The dog park is a place of wonderful doggy freedom and fun. What’s better than watching your fluff ball run and play with abandon along with their fluffy friends? There is a lot to be said for the positive influences and play dogs can have at an off-leash park. It’s a great opportunity for socialization, our pals get to run their crazy out after maybe being inside for the day (can anyone say zoomies?), and we get our own exercise in walking through the park with them.

That being said, to make sure it’s fun for everyone, us humans should try to keep a few things in mind when releasing our furry friend to the masses at an off-leash park.

1. Basics

It is highly recommended your dog be vaccinated and healthy if you’re going to take them to a park. There are a lot of aspects in an off-leash park you will have no control over, so protecting your dog as much as you are able is a good start. If you have a puppy, you want to wait until they’ve had all of their puppy shots before exposing them to other dogs. It’s also highly recommended your dog be spayed or neutered before the go to the park, especially if they are over about six months of age. This will reduce the risk of aggression/fighting with other dogs, and avoid any risk of unwanted/unexpected pregnancies.

If you’re bringing a puppy to the park, you need to keep an extra close eye on them. Puppies learn a lot in their early months, and are much more prone to traumatization from negative experiences at an early age. You want to make sure all your puppy’s interactions are positive to reduce the risk of reactive/defensive behaviour in the future.

2. Start slow

For new dog owners, an off-leash park might be overwhelming. There are a lot of dogs everywhere, there’s probably a lot of open space, and depending on your dog, their first instinct may just be to bolt to the farthest corner they can find. This can encourage negative behaviour and lessen the strength of your recall command if you have to yell repeatedly at your pooch to try and get them to return. It is highly recommended you have a strong recall bond with your dog before you go to an off-leash park. Some parks also have smaller enclosed areas where you can work on that recall with your dog while in a distracting environment. You can also use these pens for small group play-dates with other dogs.

3. Don’t keep your dog on-leash at an off-leash park

There are cases where you may want to use your leash for a period of time (to lead your dog away from something/another dog, to lead them out of the park, or for short ‘time-out’ breaks), but for the most part you need to be able to let your dog roam. Leashed dogs may become reactive/aggressive to off-leash dogs approaching them, and vice versa.

4. Watch your dog at all times

It only takes a second for play to get out of hand, and it happens. Just as you don’t get along with everyone you meet, neither will your dog. Keep an eye on your pooch and their playmates, and make sure you can safely intervene before play gets out of hand. Remember, NEVER reach into the midst of dogs who have gotten out of hand – you might lose yours. Watch for stress cues from your dog, like a tucked tail, excessive yawning, unusual snapping/baring of teeth, growling, raised hackles, etc. Call your dog to you, and lead them away from the situation.

If you’re new to dogs, signs of healthy play include a perky tail, frequent ‘bowing’ (when a dog lowers their front legs/chest to the ground), mild growling, and role reversal playing (chaser becomes the chased, and vice versa).

There are fine lines which can be hard to spot, but if you feel uncomfortable with the situation, call your dog and move on. Try to keep in mind a dogs idea of play is going to be different than yours, and make sure you know the difference if an off-leash park is somewhere you plan to take your dog to.

5. Leave your toys at home

Even if your dog has no problems sharing their favourite ball, other dogs may be reactive or possessive of toys. This doesn’t mean they are a bad dog, it’s probably something their owner is working on, but it will make their park visit much less enjoyable. If you really want to play fetch with fido, be considerate of others. Don’t throw toys for someone else’s dog, or when other dogs are in your area. Avoid peak times so you have more space to play. And prepare to lose whatever toy you bring, because it’s bound to happen at some point.

6. NEVER feed someone else’s dog without asking

Food aggression is also a common trait in dogs, and you never know what sort of allergies or intolerances another dog may have. Beef and chicken allergies are more common than you think. But more importantly, most people don’t want their dog begging for treats, especially from other people. It only encourages behaviour the dogs owner probably doesn’t appreciate. It might be cute for you, but for the owner it’s probably not. Give affection instead, something you can all appreciate.

7. Pick up after your pup

There is nothing worse than going to the park for some play-time and ending up with a dog covered in poop. Nobody wants that. On top of that, animal poop will attract other animals. Picking up after your dog is part and parcel of the deal. Nobody likes doing it, but it’s what you signed up for when you got a dog.

Puppies. The fur babies of our hearts.

I know a few parents of children get a bit angsty when they hear people call their pets fur babies, but hopefully they understand how we mean it.

A puppy is similar to a baby in a lot of ways. You have to feed it often. You have to take it out to eliminate even more often, 24/7, -30 or otherwise. Puppies need attention, playtime, and instruction. Basically, they own your time and your life for the first year or so. Not as long as a baby, but you see where the term came from.

So, moving on.

Puppies are a challenge. I’d never had a dog before, we were always too busy growing up, and then there was post-secondary, then finding a job, trying to establish some sort of routine in my life, on and on. I talked about getting a dog for years and years, but never seemed to have the time. I spent hours and hours researching different types of dogs, various training techniques, what to expect, what to feed them, crate training vs. not crate training, etc., etc.. I always had doubts about whether I should, was this the right time, am I secure enough in my job, can I really afford a puppy...

Eventually I decided if I wanted to get a dog, I needed to make it happen. After asking my boss and everyone in my workplace if they’d be okay with me bringing a puppy in to work, I decided to do it. So I moved from my studio apartment in downtown Calgary, because it was not pet friendly, to a townhouse with a roommate (AND a cat), solely to get a puppy.

Here’s the thing about animals. They don’t know, and don’t care, that you rearranged your entire life just for them. Same as babies again. They. Don’t. Care. They have basic, elemental needs, and you’ve just established yourself as their provider when you took them from their mother and littermates. You’re it, kid. So if you’re expecting them to appreciate you, don’t. For quite some time at least.

For me, it was probably well into year two before I felt that connection with Jas where I was more than just a provider. Even still, Belle has only been in our house for two months, and I already feel a stronger connection with her. Dogs have dramatically different personalities, just like people.

And they can be infuriating. For example, one of Jas’s specialties was coming back inside after I’d let her out to eliminate, her refusing to go outside, and immediately peeing or pooping upon re-entry to the house. Immediately. For months, this went on. I thought I would kill her. I thought about giving up. I thought I was insane, and that nothing I’d read really explained just how hard it was going to be. And this included in the middle of the night. One thing I’d read was that you should try to wake your puppy up and take them outside before they woke you up. So every two hours, for three weeks, I would wake up to take her out. I was a miserable human being. I cannot even imagine doing that for a baby for a year or more. Props to the human parents is all I’ll say.

But I stuck it out. I’d committed to her, and I was determined to see it through. She’s come a long way in the last three years, and we’ve definitely bonded over a love of frisbee. The girl can jump.

Belle, on the other hand, has minor destructive tendencies. She’ll chew on things she really shouldn’t, if given the chance and she’s peckish enough. Things like books, baseboard, or the leg of a dresser, for example. But rarely. Other than that, she picked up potty training in a few weeks. She listens well, and she follows Jas like a little shadow. I think she’s made Jas a happier dog, and she’s made me a happier human. I’ve heard both ways about two dogs, but I’d swear it makes life so much easier when they have each other to play with, especially with one being older. Belle was a foster I had no intention of keeping (silly me, I know). I thought she’d be like Jas, and I’d have no trouble letting her go. I learned something.

Puppies are all different, and there’s no way to tell what they’re going to be like. The best you can do is research, plan, and hope for the best. Stick to your guns early, decide what’s really important, and don’t let the puppy be the boss. You have to make sure they know you’re the pack leader, you’re in charge, and they can’t bully you into what they want.

Most of all, make sure you’re aware of the time and dedication it’s going to take to turn your rampaging little ball of fur into the companion you’re hoping for.

Dogs of Our Lives

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Puppy love

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