringing your dog to a dog park and if you don’t feel like they’re a good match for that type of environment, find other activities to do with them instead. As long as your dog is with you and taken care of, they’ll be happy!

Dogs that are a good fit for dog parks are friendly, social and confident. Dogs that are overbearing, bullies, aggressive, fearful, protective, obnoxious or reactive are not appropriate for dog parks. If you find that your dog is exhibiting any of these behaviors after bringing them to a dog park, then you should leave with them immediately to avoid any problems.

Good manners are a must! There may be times when you need to remind them to “mind their manners”, of course, but most of the time they should listen to basic commands and act as good citizens when around others. If you find that your dog cannot control themselves in a dog park, then they’re probably not suitable for that environment.

Barking will happen, but it should be kept at a reasonable level. Excessive barking can cause aggression and fear in other dogs as well as disrupt the peace of the park and it’s surrounding areas. For example, we were at a park one time where there was a dog that would greet each dog that came into the park by following them around & barking at them nonstop. This made most of the newcomers fearful and/or nervous.

Let’s face it, like barking, humping happens. Even Emma, who is quite ladylike most of the time, will hump Rowan every once in a while to let her know she can still dominate her. However, excessive humping is never appropriate or welcome. There have been several times when we were at a park with dogs that would constantly hump other dogs, often singling out one and not leaving them alone. Every single time, it’s been a male that wasn’t neutered. No big surprise there. So, my first suggestion would be to neuter your dog if he isn’t already neutered before bringing him to a dog park. If they hump a little, let them do it, but if you notice that they won’t stop, then you should remove them from the park so that the other dogs can enjoy their time there.

Speaking of unaltered dogs, unspayed females should never be taken to a dog park if they are in heat. After they go out of heat, make sure that they’ve had a bath before bringing them to the park. Better yet, get them spayed. It’s never to late to do it!

Only healthy dogs should visit dog parks. If they have any type of infection or disease, keep them away from other dogs until they are better. This goes for dogs that have structural un-soundness like arthritis and hip dysplasia, too. They can become aggressive out of fear or pain when other dogs are running and jumping on or around them, so they’re better off not visiting dog parks.

Puppies that are less than four months old shouldn’t be brought to a dog park, either. They are not fully vaccinated yet, so they are susceptible to catching a disease. They are also very vulnerable to being traumatized if another dog exhibits inappropriate behavior towards or around them. Bring them to a puppy class instead to prepare them for their future park visits. It’ll be a fun time for both of you!

Humans Are Vital In The Dog Park Visit!

Something I highly suggest everyone do before visiting a new park is to get to know it as much as possible first. Dog Park USA is a great resource because it often has reviews and comments from other people that have already visited the park. You can get a really good feel for a park just by reading about the experiences of others. It’s also a good idea to visit it first before bringing your dog in it. Read the rules that are posted and follow them, even if you may not agree with them. Only use the park during the posted hours and make sure to close the gates securely when entering and leaving.

While some may think that a dog park is a great place for their dogs and kids to play, this isn’t the case. I’ve often been knocked into by running dogs and if I didn’t bend my knees in anticipation of it, I likely would have been knocked off of my feet most of those times. So, a child in a dog park is definitely at risk of being knocked over by running and playing dogs. If a small child starts running, some dogs with a high prey drive may see them as prey, too. Therefore, it’s best not to bring smaller children to a dog park for their own safety.

Although bringing your own water to a dog park is a good idea, never bring food into the park. This goes for human food as well as dog treats. Having food in the park can result in you being constantly harassed by dogs as well as bringing out aggression. We love to have picnics and will plan them after the dog park in an area that we can have to ourselves. That way Emma & Rowan are tired and we have some peace and privacy.

Remove their leash before you get into the park as well as any gear that can get caught or tangled during play. Most parks will be double gated, so the best place to do this is in the area between the two gates. Having a leashed dog around unleashed dogs can stress out the leashed dog and bring out aggression. Dogs communicate with body language that involves slight nuances in posture, tail set, ear set and muscular tension. A leash can throw off all of those signals and cause tension, fear and aggression in a dog that would otherwise be non-reactive.

Keep an eye on your dog during the entire visit. Don’t let them get out of sight and always be prepared to interrupt inappropriate behavior. Likewise, don’t bring more dogs to the park than you can control.

Always, always, always pick up the poo both inside and outside of the park! If you see a pile that someone missed, pitch in to keep the park a nice place by picking it up. Having dog feces laying around is one of the main objections in communities when a new dog park is being considered, so keeping them clean and well maintained is vital to keeping them around. If your dog has loose stools and you’re unable to pick it up, try to douse it in water as much as possible to dissolve it.

Emma and Rowan are both diggers, but fortunately they stick to digging in our yard and have never done it in a dog park. If your dog does happen to dig a hole, fill it back up before you leave. Having a bunch of holes in the park can make things unsafe for both humans and dogs.

Handling Inappropriate Behavior In Others

If you see someone not following dog park etiquette, it can be tempting to lash out at them. However, approaching them from the standpoint that they most likely don’t know any better often results in the best outcome for all involved. Do your best to remain calm while educating them in a gentle, polite, friendly manner. If you are not comfortable with approaching someone, then look for a contact number in the park. Most of them have one posted for questions and concerns about the park. You may want to get the person’s name or license plate number that is causing you concern so that the park authority can discuss the matter with them.

Reading Canine Body Language

Learning to recognize what appropriate play is can help to diffuse a situation that could turn ugly. When dogs play, they’re usually bouncy and their playing is interrupted by short rests. Chasing and wrestling is okay, but if it goes on for a long time then it should be broken up to avoid it escalating into a fight.

Examples of what to look for are bullying behavior like jumping on top of other dogs, pinning or excessive chasing. Warning signs of fear or stress include bared teeth, snapping, a tucked tail, lowered ears, avoiding interaction with other dogs or a tail held straight up in the air. Signs of threatening behavior include moving slowly, leaning forward, staring directly at another dog and almost being on their tiptoes (to try to make themselves look larger). Contrary to popular belief, raised hackles (where their fur stands up on their back) isn't necessarily a sign of aggression or fear. Dogs will often do this when they're excited (Emma does it all of the time because she gets excited A LOT!), so look for other signs like the ones I listed above when reading their body language.

While larger and smaller dogs can play very well together, watch for signs of trouble. When smaller dogs yelp or squeak, they can trigger a prey response from dogs with a high prey drive. A lot of parks will have a separate area for small dogs, so look for that and take your dog in that section if they’re a wee one.

Most Of All, Have Fun!

As long as everyone follows the proper etiquette while visiting a dog park, it can be a very fun, happy experience for all. So, with all of that in mind, let the running, romping and butt sniffing begin!