Three Reasons I Don't Do Dog Parks
I get a lot of questions from clients on how to navigate dog park drama. It's an extremely troubling issue for most people, especially apartment dwellers or those without a functional yard. For many dogs, the dog park means the difference between getting to run free regularly or being leashed or tethered during outdoor time. As with anything in life, there are risks and benefits to literally every decision we could possibly make. With this in mind, I have decided that most dog parks in the US do not pass the test.
1. Unnatural
Dogs evolved in hierarchical packs which, for the most part, kept to themselves. Dogs from different packs didn't interbreed or mingle, as a rule. Occasionally they fought for territory. Because pack drive is at the center of a dog's nature, having a predictable "place" in the pack helps set the dog up to make good choices and feel competent. When you throw dogs from different families into the same yard and allow them to run free, things can (predictably) go haywire. There is no way to reasonably ensure which dogs will show up at which times, which robs the dogs of the ability to form relationships safely and organically. Since the composition of dogs is new each time, your dog will have to start from scratch over and over again.
2. Unsafe
As humans, we LOVE giving others the benefit of the doubt. Most of us believe that the world is a generally safe place, and that most dog owners can be trusted to vet their dogs for dangerous behavior that might otherwise exclude them from a public setting. Moreover, we believe most dogs are friendly! We teach our children to approach strange dogs and ask to pet them. However, due to a confluence of issues facing our modern world, most dog owners are wholly unaware of proper canine behavior, and are ill-equipped to correct or contain their dog in the event of an accident. It only takes one bite, one canine meltdown to cost you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in vet bills and training (congratulations, you now have a fear aggressive dog who is likely to react to other dogs from now on!) Not to mention the pain and suffering both you and your dog will endure after the incident. Unless your dog is trained to an extremely high degree, with a bombproof recall and impeccable social skills, he should not be at a dog park.
3. Unfair
Even if your dog DOESN'T get attacked, there are still drawbacks. Since most owners are uneducated in canine behavior, dogs get away with a lot of things that are considered "rude" in the dog world - humping, nose to nose greeting, extremely rough play, etc. Most dogs, especially if they are more mellow, will allow it, in order to avoid risking a fight (see #2). I've seen dogs be repeatedly humped for over an hour, as the owners sit back unaware. As humans, we too tend to shy away from conflict, and unfortunately this often equates to staying silent when we should address the owner of a pushy dog. This is not fair to your dog, and it is unkind of you to put him in such situations repeatedly. Would you want to be humped against your will, for any amount of time? No? Then kindly give your dog the same choice.
So, what can you do if the dog park is your only option? While dog parks can be hectic, dangerous, and unpredictable, we cannot discount the value of proper socialization. Try reaching out to other dog owners in your area to talk about doing dog play dates. Perhaps they would be happy to let your dog come play in their back yard for a few hours per week. With fewer dogs and lower stimulation all around, owners will be better equipped to address untoward behavior as it occurs, and dogs are set up to have a better time.