Are Dog Parks Actually Bad for Dogs?

Aย recent opinion piece in the New York Times was titled โ€œDog Parks Are Great for People. Too Bad Theyโ€™re Terrible for Dogs.โ€ Maybe it has you thinking twice about dog parks, but youโ€™ve got a high-energy dog who requires plenty of exercise. While walks are wonderful and your backyard is fine for fetch games, you yearn to let your dog run free in a large, enclosed space. Thereโ€™s a dog park nearby. Should you go, or steer clear? As with so many things, the answer is it depends.

First, The Good Things About Dog Parks

First, the good. A large, enclosed space offers an excellent opportunity for dogs to run full out. Assuming all the dogs present are social (weโ€™ll get to that in a minute), frolicking with new friends can be physically, emotionally, and mentally stimulating. And dogs arenโ€™t the only ones who gain social benefits. Spending time with other dog owners can be enjoyable, and oftentimes those who frequent a park on a regular basis form social groups where they chat while their dogs romp happily together. At my local park, the same group of women meets each morning. Itโ€™s early enough that they are usually the only ones there. And despite the fact that their dogs all get along, they are constantly vigilant. They monitor body language, give their dogs breaks when arousal levels get too high, and are able to stop potential problems before things get out of hand. That, my friends, is the best-case scenario.

dogs in a park

SAJ/Adobe Stock

And the Not-So-Good: Bullying, Attacks, and More

Now for the not-so-good. First, the vast majority of dog parks are completely unregulated. I am not talking here about a paid, private park but the typical public dog park. (Alternatives include the app Sniffspot, which lets people rent out their backyards by the hour to dog owners in search of secure spaces where their pups can play. Most listings are priced at around $10 an hour for one dog or $15 for two. And New York City offers an array of members-only dog parks, for annual fees ranging from free to $2,200.)

At public parks, dogs are not screened for temperament, nor is there a monitor on site to prevent fights or to ask unruly dogs or people to leave. Combine that with the fact that many people do not keep an eye on their dogs or donโ€™t recognize when a problem is brewing, and bad things can and do happen. Even owners who know that their dogs may be aggressive toward other dogs may attend, which puts everyoneโ€™s dogs at risk. Although I would never take my own dogs to a busy dog park, I did spend a lot of time gathering dog-park footage for my Dissecting the Dynamics of Dog-Dog Play seminar. Sadly, I was able to film many incidents of dogs being bullied, with some being targeted over and over. There were also plenty of fearful dogs who, unbeknownst to their owners, were not having any fun at all. And, of course, there were numerous skirmishes and even some full-out fights. Itโ€™s important to understand that a dog who is attacked by another dog may suffer not only physical damage, but emotional and mental trauma as well. Even a dog who has never had issues with other dogs can develop fear-based reactivity after a single incident. I know many owners shrug this off, saying that it has never happened to their dog. To those people I say, not yet.

Irina Popova/Bigstock

Should You Take Your Dog to a Dog Park? Probably Not. But If You Do, Here’s What to Look Out For

Many professional trainers, myself included, will advise you to eschew dog parks altogether unless they are well regulated, there are no other dogs present or, at the very least, you are familiar with the other dogs and know that everyone gets along. But if you are going to frequent dog parks, I suggest the following: First, take a few moments before entering to assess the situation. Check that all the dogs look like theyโ€™re enjoying themselves, with loose, relaxed body language. Keep an eye out for any signs of tension or snarkiness. Once inside, if another dog bullies yours (or vice versa), step in and call your dog to you, away from the action. Give your dog a break and allow them to calm down for a few minutes. If things get really heated, or you feel uncomfortable for any reason, leave immediately. Once an aggressive episode has taken place, the entire energy in the park changes. The resulting tension often causes further altercations, whether between the dogs who were involved in the fight or others. In short, be an advocate for your dog, whether that means attending dog parks in the safest way possible or finding alternative ways to provide exercise, such as play dates.

 

This article originally appeared in the award-winningย Modern Dogย magazine.ย Subscribe today!

Weenie Mom Club

 

“It’s great to have a community.”โ€•Nad Martin (right) and Dachshund Luna with Blair Bissett and Dachshund Tito

 

Amina Ayub, founder of the Weenie Mom Club, is dedicated to her favourite breed, the Dachshund. Not only does she run the Vancouver, BC-based Hello Doxie Rescue Society and a doggy daycare, but she also organizes monthly “Weenie Mom Club” Dachshund meetups through Facebook and Instagram.

“Two of my dogs, Mia and Patch…have been nervous around other breeds of dogs,” says Ayub. “The more I talked to other people who also had Dachshunds, the more I realized these dogs really like their own kind.”

Weenie Mom Club attendees with Dachshund puppies

Spurred by this recognition, Ayub started Weenie Mom Club meetups to build a community of Dachshund lovers and create fun, safe events for their long-bodied dogs. She posted her first free Dachshund meetup event on Instagram and a private Facebook group last year, sharing the Fraser River Dog Park location, time, and date. 20 people showed up. 10 to 50 Dachshunds and their humans now attend each month.

 

He really came out of his shell… He loves playing with other Dachshunds, like more than any other dogs.”โ€•Aziza Win and Dachshund Wiggles

 

“There has been really good turn out and a lot of people have made friends through this group, which is amazing,” says Ayub.

Weenie Mom Club attendee and her dogs

Some attendees now watch each other’s dogs when out of town. Others have discovered they live in the same neighbourhood and are meeting up in between events to go for walks.

 

We connected with Tito’s sister, Luna! The dogs have so much fun playing together. Dachshunds can be a little bit exclusive sometimes.”โ€•Blair Bissett and Dachshund Tito

 

“I always knew there was a community here, but I didn’t realize how many people have Dachshunds! I would never have met them if it wasn’t for social media and meetups,” says Ayub.

Dachshund Dog WigglesDachshund Dog Kooper

 

His reactivity to other dogs is improving! He needs meetups like these to get out excess energy.”โ€•Marie Hunter and rescue Dachshund Kooper

 

Don’t have a Dachshund? Dog meetup groups abound, from the breed-specific to the more general, such as big dog groups, rescue dog groups, little dog groups, and hiking groups. To find (or create!) a group in your area, check out meetup.com or search Facebook for local breed groups and events.

This article originally appeared in the award-winning Modern Dog magazine. Subscribe today!

 

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