Episode #183 Should I take my dog to a dog park?

Looking for safer, controlled alternatives to dog parks? We've got you covered! In the second part of our conversation, I share my personal experiences and favorite activities that ensure your dog stays active while minimizing risks. From harnessed walks in regular parks to fun games of fetch and Frisbee, these alternatives provide a secure environment for your pet to play and exercise. Tune in for creative, enjoyable ways to keep your dog engaged and well-exercised without the unpredictability of dog parks. Happy training, and enjoy the rest of your week!

Chapters

• 0:00 Take Dog to Dog Park?
• 11:30 Alternatives to Dog Parks

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

This is the Puppy Training Podcast, episode 183, should I Take my Dog to a Dog Park? This podcast is designed to help you on your journey of becoming best friends through love and learning, as you train your own dog from home, and I'm here to help you every step of the way. This is the Puppy Training Podcast and I'm your host, amy Jensen. Of the way, this is the puppy training podcast and I'm your host, amy Jensen. Hey, you guys, welcome.

Speaker 1: 0:32

This is the puppy training podcast, and today we are talking about dog parks. Dog parks are a bit controversial in the dog world, so today I want to give you my thoughts on them and then help you make an educated decision as to whether you're going to take your dog to one or not. Now, dog parks, while popular and seemingly convenient, are not always the ideal environment for every dog. Now, despite their benefits, these parks can pose significant risks that outweigh their advantages for many dogs and their people. Now, today, let's explore again why visiting a dog park may not be the best choice, and I'm going to also suggest alternative methods that you can use to safely exercise your dog. So here are my reasons for avoiding dog parks. First of all, behavioral issues Not all dogs are well socialized or have the temperament to interact safely with other dogs. Aggressive behavior, rough play and even bullying can occur when we get groups of dogs together that are maybe unfamiliar with each other, leading to often injuries and stress which we don't really want our dogs to experience. Now, some dogs may develop a fear or anxiety from these negative experiences at the park, which can then lead into more behavioral problems that we now have to help them navigate.

Speaker 1: 1:46

Number two is health concerns. Dog parks can be breeding grounds for parasites, bacteria and viruses. Despite vaccination requirements, there's still a risk that your dog might be exposed to diseases such as kennel cough, giardia and parvo. Additionally, the presence of feces and urine in common areas can lead to the spread of infections and parasites. Number three is that dog parks can be unpredictable. Right, the unpredictability of the environment is a risk, so not all people supervise their dogs adequately, and some may bring dogs that are not suitable for off-leash play. This lack of control can lead to unsafe situations and even conflicts between dogs that can lead suitable for off-leash play. This lack of control can lead to unsafe situations and even conflicts between dogs that can lead to those behavioral issues that we talked about just a second ago. My number four concern is physical hazards. Poorly maintained dog parks can have physical hazards, such as broken fences, sharp objects, holes in the ground. These hazards can cause injuries to our dogs, especially during vigorous play. Now I know there are some really nice, beautiful dog parks out there. So this is just a word of caution that some dog parks are not always the best kept and you'll want to make sure that you check the area for safety for your dogs.

Speaker 1: 2:57

Number five overstimulation. It's really easy to get dogs into a state of high arousal when you take them to a dog park. Now, for some dogs, the high energy environment of a dog park can be overwhelming. Overstimulation can lead to heightened arousal, which makes it difficult for dogs to respond to us, whether we're giving them cues, but also increasing the likelihood that they might be aggressive, reactive or have some anxious behavior. So, while they're not my favorite thing, if you can tell, I understand that some of you live in areas where you don't have a lot of other options. You don't have a big private backyard where you can let your dog just go run. So I understand that, and if you don't have these spaces where your dog can go run in a safe, more controlled environment, then, yes, a dog park might be the answer for you, but hopefully you can go through those five issues that I have with them and hopefully manage them a little bit right. You can make sure that you're going at times when maybe your dog is the only dog there or maybe you have a friend who can bring their dog and there's just a well-known dogs there. Other times would be, if you go and you see dogs there that are bullying other dogs, maybe observe from outside and say, okay, I'm not sure I'm bringing my dog in there right now, maybe we'll come back at a less busy time. You know those hazards we talked about. You can go walk the dog park and make sure that it is safe for your dog. The health risk is always going to be there. Make sure you bring your dog's own water bowl and stuff like that so that they're not sharing things with other dogs, and then make sure your dog is fully vaccinated. But health concerns will always be present. Over-stimulation will always be present as well when there's other dogs around and just the the risk that some of those dogs might not be super friendly or maybe they'll start to gang up on your dog and you want to make sure that you know how to handle those situations. So let's talk about some safe alternatives, because there are alternatives out there to going to a dog park Now, number one are regular walks.

Speaker 1: 4:56

Daily walks are great for your dog's physical and mental health. Walking allows for a controlled exercise environment, right Bonding time for you and your dog, and it exposes your dog to different environments. They love to sniff and check out new things. So a regular walk where they get to have a little bit of a longer leash and let them just go sniff, is really healthy for both their mental and physical health. If you vary your route and incorporate different terrains, then you can provide additional mental stimulation for your dog.

Speaker 1: 5:25

The next one is backyard play. So again, I know some of you have access to a backyard, others of you do not, but you might have a friend who has access to a backyard. So if you have access to a secure backyard, this can be an excellent place for your dog to run and play safely. You can set up agility equipment. You can play fetch or engage in interactive games that keeps your dog physically active and mentally stimulated. For those of you who live in apartment buildings you might have your own dog park. It's associated with your apartment building and, again, you could use that as your private backyard, as long as you pay attention to times of the day and go when it's less busy or there aren't any other dogs there.

Speaker 1: 6:03

Number three hiking. I love hiking. Now, I live in an area where there are mountains all around me, so finding a trail is not difficult. Depending on where you live. This might be a little more tricky for you, but take your dog on a hike, go, find a pathway to follow. This is some good, rigorous exercise in a controlled environment that's healthy for your dog. So hiking trails offer varied terrain and natural stimuli in the environment, which can be really enriching for your dog. Again, they love to sniff and check out new things. Do ensure the trails you choose are dog friendly and safe and keep your dog on a leash.

Speaker 1: 6:36

Number four playdates. Organize playdates with dogs your pet knows and gets along with. I like playdates because I can schedule them one-on-one. There's not a group of dogs chasing my dog around, it's just one dog. If you know several dogs and they're all friendly, yeah, you can get a several of them together, but again, you're in control of who's there to play, not just who happens to be at the dog park today. So organized playdates your dog will really thank you for these. They like to sometimes just play like a dog. So if you can find a dog that's similar size to your puppy, with similar energy, similar play styles, let them get together and play, and this can be done indoors. It doesn't have to be outdoors, um, but again, having that option of I get to choose who my dog plays with can really be a good thing. Do ensure that all the dogs are healthy and up to date on their vaccinations a good thing. Do ensure that all the dogs are healthy and up to date on their vaccinations.

Speaker 1: 7:25

Number five dog friendly activities. You can participate in classes that are local to you. So obedience classes, agility training, canine sports like fly ball or dock diving there's so many things you can get your dog involved in. Scent detection classes, therapy work. These activities provide structured exercise and mental challenges, which fosters a great bond between you and your dog and some of these things your dog might really love to do. You might think they're fun too, and you might meet other dog people who can become your good friends.

Speaker 1: 7:56

Number six interactive toys and games. There are so many puzzles and toys on the market today, many that you can make yourself. Even so, find a few interactive toys and games that engage your dog's mind and body. Puzzle toys, food dispensing toys, games like hide and seek can provide substantial mental stimulation and also physical activity, which your dog is looking for. On our website, we have a games and activities page full of field trip ideas, places that you can take your dog out into the community. Also, games you can play in and around your house. If you have kids in your home, that's a really fun page to go visit for some structured training, but also a good time. So don't forget about the interactive toys, and I like to make everything a game if possible when it comes to training.

Speaker 1: 8:40

Number seven is swimming. If your dog enjoys water, swimming is a good choice. It's a low impact exercise. Many dogs love playing in the water and swimming can be a great way to keep them fit. Do ensure that the swimming area is safe and clean and always supervise your dog around water. You'll want to make sure, if you're at a lake, that you're checking for any kind of non-safe algae. We don't want any of that, but make sure that it's a safe place for dogs to swim. Usually there are signs posted, things that, will you know, alert you to any hazards or risks. Uh, but again, some dogs really like to swim so if they have access to water, letting them swim is a good time.

Speaker 1: 9:16

Number eight training. Utilizing dog parks for training. So here's how I use dog parks Instead of going into the dog park, I stay outside the park but I'm within sight of other dogs and now I have a nice controlled uh area that I can expose my dog to other dogs and these kinds of distractions and we can work on focusing on me or doing cues that I give my dog. So this method can be particularly beneficial for dogs that need to improve their focus and ability to listen in more stimulating environments. It creates a great natural distraction and there's a great.

Speaker 1: 9:50

If you have a dog that maybe is nervous or reactive around other dogs, that's a great place to go to set up your sessions where they can see a dog. We turn and walk away and they get rewarded, right, so they're seeing dogs, but they turn and walk away. I'm always telling clients you got to go, find a spot where you'll see other dogs. Dog parks are usually a good ticket, but again, we stay outside, we work on training on the other side of the fence. All right, be sure you guys, in any of this that we're talking about, that we're using positive reinforcement. So we want to make sure that when our dog does see other dogs, that we are rewarding their calm and focused behavior. I like to give them food, praise and toys, even like a little play session while they're seeing other dogs off in the distance can really help them see other dogs as positive and I love that we're working on.

Speaker 1: 10:35

You can see dogs, but that doesn't mean we always run up to them and we always go say hi. In fact, 90% of the time when I'm out with my dogs, we're not saying hi to other dogs, we're simply just observing them in the environment and we're moving along. That will help you create a dog that's not reactive to other dogs. So, as well as if you do have this reactive dog, maybe some gradual desensitization, we can gradually increase the proximity to the park as your dog becomes more comfortable and less reactive to the presence of other dogs. So, as you're working out here, you will be able to get closer and closer to the area where the dogs are, but again, it's controlled. So you get to set up those sessions, uh, so that your dog will be successful. You are creating success for your dog, setting them up for success and your training will go so much further and so much faster when we're working below their thresholds. Again, be consistent and any type of training that we do. Regular short sessions are much more effective than infrequent longer ones. And there you have it.

Speaker 1: 11:29

Those are my thoughts on dog parks.

Speaker 1: 11:30

I know I'm not a huge fan of them. I don't take my dogs to dog parks, I just like to go find other ways to exercise them. So hopefully the alternatives I gave you today can kind of help you think outside the box a little bit as to how we can exercise our dogs. I love taking my dogs to, just say, a regular park put their harness on, put a long line on, we can play fetch Frisbee there. But we're in a space that's a little more controlled, if you will, where I'm able to see what other dogs are around. We can leave if necessary. I'm not just letting my dog free with a bunch of other dogs that I don't know to run around and possibly cause issues. So hopefully that's helpful for you today Gives you a few ideas of alternatives and things that you can do to exercise your dog. You guys have a wonderful rest of your week and happy training. If you have a question about anything you heard on this podcast or any other puppy training question, visit my site Baxter and Bellacom to contact me.