Before I got Evie I dreamed of taking my companion to the dog park down the street from me. However, I was warned by several people that it was dangerous, dirty, and flea ridden; and I was disappointed. Once Evie had all her shots I was determined to give it a try, but was sure to take some precautions. We've been several times now and all has been well, so I thought I'd share some tips:
- Stand outside the fence with your companion before going in. Let him/her get used to the energy. Perhaps interact with some dogs as they go in and out.
- Check out the dogs that are inside before going in. Do they look friendly? Are their owners watching them?
- When you first go inside, keep your companion on a leash and let them get used to being inside. Having a harness is helpful, especially if you need to quickly pull them away from another dog.
- Once you both feel comfortable, take off the leash. Stand near your companion as (s)he interacts and plays. When you feel comfortable sitting down on a bench, make sure (s)he knows where you are.
- Always make sure to watch your dog and be ready to step in if you see a conflict. However, be careful not to get hurt yourself.
- Be courteous and pick up after your dog. My local dog park has trash bins and scoopers inside, but bringing biodegradable bags is the next best thing.
- Your companion will likely get dirty and this is just part of going to a dog park. Give him/her a quick wipe off when you get home (avoid bathing too often because it dries up their skin). Since the inside of her ears gather a lot of dirt, I use an all natural ear wash called Vet's Best
- Flea prevention can be a little tricky, especially if you're trying to go all natural. So far, by keeping Evie clean, vacuuming my home, and using a good natural spray - we've avoided a flea problem. I was recommended J&J's Natural Flea & Tick Potion from Healthy Spot, and so far it's working well. I also bathe Evie in a organic lavender shampoo from Olive, and occasionally add small amounts of garlic to her food.
1 comment:
I agree with all of them except for keeping your dog on a leash inside the confines of the dog park. The behavior of a dog on a leash when all the others are running free can make it very very challenging for the dog and restricts them from interacting normally with the other dogs. Your dog should already be socialized before going to the dog park, and should already be trained to respond to commands off-leash before going to the dog park. I have seen wayyyy too many occurrences where dogs that are not normally aggressive get aggressive because their owners have them on a leash and restrict them from enjoying the play that is so important (and what it's all about).
I'd also add a note about owners, as the more tense an owner is, the more obvious it is to the dog and to everyone around the owner. Owners who go around picking up their dogs every time there might be an interaction, or yanking on their collars out of fear, are doing a huge disservice to their dogs. Owners need to make sure they are confident with their dogs before they put themselves in situations like dog parks with so many variables.
Really good article: http://www.ehow.com/how_2103826_introduce-dog-dog-park.html
Thanks!
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