In case you’ve visited a dog park, you almost certainly noticed that the majority have the foundations posted near the doorway.
But not all do and never all dog parks have the identical rules.
The dog park rules below are true at almost every dog park and even in the event that they aren’t official, it’s courteous to watch them.
Following these rules will even help prevent conflicts between dogs and help keep your dog protected.
UPDATED: This text was originally published July 11, 2011
Essential Dog Park Etiquette Rules to Know
1) No Sick or Unvaccinated Dogs Allowed
Dog parks is usually a cesspool of germs and disease.
Things like canine parvovirus (parvo) and the dog flu are easily transmissible.
In case your dog just isn’t vaccinated against common diseases and parasites, they’ll get really sick from visiting a dog park.
In case your dog is sick, they’ll spread it to other dogs on the park, potentially putting their life at risk.
2) Don’t Bring Your Dog If They’re In Heat
Some dog parks don’t allow any intact dogs to go to the park, whether male or female.
But female dog in heat pose a selected problem.
Simply being around a female dog could cause male dogs to fight.
Female dogs, even when one is spayed, may fight one another.
And, in fact, it only takes a second for an intact male dog to unintentionally impregnate a female dog in heat.
3) No Choke, Spiked, or Pronged Collars
When dogs rough-house and play, they often grab the opposite dog’s neck or collar.
Spikes and prongs could cause injury to each dogs.
If a dog bites down on the collar, the spikes could cause damage to the dog’s mouth and to the wearer’s neck and throat.
What training tools you utilize in your dog outside of the dog park is your personal business but remove them before you go in.
4) Don’t Let Any Dogs Escape When You Enter and Exit the Dog Park
Most dog parks have a double gate.
The correct option to use them is to open the primary gate, move your dog inside, completely close the gate behind you, after which open the following gate to enter the park.
This double gate system ensures that one other dog contained in the park can’t rush the gate whenever you open it and escape.
While you exit the park, use the identical first gate, second gate method but make sure that no dogs have slipped into the space between the gates with you before the open the ultimate gate to outside.
If there are other dogs and folks ahead of you waiting to enter or exit the park, wait for them to go through each gates before you start your entrance/departure.
5) Use Small and Large Dog Sections Appropriately
Loads of dog parks divide the play area into two sections – one for small dogs and one for giant dogs.
In case your dog isn’t truly a small dog, don’t use that side of the park.
If you’ve a small dog, don’t throw them to the massive dogs, literally.
The difference in body size alone can create a hazard for small dogs as they’ll easily get stepped on or rolled by the larger dogs.
As well as, sometimes larger dogs will corner and chase smaller dogs, not necessarily out of aggression but because they could see little dogs as prey.
There are two exceptions to this rule:
- Some parks allow shy dogs of any size to make use of the small dog area
- If nobody is using the small dog side, and your dog would really like to be alone, it’s alright to use that side (but leave when a small dog comes into it.
6) At all times Pick Up After Your Dog
There isn’t a dog poop fairy. Not even on the dog park.
It’s as much as you to note when your dog poops, bag it, and throw it within the trash.
So many dogs use dog parks that it could quickly develop into like a sewer if even a fraction of tourists don’t pick up their dog’s poop.
Ans who desires to unintentionally step in it and track it into their automobile or home?
Make sure that you aren’t so absorbed in conversation, or scrolling in your phone, to note when your services are required.
7) Supervise Your Dog at All Times
Your dog could also be friendly but you don’t know concerning the other dogs on the park.
Perhaps they’re untrained, are having a foul day, or something your dog does triggers them.
You never know what other dogs will do, particularly when there are multiple dogs present.
When dogs get together in a gaggle they have an inclination to develop a pack mentality, which will be dangerous in the event that they gang up on other dogs.
You’re liable for your dog’s actions and their wellbeing so all the time regulate them.
In case you see your dog overwhelming one other dog, otherwise you notice that your dog is getting nervous or scared, redirect their attention to you or one other area of the park.
If that’s not enough to de-escalate the situation, it’s best to go away the dog park for the day.
8) Prevent Altercations Before They Occur
I assume you understand your dog’s triggers so be watchful for anything that will cause your dog to develop into a “trouble-maker”.
For instance, perhaps your dog is so food focused they fight to leap on people in the event that they brought treats to the park for their very own dog.
Or perhaps your dog likes to chase the ball and it looks like being off leash in a wide-open space is the proper place to play fetch.
But your dog doesn’t prefer to share and there are other dogs on the park which can be as ball-obsessed as your dog is.
If two dogs run after a ball and one doesn’t back down when the opposite one tries to swoop in, a fight can occur.
Or perhaps your dog likes to chase other dogs and sees it as play.
But you notice your dog is always chasing one particular dog and that dog doesn’t appear to be it’s having fun (flattened ears, tail between the legs, always rolling onto his back, etc.)
It’s essential to be responsible and consider the security of the opposite dogs and folks within the park.
In case your dog is always clashing with one other dog it could be time to go away and are available back one other time. Signs that one other dog has “had enough” are.
9) No Digging or Destructive Behavior
A hole in the bottom is a terrible accident waiting to occur – to each dogs and humans.
A dog or an individual can easily hurt themselves (even break a leg) from running or walking right into a hole.
Digging near fencing may allow a smaller dog an escape path or a way in for a critter with a death wish.
In case you see your dog digging, stop him/her immediately and fill in the opening!
10) Don’t Bring Treats or Food Right into a Dog Park
Bringing food right into a dog park could cause altercations.
You would be the hottest person on the park to the dogs, but you furthermore mght run the chance of beginning a fight.
The presence of food can create unnecessary tension and could cause some dogs to develop into territorial.
As well as, not all dogs have one of the best manners and there may be likelihood your sandwich can be knocked out of your hand or you could possibly be knocked over.
Your now unattended sandwich could possibly be devoured up and 1) cause a dog with allergies to have a foul response or 2) certainly one of the ingredients could possibly be poisonous to dogs.
11) Respect the Other Dog’s Space
Simply because a dog is on the dog park, doesn’t mean they need to rise up close and private with the opposite dogs there.
Other dogs may not like being sniffed for prolonged periods, or in any respect, or don’t need to play.
Dog body language be subtle, and vary per individual dog, so if you happen to are unsure in case your dog should approach or rough-house with one other dog on the park, ask the owner’s permission.
If an individual just isn’t comfortable with how our dog is interacting with theirs and asks that you simply give their dog some space, don’t take it personally and get offended.
Advocating to your dog is the responsible thing to do and completely acceptable (and ought to be normalized).
Simply redirect your dog to you or move to a different area of the park.
12) Look Out For Your Fellow Dog Park Attendees
Dog owners are inclined to be careful for one another to bolster a protected and fun atmosphere.
Do you see someone’s dog squatting within the corner while they aren’t looking?
Politely allow them to know and they’re going to most definitely thanks for keeping a watch out.
In case you notice a hole within the fence, mention it to an owner if you happen to see their dog over in that area.
The dog park will be a fantastic option to meet people and creates a really communal environment.
13) Never Leave Your Dog Alone on the Dog Park
This one should absolutely go without saying but you can be amazed at how many individuals just “drop their dog off” at a dog park prefer it’s a dog daycare or something.
I’ve heard stories of individuals leaving their dogs alone on the dog park that range from an owner walking away from their dog to go get something within the automobile to people literally letting their dog contained in the gate and driving off.
Never, ever leave your dog unsupervised on the dog park.
The Two Dog Park Rules I Break
There are two of the foundations above that I don’t fully consider in and bend from time-to-time.
Yes, I do know, if everyone thinks the foundations don’t apply to them and does what they need, things can devolve into chaos.
But I don’t all the time break these rules and I attempt to mitigate the circumstances once I do.
The 2 rules are…
Sticking to the Small Dog Area
My Dachshund are truly small dogs at just below 11 lbs each.
I understand the purpose of larger dogs not mixing with small dogs due to their prey drive and since big dogs can unintentionally step on a smaller dog and injure them.
Nonetheless, I feel so long as I’m aware of the special risks that include having a small dog and are willing to go away the big dog area if my dog is at risk or causes a problem, I mustn’t should my small dog within the small dog area only.
I would like my dog to be socialized towards dogs of all sizes.
If I all the time keep my dogs from big ones they won’t know the right option to behave after they encounter them.
Also, sometimes there aren’t any dogs in the massive dog area.
For the reason that big dog area has extra space to run, I often make the most of the chance.
With that being said, I do persist with the small dog side of the dog park nearly all of the time.
In case you decide to take your small dog into the massive dog side, make sure that you understand how one can break up a dog fight between a bit and massive dog.
Don’t Bring Treats to a Dog Park
It’s true that having treats in my pocket could make me a dog magnet, other owners must have enough control over their dog that they’ll call them away from me if they get too push or territorial.
While, ideally, my dog should have already got good manners before I bring them to a dog park, a dog park will be place to practice obedience drills equivalent to reliable recall amongst intense distractions.
Where else do you get this sort of opportunity?
If my dogs know that in the event that they come when called they get good things like treats, the are far more prone to do it consistently.
I exploit the treats as a reward for them any time they do what I ask them – especially at a dog park.
I would mention here that, although tempting, I never feed another person’s dog treats without asking permission first.
Many dogs have allergies or are on special diets for fitness or medical reasons.
Also, if I see that my having teats is causing a problem, I leave the park or go put the treats within the automobile.
Final Thoughts
Dog parks are a fantastic option for exercising your dog, letting them run around off leash, and providing mental exercise through limitless sniffing opportunities.
Rules can vary by dog park but there are some which can be universal.
Whether you might be a brand new dog owner, latest to dog parks, or recently visited a dog park that didn’t have posted rules, this list of rules offers you idea of what to anticipate (and what is predicted of you and your dog).
While I’m generally a rule follower, there are two that I break.
But even once I’m breaking the foundations, I take 100% responsibility for my dog’s actions and return to following the rule if I’m causing a disturbance.
If you’ve a Dachshund like I do, you could be thinking about my article Is it Protected to Bring My Dachshund to the Dog Park?