Dog parks, keeping our friends safe

We have three wonderful dog parks in our Sonoma Valley including the Earnest Holman Dog Park next to city hall, the Elizabeth Anne Peronne Dog Park on Hwy. 12 in Glen Ellen and the Ernie Smith Dog Park on Arnold Drive. Many people use them and love having the opportunity for off-leash freedom for their dogs. But with the same freedom comes the responsibilities of keeping our dog parks safe, clean and friendly. Here is a summary of basic dog park etiquette.
• The dog parks are for dogs that are over six months of age and are up to date on all vaccines.
• Do not bring dogs that are in heat.
• Make sure your dogs are healthy before you bring them and possibly expose the whole group to a disease.
• Absolutely no aggressive dogs, un-socialized dogs, or any dogs with a “history.”
• Scoop the poop. Cleaning up after our dogs is not only the right thing to do, it also helps reduce the risk of spread of bacterial infections and internal parasites.
• Children under 12 are often not allowed. There are many good reasons to keep small children out of off leash dog parks. The possibilities of accidents are staggering.
• Don’t bring too many dogs. Many parks limit that number at two, but you should never bring more than you can safely handle.
• Be responsible for your dog’s behavior. If your dog digs a hole, fill it back in. If she cannot play nicely with other dogs that day, then take her home.
• Don’t let your dog harass another dog. If you own a “bully” type please look out for the ‘other’ guy. Don’t ruin the play experience for another dog.
• Be willing to admit your dog may not be dog park material.
• Know when your dog has had enough. Just like kids, they can get grouchy or tired, so leave the park on a happy note.
• Call your dog before it is time to go home. If they are doing well, praise them and let them play a little longer.
• Never leave your dogs unattended.
• Follow the posted rules. By following the rules and regulations, we can keep our dog parks open and available for all dogs. Failure to obey the rules may result in our parks being shut down or worse, cause a serious accident that could have been prevented.
Given so many variables, no one can predict with 100 percent accuracy that a dog in any given situation will not bite or fight. If you have doubts about your dog, err on the side of caution and forget the dog park. Dogs are dogs; it doesn’t mean they will get on with all dogs, that’s as silly as saying, “I’m human so I should get along with all humans.” Dogs running loose even within the safety of a fenced park are at some risk. The potential for pack mentality to kick in when dogs are running free without owner intervention is possible. The astute dog owner will use their training skills to scan the park and interrupt inappropriate behavior with the first sign of any problem. This means, keep your eye on your dog. There are times when letting dogs work things out for themselves is possible, the dog park is not always the best choice.
Prerequisite for dogs attending off leash areas should be a string of commands that your dog can follow to balance his playtime with training. Don’t let your dog forget you’re there, be creative and implement fun training sessions during playtime, remind him that you’re fun, too. Make a habit of calling your dog and teach him to leave his buddies to check-in with you periodically. This technique will boost your recall potential and improve the relationship you have with your dog at the park, and it may also help educate other dog owners and prompt them to question why you keep calling your dog. The recall is so important it should be used during your dog’s playtime to ensure safety for your dog and others.
Suppose a few canines get into a rumble – if you have a good recall you increase your chances of getting your dog out of a sticky situation, it’s not a guarantee that your dog will not get into a fight or hurt a dog or person, it’s a safety net, and good park manners.
Naïve dog owners with untrained or un-socialized dogs in a park environment create havoc, especially within a neighborhood. It’s important to know how to read canine body language and gauge comfort levels. Understanding canine gestures can help get you to know the dogs at the park and learn to distinguish nice play and not so nice play. Dog owners need to pay closer attention and watch for inappropriate behavior towards other dogs, and people. The growing popularity of dog parks is great for responsible dog owners with good manners; hopefully they can help create opportunities for all dog owners to network and incorporate guidelines that will encourage education, and help the inexperienced handler take more responsibility in shaping their dog’s behavior and training, while learning the importance of a good recall before letting their dog off leash. We want to keep our dog parks, so take responsibility for your dogs’ behavior, and respect the property of your neighbors, especially the non-doggy owning population.
Good Manners & Common Sense – Dog Park Etiquette excerpts by Dawn Sylvia Stasiewicz, Owner of Merit Dog Training, LC. – www.meritpuppy.com