Dog parks are a great way to allow your dog to get exercise and interact with other dogs however; there are some things you need to be cautious of for the best interest of your beloved dog.
Water: Some dog parks have on-site water bowls for your pet, but not all. Checks first to see if they are available and if not, by all means, bring your own drinking vessel for your dog. If the park does have on-site watering bowls, before allowing your dog to drink from them, make sure they are clean. Drain them and refill with fresh water if they are dirty.
Cleanliness: Some dog parks are not well maintained, both by the park officials and/or by the dog owners who utilize the area. When dog owners fail to pick up their dog’s feces, your dog can be at risk of getting illnesses such as Giardia, parvovirus, and coccidiosis. If the dog park you frequent is a concrete or blacktop base, make sure there are hoses available to wash away your dog’s urine and traces of feces.
Park Drainage: With concrete dog parks, make sure there is somewhat of a slope so when people are rinsing their dogs urine and feces traces away, it drains off the concrete. If this is not the case and you see standing water, that dog park is a breeding ground for bacteria. Steer clear of all puddles and even more so if your dog is a puddle drinker.
Standing Water/Pond: Heavy rain can leave behind standing water for weeks, and even standing water from rainfalls can be the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, bugs, and algae. With ponds and standing water, if you see blue green algae, steer your dog clear. Algae can be toxic to your dog. Keep away or avoid the park when algae is present.
Attentive Dog Owners: Some owners are oblivious to their dog’s actions. To keep your dog safe, pay attention to your dog the entire time you are in the dog park.
Aggression: If you see a dog going after a more submissive dog, you can about bet trouble will ensue. You can’t control who uses the dog park, little lone the types of dogs that will frequent, however, if your dog is timid you should avoid late day trips when other dogs are full of energy after being cooped up all day. If you have an aggressive dog that does not play well with other, either find a more secluded dog park or area to run your dog or keep your dog under close restraint while around other dogs.
Doggie Hardware: Keep an eye on the dogs around you. If you see dogs wearing a chain or prong collar, these are the types of dog collars that do not belong in a dog park. During play, others may get their jaw caught and lose a tooth or even choke to death.
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We're trying to get the village to cover half of the cost of putting in a doggie park. They are considering it as I write. I've been working hard trying to design a good park and all of this will come in handy. Thanks so much for all of the valuable information you put in your column.
ReplyDeleteWe live in a Chicago suberb and we actually have 2 doggie parks near us. They keep them very clean and if they see you not picking up after your dog, you will be asked not to return. It's a wonderful area for the dog and quite enjoyable for the walker too.
ReplyDeleteThe city just opened up a really nice doggie park about 6 blocks from our house. We get a nice walk and a good workout for both of us. I love it and I wonder what we did without it.
ReplyDeleteI sure wish they had a dog park in our town. There really is no place to walk a dog unless you take the car to the edge of town. That's really a hassle. I'm sure there are enough dogs to warrant their own park but I don't see that happening any time soon.
ReplyDeleteWe have a pretty new dog walk and it is well cared for, both by the owners and the walkers. Violations mean you're not welcome for a period of time. 3 and you don't come back at all. My only problem is this little yapper that jumps and snaps at you ankles. The owner thinks it cute. I hate to turn him in, but I don't intend to let that dog connect with my ankle either.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I took Dog to the new dog park we went after work. Boy was that ever a mistake. I could tell that most of the dogs there had been cooped up all day. A couple of the bigger dogs got into a fight and the owners barely got them apart. That was enough for me, we left and just walked the long way home for exercise. We'll try a different time of the day tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited. Our village has just approved the site for a doggie park and thanks to you I have had a chance to offer several suggestions. I'm glad they sent out a survey and asked for pointers. Thanks for thinking about our pets and their welfare.
ReplyDeleteWow--never thought to pay attention to the dangerous dog collars. Thank you! I think I'll print this out and hand it out to dog owners at the park.
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