Dog Parks: Are They Right For Your Dog?

Dogs are social creatures and many of them enjoy the company of their own kind. For a social dog, being around other dogs at the park can provide exercise through play, boost confidence, and relieve stress. However, for a dog that isn’t sure about other dogs or prefers to make friends slowly, being at the dog parks can lead to anxiety and even fights. 

 

Does your Dog Want New Playmates

Not every dog wants to romp or wrestle with other dogs. Dog parks are often full of young, teenage dogs burning off a lot of excess energy. As they age, many dogs become less tolerant of that energy. They may be happier just hanging out with their existing friends and less interested in meeting new ones. Also, some dogs strongly prefer human company. If your dog doesn’t seem to enjoy being at a dog park, shows signs of stress, or gets into scuffles, don’t continue to force them to go. Maybe they can enjoy group walks or hikes where there is less interaction. They might make a friend through a longer, slower introduction process. Or maybe they just want time with you. That’s okay too.  

If your dog has issues with other dogs, a dog park isn’t a good place to work on them. Throwing them into a strange group of dogs to let the “pack” help them can be dangerous. Those other dogs may not be good models or gentle teachers. Fights can lead to injury and liability. Also, each time your dog gets into a conflict with another dog, they are learning to distrust other dogs even more. Rather than helping fix their behavior, you may be making it worse.

Does your Dog Enjoy the Park?    

When you take your dog to the dog park, you want them to feel safe and enjoy the experience. Otherwise, what’s the point? 

Signs Your Dog is Having Fun:

  • Approaching other dogs to interact, including playing and sniffing.
  • Moving around with a relaxed body and loose, wagging tail.
  • Sniffing and exploring while allowing other dogs to approach without getting tense.
  • Playing with you while other dogs share the space without tension or reaction. 

Signs Your Dog Wants to Go Home:

  • Hiding behind you or pressing up against your body.
  • Sitting by the gate or racing along the fence looking for an exit.
  • Growling, showing teeth, or snapping at every dog that approaches. A dog may do this once or twice as part of normal communication but not frequently.
  • Barking, growling, lunging, or snapping at people in the park.
  • Scuffling and fighting with other dogs.

​ Handling Challenging Situations​

If your dog seems to generally enjoy the park but has a challenge or two, they may need you to help them out with some attention or training. 

  • Difficult to Catch: Many dogs don’t want to leave their friends. Work on training a very strong “come” but know that coming away from having fun will be a hard skill for your dog to master. Make sure you start practicing at home first and reward a lot. At the park, practice when they aren’t playing, just exploring. Reward and send them back to what they were doing. Don’t only call your dog when it’s time to leave. By calling them over just to get a quick treat and then sending them back to play, they learn coming to you doesn’t only equal an end to the fun.
  • Playstyle Mismatch: Dogs that want to hang out quietly often don’t appreciate insistent players. Those who like to run and chase may not enjoy wrestling with rougher players. It’s completely normal for some dogs to not be good playmates. If one dog continues to try to play or harass the other, they should be separated. Dog parks are often full of high energy players. If your dog doesn’t enjoy that, find a different place for them to socialize. 
  • Guarding Items: If your dog shows aggressive behavior toward other dogs when they have food or toys, remove these things from the play area. Since you can’t always control what’s at the dog park, you may need to find a different place to socialize. 

Other Places to Make Friends 

If your dog enjoys playing with a few dog park friends but not others, you can try meeting them when the park is otherwise empty so they can enjoy each other’s company. You’ll have to be ready to leave if other dogs arrive though. Lucky enough to have a yard? Invite your dog’s friends to play there so you don’t have to contend with strangers. 

If dog parks aren’t the right fit for your dog (and they aren’t for many), you can try some of these other social opportunities:

  • Doggie Daycare: Many daycares offer playgroups for the dogs during the day. These groups should be supervised by knowledgeable staff and sorted by play style. For a dog that just needs appropriate matches, daycare can work well. Unfortunately many daycares don’t have staff that is trained to understand complex dog social behavior and they may not know how to help every dog find their place. A daycare should provide the dogs with breaks for rest from play and never leave dogs in playgroups without supervision.
  • Hiking or Walking Groups: Join a group of like-minded dog owners for a group walk. The focus is on moving instead of interacting and can take the pressure off a dog that isn’t comfortable being approached for play. Your dog may even make a friend through this slower introduction process. 
  • Friends, Family, and Neighbors: Adult dogs get to know each other best with multiple, short introductions. Rather than spending time trying to get your dog to enjoy the dog park, focus on finding long-term friend dogs amongst those already in your life. Your dog doesn’t need to be friends with every dog around them but they may find one or two whose company they enjoy.

Not every dog needs canine companions. If your dog is still struggling to interact with other dogs or clearly wants to avoid them, find a different activity to share with them. 

 

This material was written in collaboration with dog behavior consultant Jessica Char.
Learn more at   www.CanineEngineering.com