Dog parks have never been more popular. They can be good opportunities for your dog to expend excess energy and have fun with other dogs. Unfortunately, as their use increases, so does the concern about dog fights. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do that will dramatically reduce the chances of your dog getting into a serious altercation.
1. Ensure the park has enough space.
Some dogs need a generous amount of space, especially in the context of a dog park where high-intensity play is common and group dynamics are constantly changing as new dogs arrive and others leave. Don’t go to the park when it’s busy – and be prepared to leave early if it starts to get crowded. Avoid congested areas and give more space to dogs who seem stressed or highly aroused, dogs who are playing roughly, and dogs playing with toys.
2. Observe and assess the park conditions.
It’s important to understand that your dog may be at risk merely by being a bystander, so don’t hesitate to change your plan when you get there. It may be disappointing and frustrating if you don’t go in or have to leave early because of other park users, but at least your dog will come home with both ears.
It’s impossible to predict or control the behaviors of other park users – whether they have two legs or four – but you can watch for some indicators to help determine the risk of a dog conflict occurring. Lots of dog poop on the ground can indicate that the park has many users who do not follow rules or are lax in supervising their dogs. Caregivers who are sitting or standing around chatting or using cell phones are likely to be less effective at supervising and intervening before a fight happens.
Before you enter the park, observe the dogs that are there. Dogs who are comfortable have loose and wiggly bodies. Generally speaking, dogs who are uncomfortable either look stiff, perhaps with tails held very high and hackles raised, or look hunched and lowered, with tails tucked (beyond what is typical of the breed). Avoid dogs who relentlessly follow, chase, or hump other dogs despite the other dogs’ attempts to move away.
Other red flags to watch for include dogs excessively chasing or roughhousing, dogs ignoring the calls of their caregivers, and dogs in shock collars. Dogs wearing shock collars experience stress, even when not actively being shocked, and they may be at risk of redirecting their frustration, stress, anxiety, and/or anger toward the nearest bystander.
Before setting out for the park, carefully consider if your dog is a good fit. A dog park is not the place for a dog to learn how to socialize with other dogs; there are too many things that cannot be controlled to ensure that the dog has a positive experience. And overwhelming a dog is a sure way to sensitize her further to the proximity of other dogs.
Dog parks are meant for highly social dogs who enjoy the company of all sorts of unfamiliar dogs. A dog who merely tolerates other dogs or is selective about her dog friends might do okay at a dog park – or she may become sensitized to the experience and become less comfortable.
Be aware that senior dogs and young dogs are at a higher risk of dog fights. Some research suggests that adult dogs are more likely to be the aggressor in a dog park conflict and adolescent dogs (particularly males) under 1-year-old are more likely to be the victim.
A dog’s past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior, but what about dogs with no previous experience in a dog park, or a newly adopted dog with an unknown or unreliable behavior history? Wait several months to get to know a dog before bringing him to a dog park, even if the rescue assures you that your newly adopted dog is good with other dogs.
Before your dog’s first visit to the dog park, find an opportunity to learn to recognize canine stress signals and appropriate play behaviors, and ensure you have good voice control of your dog in distracting environments. When you are out walking your dog, practice recalls with your dog on a long line.
Joining an on-leash walking group can be a safe option to assess and improve your dog’s emotions and behaviors around other dogs. You may discover you and your dog prefer private playdates with one or two familiar dogs or long-leash sniff ’n’ strolls with or without dog friends.
3. Use caution in the entrance area.
Most dog park conflicts occur within 100 feet of the entrance area, with about half of them within the first 20 feet.
This is a high-risk zone because it’s usually congested with distracted caregivers chatting with others or looking at their phones while their dogs race around the area and mob the new arrivals. Some dog park designs make congestion worse by placing amenities like benches or water fountains in the area. Also, funneling all traffic to one entrance and exit, requiring tired dogs who are leaving to mix with over-excited dogs who are arriving, makes the entrance area a fight waiting to happen.
If possible, use an alternate entrance or exit. If this isn’t an option, do your best to wait until the congestion clears (or come back at a different time). Once through the gate, move quickly away from the entrance area and call your dog to come with you. Refrain from tossing a toy, chatting with someone, or being otherwise distracted until you are at least 100 feet from the entrance.
4. Keep your dog moving along.
Some caregivers simply enter the park and sit or stand there, expecting their dogs to play with unfamiliar or incompatible dogs. It’s better to move farther into the park immediately upon entering and continue to walk throughout the park, allowing your dog the choice to engage with, avoid, or ignore dogs along the way, and encouraging your dog to move along with you if her interactions with other dogs are unruly or uncomfortable.
Many dog professionals who are experienced in managing groups of off-leash dogs believe that conflicts are less likely to occur when groups of dogs are kept moving along rather than remaining in one area.
If you want to chat with someone, it’s likely safer to chat while you walk and keep your attention on your dog. Some dog parks are not well-suited to walking a route, such as “dog runs” or parks without a suitable substrate for walking (such as pea gravel). These types of parks are better for brief playdates with a small group of compatible dog friends or a quick romp when the park is empty.
5. Actively supervise your dog.
Effective supervision involves more than just keeping your eyes on your dog. Just like a supervisor at a school yard during recess, you’ll need to be actively engaged and focused on your dog and the other dogs in the area. A dog park is not the place to use your cell phone or catch up on your reading.
Bring your leash with you and watch for canine stress signals indicating your dog or other dogs are uncomfortable or over threshold. Even too much “happy stress” can lead to dog conflicts, especially when intense play shifts into frustration or “the zoomies” (frenetic random activity periods).
Dogs who are close to threshold will find it difficult to respond to cues, so stay attuned to your dog’s arousal levels and periodically ensure that your dog still responds to your cues. If your dog starts disregarding your recall cue, it may be time to change the activity, move to a different area, or leave the park.
It’s important to recognize inappropriate dog play and to be ready to intervene when you see your dog or other dogs exhibiting behaviors that could lead to conflicts. Just because your dog plays well with familiar dogs doesn’t mean your dog will play well with all dogs. Some dogs have incompatible play styles, and dogs who haven’t had much experience playing with unfamiliar dogs might be too rough when playing with new dogs.
Doing a simple consent test can help determine if the play between dogs is consensual or if you need to intervene: Interrupt the play and let the dog who is smaller, less assertive, or the one being chased choose to resume play or not.
Dog parks are fine if thats all you got but if you go their your dog has a good chance of catching something from other dogs just like kids in school my guys got pink eye from the dog park a few years ago never went back and the Vet told me to avoid the park so its to the beach everyday besides the dogs at the dog park got along fine it’s the people that don’t like their dogs to mingle with other dogs but they still bring their dog there but not all people
Not for $1000, would I subject my dog to a mob of strange dogs. Why on earth, would anybody think this is appropriate? Your dog has absolutely no need to interact with a bunch of strange dogs, That list of warnings ought to be enough to knock out the dog park idea.
I agree! I have heard too many awful stories about dog parks in my area. I will never take mine to one because too many people just don’t pay enough attention to their dogs while at the parks, as well as their dog’s health, which can affect the health of others.
I can’t believe your comment it’s very good for dogs to socialize when done correctly. This article was a bit too long and a bit too much and seems like a lot of work and I feel it was written to deter people from going to the dog park. I’ve been going for years I’ve had a couple of little issues here and there but overall positive experiences all the way around
Not all dogs can cope with a dog park and much depends on how vigilant the owners are. I had to whistle an owner walking off into the distance who was so absorbed talking on his mobile phone that he was oblivious to his husky wandering off into the car park (this was a public park in the UK so not enclosed like I think the US parks are). I could have stolen the dog, he could have wandered into the road or just got lost. Also, it is surprising how many owners have no idea of dog behaviour and think it’s fine for their dogs to chase and rough up other dogs.
I have a 9 month old great dane puppy. Her sister at home is a senior dog who does not want to play, and I do not have the energy to play as much as she wants to play. I get tired long before she does. Sure, she can run out her energy on her own in the yard while I sit and watch, but she has a lot more fun at the dog park where she has playmates. This teaches her how to get along with other dogs and humans so that she won’t become reactive / wary / etc. It also teaches her good manners in dealing with other dogs and with people. My dog says hello to every dog and human at the dog park. Not every dog needs to go to the dog park, but it is my dog’s happy place.
Fights do break out but are usually resolved quickly. My dog has never been in any altercations. It IS fine for dogs to rough up and chase other dogs; a lot of dogs like to play this way. I watch for signs of whether the play is consensual or not. If my dog is playing too rough and seems to get on another dog’s nerves, I lead her away. But whenever there’s an actual fighting incident, it’s never my dog–and it’s usually the same dogs over and over, so I just try to keep my dog away from those ones. As for her health, she’s vaccinated. If she gets pink eye, that’s what our veterinarian is there for.
Great comments, and helpful hints but it would be great to know advice for having an intact male and going to a dog park – What to look out for, especially with other male dogs to ensure no fights?
In my experience, Most dog park rules do not allow intact dogs or bitches.
Get you’re dog fixed most dog parks require it and it will help him get along with other dogs. Plus we don’t need to breed more dogs there are enough already in the shelter.
Don’t take dog aggressive dogs to dog parks. If you have a dog aggressive breed, or a breed developed for dog fighting, your dog may become aggressive even if it hasn’t been previously aggressive. Some dogs are lethal; there have been many fatalities at dog parks.
That’s great advice. But I’m afraid you’re preaching to the choir here. I’m sure none of the folks reading your comment would dream of taking a dog that exhibits aggression toward other dogs (or humans) to the dog park. But it’s the other people I would worry about. And what do you consider an aggressive “breed”. Perhaps you should read the literature on breed specific legislation. I think you’ll find that there are no such thing as “aggressive breeds”. Some breeds may have more propensity toward aggression, but that, by no means, indicates that all dogs of that breed (or even that specific do) will act with aggression at a particular time. I think we should worry about individual dogs that a dangerous, not breeds that some people think are dangerous. I have a friend with a “pit bull” and this dog is the most friendly, the most gentle with other dogs, and the most “forgiving” dog of any I know. I know another person with a little Havanese (and I happen to have a Havanese myself, so I’m not trashing Havanese as a breed–my little Havanese is wonderful, if I do say so myself) that I wouldn’t trust with anyone–other dogs, people, especially children.
AMEN…..
Lmao you’re ignorance is showing. I have a pitbull and he is the most tolerant freindly dog at the dog park and clearly more social than you.
It is best to avoid dog parks until you have analyzed the behaviour of the dogs that are there and their caregivers. Frankly, I would never use a dog park. It is too dangerous for my dog to be subject to bullying behaviour from another dog. And innocent play can turn in an instant to a fight for some perceived slight felt by the other dog or just because they enjoy fighting. If I had absolutely no place to go, I would rather walk around the block, drive to different areas and keep my dog safe. Also, you never know what diseases dogs at the park have. With all the “adoptions’ coming in from foreign countries, they may carry diseases for which we have no cure. As Steven said, his dog got pink eye from one at a park.
Get rescue dogs from home, a breed rescue or shelter. There are millions of them wanting a home. We don’t need to import unsocialized dogs many of which were bred for guarding herds and they are not at all happy in a “civilized” place. They are working dogs and need to do their job. It is inbred in them.
The best way is to NEVER take your dog to a small, crowded ‘dog park’.
It is never worth the hassle of the risk.
Our experience @ dog parks is owners don’t watch their dogs. On their cell phones or sitting around chatting. Most people don’t train their dogs and dogs don’t come when called.
Our daschunds have been attacked 3 times by off leash dogs ( not at a dog park) They used to like other dogs, not any more. Don’t go to dog parks now
I have had the same issue. My chihuahua was attacked by a pitbull in a dog park. The owner was disappointing. She said she knew her dog didn’t like little dogs and didn’t warn me. I would have removed my dog. The moment her dog was taken off the leash it attacked my dog.
I called the police and she left while I was on the call. She wouldn’t give me her name or anything. But we got her license plate number.
I am so sorry to hear that your dog got hurt. but I must ask: Why was your Chihuahua in the same area with large dogs? That should never happen. Dog parks should have separate areas for large and small dogs. I don’t see that this is mentioned anywhere in this article, but it is a concern. If you go to a dog park and you see tiny dogs and big dogs in the same area, do not use it. Sometimes there is no separate area and sometimes ( probably more often) people do not follow the rules.
I agree with Sue. Most dog parks have a little dog area and a big dog area. If yours doesn’t, then all you can do is hope other owners control their dogs and remove your dog if they don’t. But if your park has an area for small dogs, that’s where your dog belongs, and it’s no one’s fault but yours if it activates a big dog’s prey drive.
GREAT information. Thank you Whole Dog Journal, Im a subscriber & love the Journal. I have considered taking my Golden Doodle to a very nice park, but comments about owners, who need supervising themselves, has changed my mind. I will continue with our long walks & backyard agility set!
the information is great about the various dog parks. great to know that my dog can get diseases from other dogs. I have a 23 lb springer doodle mix and a Bichon doodle mix -we have dog friends in our circle. At our dog park there is a very large area -4-6 acres and two smaller pens – 1 for small dogs and 1 pen a quarter of the size.I go there mid day when most people are at work so there are only maybe 4 dogs in the largest area. Iuse the smalldog pen if there are more than 4 dogs total.
As you get to know the dog park, you’ll find a small group of regulars who watch their dogs carefully and are friendly to your dog. They have nice dogs, who function as a pack and welcome newcomers. This has been a great for our dog.
Attend the good group regularly.
Help pick up and change water.
Take the leash off before entering.
Move away from the entrance immediately, as this says,
Never bring treats to the dog park.
Avoid the weekends! These are usually dogs who are cooped up all week and then overexercized and tired out.
Thank you for being logical Suzanne. Some of the people saying that those of us who go to dog parks are irresponsible are being incredibly judgmental. I have met some great people at our dog park who look out for each other and each other’s dogs. Yes, there are some issues at dog parks on occasion so you have to be aware but not all of us have yards for our dogs so dog parks provide the space to sniff and run off leash which is good for some of our dogs.
I agree with other commentors. It’s not a place that responsible dog owners take their loved ones. Because we know that the irresponsible ones will be there, which means issues and no control.
I’ve heard the “Oh hi, my dog’s name is … I brought him here to teach him how to socialize after he attacked a dog last weekend. I think the socialization will do him good. The shock collar is just a precaution. He responds to it about 20% of the time. “. I even heard a lady say she was going to put a shock collar on her dog inside out as protection. omg people! No!
And rules aren’t enforceable. Except for license/tags. Most of the parks here have no water (they do in the kids playgrounds though). IMO it’s the most irresponsible place ever to take a furry loved one.
If you think your dog park is somehow magically immune because of whatever reasoning, then you’re not thinking with logic. The only statistic that will hold true is the more times you visit a public dog park, the more likely an issue.
And if you frequent the park but aren’t hearing the stories.. it’s because once your dog has been subjected to trauma you won’t be going back to tell the story.
Jeezus a lot
Of these people sound so
Scared of
Dog
Park’s! ridiculous !
We don’t do dog parks, although I wish we could. Greyhounds a lot of times don’t like them. My first hound would always end up with some disease after we went to one, so we just said forget it. My Kori is rather alpha and can get snarky with other dogs, I don’t want to risk that either. So pass!
I have an Akita who goes into drive virtually whenever he sees another dog big enough to potentially challenge him.
I hated having to neuter him, having prejudices of my own re: impact of neutering on hip socket development. However, he is strong and can pull me off my feet when he is in drive. Reluctantly, I neutered him at two years. The effect took several months – but although he still goes into drive when he sees a potential competitor, I can now snap him out of it. I use a prong collar, and that helped immensely also.
For a dog originally bred to hunt large game, the walk IS the equivalent of the hunt. Such a dog will instinctively seek to enlarge his hunting territory. Interlopers are to be driven away. Nothing you can do about it.
The roots of this behavior: in the snowy wastes where THIS particular breed was developed, there is sparse game. A five square mile area is barely enough to provide enough forage over the winter for the prey animals. Once you’ve got your hunting area secured, it is a matter of survival for the dog and his pack to keep other hunting animals out of it – it is resource guarding at its most elemental.
Hence, our walks consist of quadrants surrounding our home. One quadrant for each 50 minute walk over the course of the day. Much sniffing and territorial marking.
I have had this breed for forty years, and would not have another. They are fabulous engineers’ dogs – they are quiet, fastidious, and have an eerie degree of perception about your priorities, plans and moods. They remember slights for YEARS. They also remember anybody who admired them as a puppy. They are said to be one-person dogs. My Akitas individually have been so much dog that I would not have had the bandwidth for more than one, even when I was younger. Particularly since at that time, I was raising a family and commuting to work.
I will not ever take him to a dog park, or to doggie day care. IMHO: from his viewpoint, there would be too many potential competitors for the available hunting territory (dog park, day care place) from his viewpoint. As well, I know deep in my bones that if any of the others were to approach him rudely, he would correct them.
I’ve never taken my dog to a dog park. There is one close to our subdivision and one of the small dogs was killed in that dog park. I would never let my dog be in a dog park. I’d much rather invite some of our neighbors’ dogs to play with our dog in the backyard.
Oberly what people call ‘sociable’ these days dogs are also a problem. The young dog and it’s owner should know when the dog is invading another dog’s personal space. The best way to get around this is NOT at a dog park with strange dogs and then claim that your dog is socialised, get your dogs to learn from oldern ‘known’ dogs in the family… My 1.5 GSD learnt bite inhibition and knowing his personal space from my 4yo lab. People think this should happen at a dog park – most certainly not, it will cause fights.
ALSO** NEVER do on leash greetings at a dog park, this is so silly, the dog will fear that the other dog is either in danger or will rough house if they can’t greet eachother properly.
I also noticed your article mentioned ‘Hackels’ or raised furs on a dog, some dogs cannot help this, it just means they are aroused/ excited/ scared or all of the above.
Great advice! Thank you Whole Dog Journal..My dig was attacked outside a dog park when I was responsible my dog on leash and someone with a big reactive dog off leash..be safe
I agree there’s a time and place for dog parks. I’ve only been to 2 ,one while traveling and my border collie refused to go in with the big dogs, he would only go in on the small dog side and then he just stood there by my legs. My traveling buddies cattle dog went in with the big dogs and did play.
During the Caldor fire evacuation I took both my boys, the border collie and a pug mix to a local dog park because we were pretty restricted where we were evacuated as to where they could run off leash. Anyway at that dog park things went fine until someone came in with a new adopted dog and a pocket full of treats because he was going to train it! Needless to say my pug was right on his heels on the side where the treat bag hung and that was the end of that trip. I guess they have their uses but I must say I’m very reluctant to trust other folks and other dogs. My border collie‘s very sensitive to almost everything, and my pug cross loves everybody and everything. So you can see my conundrum . I don’t think people should say nobody should go to a dog park, I think that’s an individual decision.
I regularly take our 10 month old golden retriever to the local dog park. The “regulars” are great at suggesting how to help control and monitor your dog. If there is an intact dog brought in, we leave. If there is an aggressive dog, we leave. We help keep the park clean by picking up poop we find that someone either missed or ignored. This park is a major asset to our community. The people and dogs who use it to run and play help each other and newcomers with appropriate use. Normally we don’t go there on weekends. We consider this a supplement to regular walking and hiking with our pup.
Dog parks for my dogs? Absolutely not. There are plenty reasons to avoid them (all of them have been mentioned in the various comments here). I prefer planned play dates with dogs I know or dogs that I can meet beforehand and get a sense of their style of play, etc. And, I’m sorry, if I hurt feelings. But if your dog’s play style is too “pushy” and I think it would be intimidating for my own dogs, no play date. When having a play date with a dog my dogs don’t already know, we keep everything on leash at first, and try taking a walk together at first so the dogs can gauge each other. I’m a huge fan of letting dogs have play mates and letting them meet other dogs. I’m just a fan of doing it wisely, where the chance of any aggression or anyone being hurt is minimized.
Great article with practical suggestions. If dog parks were used solely by Golden Retrievers, there would likely be few problems. I adore my dogs, but I have only had one who had the sort of temperament that would enjoy a dog park. I agree that they are meant for very sociable dogs with experienced and conscientious owners, only. There are lots of dogs that enjoy a fight, which isn’t something many owners realize.
I would strongly encourage the author Jennifer Berg to add one more crucial section to this article on dogs at dog parks:
How do you handle and address the attitude of other dog owners in the park?
What do you do when someone else’s dog is the issue? What do you say when they shrug off their dog’s inappropriate actions as “Oh, that’s just dogs, they’ll work it out”?
I’m a professional positive dog trainer. I have Shelties and a small Border Collie. The Border Collie is fine around other dogs up to a point but will “snark” to let another dog know they’re in her face. I’ve actually been told that I should “train my dogs better” by clueless pet parents who think my dogs should accept being jumped, sniffed or followed incessantly by their dogs. I end up leaving the park. The owners refuse to take responsibility when I tell them to call their dogs off.
Please add a section covering this, because it’s a common problem at dog parks and it’s why most of us don’t go even when we’d like to.
Thank you.
Kip Kirby
Gulf Breeze FL
We need to remember that every dog from the small fofo the gentle giants all contain the dna where they came from. That wild dna or gene is always there to be activated.