Dog Park Etiquete

Many people love to take their dogs places. They love showing them off, as well as give them plenty of opportunities to run and play (like dogs)! For this reason, dog parks are becoming more popular. They are popping up all over the United States.

Going to a dog park can be a lot of fun. However, it can also be quite chaotic. Even worse, the dog park may not have any rules that you need to follow. That being said, there are certain things that you should and shouldn't do at a dog park.

Here are some unwritten rules that you should follow when you take your dog to a dog park.

Keep your dog on a leash until he or she is ready.

Going to a dog park can be overwhelming for many dogs. For this reason, you should keep him or her on a leash so that you have control over your dog until he or she is ready. This will also help you keep others away, until you think that your dog is comfortable enough on his or her own.

Always watch your dog.

You should never leave your dog unattended. Fights and bites can happen quickly, even in seconds, so you should always have your eye on your dog. Even the most calm dog can become overwhelmed and act unexpectedly.

Don't take more dogs to the park than you can handle.

Though you may want to take all of your dogs to the dog park at once, it may not be a good idea, until you know how each of your dogs will do. It is much better to take one or two at a time, until you see how comfortable your dog is. Then, you may be able to take more. However, it is best to start small.

That being said, if your dog becomes hard to handle, plays too rough, or causes a problem, you need to leave.

Dogs are just like people. They can become overwhelmed and out of control. However, instead of trying to work through it, it may be better to just get your dog out of there and try another day.

He or she may be overwhelmed by the amount of dogs, so you may want to go when he or she doesn't have to share. Your dog may also be having a bad day, and just needs to go back to his or her comfort zone (your home).

Always clean up after your dog.

If your dog defecates in the dog park, you should pick it up and dispose of it. Otherwise, if everyone left their dog's poop, the park would be filled with it within a few days or weeks!

Make sure that your dog is up-to-date on vaccines.

In order to protect your dog, as well as the others at the park, you should make sure that all of his or her vaccines are current. You should also make sure that your dog is on heartworm and flea and tick prevention.

That being said, you need to talk to your veterinarian before you take your new puppy to the dog park. Your puppy needs to be fully protected, before you venture out to the dog park. Socialization is important, but you don't want your puppy coming home with a contagious disease that you could have prevented.

If you take your children along, keep an eye on them too!

You are going to want to keep your children safe, so make sure that you are watching them as closely as your dogs. You aren't going to want your children to get too close to dogs who don't behave well around children.

Going to the dog park can be a great time for all. However, you need to use caution. You should never take more dogs than you can handle. You also need to keep your dog on a leash, until he or she is comfortable. If your dog is misbehaving, you need to go home right away. It is better to try again another day than deal with a dog that is out of control!