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Dog Park Safety Tips continued from page 6...
• With puppies, try to visit at quieter times so your pet can get used to this sort of socialization. Once your puppy is fully vaccinated, they may find the dog park overwhelming. Some dog parks may even have specific times or separate areas for smaller dogs.
• On that note, take your senior pet during quiet times. Elderly and arthritic dogs may not be able to keep up, turn as quickly during the chase or may get knocked down by younger, more agile dogs.
• Avoid going to the dog park at“ rush hour.” Everyone gets home from work and takes their dog out for a romp and visit. But just like on the highway, rush hour means more dogs and more chances for an aggressive encounter or an injury.
• Avoid giving out greats, as this may lead to aggression and conflict between dogs who want to snatch treats away – and pet owners too, who may not want their dog receiving your treats.
• Leave toys( balls or Frisbees) at home or save them for a different part of your outing. While your dog may keep their paws off others dogs’ toys, that doesn’ t mean other dogs are as well-mannered. Other dogs may try to take off with your dog’ s toys, leading to aggression.
• Pay attention to your dog and how they’ re interacting with their friends-and foes. While most of the time dogs can work out their issues, if there are signs that two dogs just aren’ t getting along, it’ s up to the owners to intervene. Don’ t wait for a fight before you act. If your dog does get into a fight, use extreme caution to separate them since human bite injury often occurs during these scenarios.
Dog parks aren’ t for everyone. If your dog cowers by your legs or tries to hide behind you, they may be a little timid and wary of the chaos of the dog park. Instead, choose a trail walk with dogs they know!
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