Ahh… what do say about dog parks. I am asked frequently about taking dogs to dog parks. Dog parks are great for many reasons but also terrible for others. I don’t recommend dog parks for socialization. The reason being that most who take their dogs to dog parks know nothing about reading a dogs behavior/body posture which can and will lead to situations that may affect a dog negatively for the rest of their life. Many times dogs will wind up in fights before anyone steps in and at that point it is too late, the damage is done. Dogs go through “fear imprint periods” and if your dog is attacked during one of these periods you will then wind up with an insecure, fearful and reactive dog. Fear/insecurity is the most common reason dogs show aggression. Dogs cannot talk so they cannot tell you “Hey I’m not comfortable with this situation”, they communicate this through a growl or bite. I also do not recommend that your dog share water bowls with those whom you do not know, there are many illnesses that can be transmitted through saliva. A better choice for socialization would be to take your dog to a reputable doggie daycare run by qualified knowledgable people. Dog parks can be great during training when working with your dog on things like impulse control and focusing on you near or outside the dog park itself. The dog park is then used as a distraction. SO if you choose to take your dog to the dog park before entering watch the interaction of those that are there to determine if it is a safe environment for you and your dog. All dogs should be watched at all times by their owners so that they can step in if necessary to prevent a bad situation from occurring. If you find that there is anyone not watching their dog you should immediately leave the park.
