The APDT Chronicle of the Dog Summer 2020 | Page 45

FEATURE | SAFER AT THE DOG PARK
Dog parks have never been more popular. They
fill an important need as yard size shrinks
and cities become more densely populated,
and many caregivers believe that taking a
dog to the dog park is a necessary part of being a
good pet parent. However, as dog park use increases
so does the risk of dog fights. For this reason, many
trainers advise caregivers against visiting dog parks,
but this doesn’t help those who rely on these spaces,
nor does it persuade those willing to take the chance
for the enjoyment they and their dogs experience at
the parks. It is essential that park users are fully aware
of the risks and understand how to use these spaces
more safely.
How common are dog fights in dog parks?
“In smaller city parks where the dog population is
high, many people want to provide their pup with
off-leash time regardless if it is the right environment
….20-plus dogs in a place the size of my living room
with absolutely nothing to do .. and this is their
only time out of the house/outlet for interaction of
any kind? I’m more surprised when conflicts don’t
arise!” ~ survey respondent #88
“I think sometimes they are playing and accidents
happen. It's the owners that sometimes blow things
out of proportion” ~ survey respondent #9
Some dog park users and people who study dog
behavior insist that inter-dog aggression at dog
parks is rare and not a significant concern. On the
other hand, many others, including dog behavior
professionals and veterinarians, believe dog fights are
common in dog parks and caution people about using
them. How can there be such a difference of opinion?
Certainly, people differ in their risk tolerance, and
there can be vast differences in experiences and
knowledge that shape viewpoints. Some may view a
dog interaction as aggression while others believe it is
normal dog communication or even play. Veterinarians
and dog trainers are often consulted when dog park
visits go wrong, so they may perceive dog fights as
being frequent with a high risk of severe consequences.
On the other hand, caregivers of “bomb-proof” dogs
with excellent social skills may believe dog fights are uncommon
and rarely result in injuries. Anecdotal evidence has value and
should not be ignored, but it needs to be weighed against hard data
gained formal observation and scientific study.
What does some research say about the risk of dog
fights in dog parks?
Surveys distributed at dog parks are likely to result in low
risk/concern about dog fights because of selection bias. Many
caregivers stop visiting dog parks after a dog fight, so their
responses are less likely to be included in on-site surveys of park
users. A possible example of this type of bias can be found in a
study of four dog parks (Lee, 2007). The survey for the first dog
park was mailed to all residents in the area whether they were
current park users or not, and concern about dog fights ranked
second; the surveys for the other three parks were handed
directly to park users, and the concern about dog fights ranked
fourth.
Misinterpretation can happen when conclusions from research
papers are taken out of context. For example, “‘Bark Parks’
— A Study on Interdog Aggression in a Limited-Control
Environment” (Shyan, Fortune & King, 2003) calculated that
dogs in the park spent 0.5 percent of their time in aggressive
interactions, and this study is frequently cited as evidence that
interdog aggression in dog parks is rare. However, a closer
examination reveals a different interpretation. From March 2001
to November 2001, researchers visited one dog park 72 times (for
one-hour each visit). During this time, researchers calculated 21
minutes of aggressive dog interactions (14 unambiguous conflicts
lasting less than one minute each; 14 ambiguous conflicts lasting
less than 30 seconds each). If one were interested in the amount of
time dogs were aggressing compared to all other interactions, then
the 0.5 percent calculation would be useful (21 minutes divided
by 4,320 minutes). However, caregivers want to know the chances
that a dog fight is likely to occur at a dog park, and based on the
data from this study, incidents of interdog aggression occurred 19-
to-39 percent of the time (14 to 28 incidents in 72 visits).
Another limitation of formal studies is that the conclusions are
unlikely to generalize well. There are numerous variables that
affect dog behaviors, such as the design and size of the park, the
behaviors of the caregivers, the number of dogs in the immediate
area, and the dogs’ sociability, play-style, and training. Even
the same dog park will offer a very different user experience
depending on the day of the week or time of day. An example
Photo: Shutterstock
The APDT Chronicle of the Dog | Summer 2020 43