Finding the Right Dog Park
You’ve probably heard me or other dog trainers espouse our hate for dog parks. But, I have to be honest- not all dog parks are created equal. There are in fact some good dog parks out there, parks that I’d happily take my own dog or a client’s dog to.
1. Size
What size is the dog park you’re looking at? There’s no cut and dry size that’s appropriate or inappropriate, but think about a few things: is there enough space for dogs to move away from each other? Is there enough space for you and your dog to totally do your own thing, or go for a walk? I generally find that the dog parks I’ll use span at least an acre; my current favorite (Santa Fe Dog Park, near their animal shelter) is 4 acres and I’ve been to similar size parks in Colorado.
2. Crowding
Similar to size, it’s important that dogs have space to get away from each other. If two personalities don’t mix, does one of you have to leave the park or can you each use separate areas in the park? Do the dogs have enough space to engage in appropriate play with one or two dogs, or does the crowding mean that playtime turns into a pack exercise? Again, there’s no cut and dry line on how crowded is too crowded. A ½ acre dog park might be too full with 20 dogs in there, but a larger park would be able to hold many more dogs. For me, I prefer to be able to be in an area by myself without other dogs milling about. For my dog, it’s better to cross paths with the other dogs briefly, say hi, and then go our separate ways.
3. Entrance
There are a few things to consider regarding how you enter a dog park. The entrance is really a crucial part of a dog park to determine whether you’ll have a successful experience. First of all, it’s critical that the entrance to the park is an airlock. This not only prevents escapes but allows you and your dog to adjust to the park inhabitants before entering. The biggest issue I see with dog park entrances is when all the dogs and people are crowded around. In a large dog park, everybody will move away from the entrance into their own area, but in a smaller or more crowded park, there might be many dogs waiting to mob you and your dog with interest when you enter. I don’t recommend entering a dog park where this is the case, as this is one of the biggest causes of either fights or your dog just being completely overwhelmed.
4. Energy
A highly aroused group of dogs in the park can spell trouble. When many people thing of dog parks they picture a whole pack of dogs chasing and wrestling, but this shouldn’t necessarily be the case. A good dog park energy is more stable, with dogs interacting with sniffs and body language and then either mutually deciding to play or moving their own separate ways. If the dogs in a park are too excited (think kids at ChuckECheese’s), then the excited dogs can easily overwhelm a more timid dog, or two excited dog can get overstimulated and start a fight.
5. Owners
Dogs aren’t the only factor in a dog park. How engaged are the other owners? You don’t want disengaged humans who are on their phones or sitting on the other side of the park as their dogs. This can mean that small issues in communication don’t get addressed and end up snowballing into scuffles. The owners at a dog park should be keeping their eye on their dog, watching the body language of their dog and others, and staying in the vicinity of their dog. And, of course, picking up their dog’s poop! As you can see, there are many factors that define a good dog park. Do you frequent dog parks? How does your park stack up against these 5 points? Tell me in the comments!
