Posts Tagged ‘dog park’
Pros and Cons of Dog Parks
A dog park can provide a lot of the benefits of doggy day care (see previous article) without the cost. But many more variables are at play at a dog park because many more humans are involved. Dog Parks can be much more dangerous than dog day care. Also, pet owners often do not have 8 hours to spend at a dog park, but only one or two hours at a time. Also,many humans have no idea of proper etiquette for a dog park, or even that a dog should not be yelled at for being a dog while at the dog park. But an informed pet owner can still use a dog park for a positive experience for the dog and for themselves.
Pros of Dog Parks:
Many of the pros for day care listed above are also pros for dog parks. Positive points of a dog enjoying a dog park include:
• The benefits of exercise
• Learning to interact with other dogs and humans
• Benefits of mental stimulation for the dog
• Strengthening the bond between pet and owner
The benefits of exercise include prevention of obesity, strengthening muscles and bones, expending excess energy which decreases the likelihood of unacceptable behaviors done out of boredom, and tiring the dog out so it leaves the owner alone. Whether the owner may need to concentrate on a project, sleep through the night without interruption, or enjoy an evening watching tv without the dog asking to play constantly, tiring the dog out at a dog park beforehand is a responsible and positive way to achieve this.
Dog parks expose dogs to others of its species, enabling the dog to learn important social cues, and skills. Dogs brought to dog parks from a young age are typically much more confident in general, in addition to being comfortable around other dogs. Even unexpected interactions with novel dogs goes much more smoothly for a dog that routinely goes to dog parks. Dog park veterans look at other dogs as potential playmates, rather than as a challenge.
Mental stimulation is an important factor to consider in dogs with problem behaviors. How much was born out of boredom? This is especially true for larger breeds of dogs. Large dogs in urban areas often have zero lot line yards, or no yard at all. When do large dogs get to run all out at full speed? Even their play is limited by space at home. These dogs benefit greatly both physically and mentally from the freedom to run and play that a dog park has to offer. Mentally, dogs play games with each other, and use problem solving skills in these games. Even games as simple as “chase” involve mental exercise and problem solving skills. Playing at the dog park constantly introduces novel situations to dogs, increasing their ability to problem solve. Dogs with problem solving skills and well developed social skills are less likely to develop problem behaviors.
Strengthening the bond between owner and pet is easily done with time spent with the pet at the dog park. It is a positive experience for both the owner and pet. The pet learns that going with the owner means fun, and not just going to the vet, groomer, or boarding facility. The social opportunity for the owner is a positive experience also. Owners enjoy talking about their dog to others at the park. Owners meet new people, and take pride in people asking about their dog.
Cons of the Dog Park:
Negative aspects of the dog park are all because the humans involved do not know or understand dog behavior and communication, or the humans involved do not act in a socially responsibly manner.
1. Innocent Injury
Injuries can happen during play. This is true with any species. Kids get hurt while playing. Well, so do dogs. Accidental injuries are going to happen. The problem arises when the owners get out of control in the way they deal with those accidents. People that do not understand that injuries happen during play may start threatening lawsuits. Most injuries are minor and do not require medical care. A scrape of a tooth on the skin of a leg is more likely to cause a bruise or superficial abrasion than the scrape of a tooth on a densely furred body area. Bruises, sore muscles, and even pulled muscles are common injuries. This is no different than the injuries from kids playing football, soccer or any other social game.
It should be noted that the innocent injuries can be more severe if the dogs are not evenly matched. That is why there are small dog areas in dog parks, separate from large dog play areas. Even if small dogs are not scared of large dogs, and play well with good social skills, they should not be allowed to play with the big dogs. The risk of serious injury is too great. A 90 pound dog coming down on the back of a 9 pound dog during play can cause serious injury. My 84 pound dog stepped on the foot of a 15 pound dog while trying to jump over the smaller dog. The smaller dog suffered two fractures of the metatarsals, and I was personally responsible for the treatment of that dog. It was innocent, and the owner understood that and was not mad. But this injury could have been avoided if the small dog had not been allowed in the big dog area.
Innocent injury can also happen to a human while at the dog park. Most common is a dog running into the legs of a human. A big dog running in play into the knee of a human can cause serious injury. Dog owners have been carried off in an ambulance due to knee injury at the dog park. Toddlers should be left at home or watched carefully to be kept out of the way of playing dogs. Small children can easily be knocked over by dogs playing and suffer head injuries or broken bones.
Running with sticks! How many times did our parents yell at us not to run with sticks?! Well, we throw the sticks and give them to our pets to run with! Dogs often compete for the toy at a dog park. Injuries from sticks and pointed objects occur at dog parks. Do not throw sticks at a dog park! Throw a ball, or frisbee, or some other rubber toy!
2. Non-innocent injury
Again, this is due to inappropriate human action. Non innocent injury happens when dogs that do not belong at the dog park are brought to the dog park. Unfortunately, it does occur that dogs that are in training for fighting are brought to the dog park and let loose. While rare, it happens, and can lead to serious injury. I witnessed serious human injury when the owner of a victim dog was trying to rescue his dog from the attacking dog. The best thing to do is to stick with humans and dogs that are familiar to you at the dog park. Owners and their pets quickly become familiar with the safe dogs and also quickly learn what dogs to avoid. Stay away from owners and dogs you have never seen at the park before, until you witness the dog & owner interacting with others.
3. Avoidable injury
Choke chains should never be left on a dog at a dog park. The danger of another dog’s leg, paw, or jaw getting caught in the choke chain and choking the dog wearing the chain, or breaking a bone in the dog that becomes tangled, is too great. Only collars that can be unfastened if two dogs become tangled should be allowed to be on a dog at play. If two dogs become tangled in a choke chain, the only way the two dogs are going to become untangled is by having a pair of wire cutters handy. How many people carry those around in their back pocket? A dog could choke to death with a crowd of people trying to help because there were no wire cutters handy to cut the choke chain off.
Big dogs accidentally injuring small dogs also fall in the avoidable injury category, although already discussed in the accidental injury section.
Those darn retractable leashes….hate those things… but, owners that leave their dogs on retractable leashes at the dog park can cause injury to other dogs and to humans.
Heat stroke is another avoidable injury. Dog parks should not be frequented if they do not have water stations and the ability to hose down a hot dog.
Treats and Food. Do not bring treats and food to a dog park. Competition for food among dogs can lead to fights that otherwise would not have happened. Unfamiliar dogs can approach a human with food and lead the human to act in a manner that is inappropriate. Children should not be allowed to have food at a dog park as injury can occur if a dog attempts to take it from them.
4. Inappropriate human interaction
As a regular dog park attendee myself, I have been witness to many inappropriate human displays. My own dog was kicked in the ribs by the owner of of a Boston Terrier who did not understand that his dog and my dog were having a great time. Neither dog was vocalizing, both were continuing play and were not signaling distress of any kind. Yet the Boston’s owner misread the manner in which my dog was grabbing at his dog’s neck, and went over and kicked my dog several feet. The injury in this case was not severe, but was actually inflicted by a human on my dog. Injury to human could have followed if I had been more explosive. It is not uncommon for pet owners to be over-protective and end up in fights with other owners at the dog park.
It is not uncommon for a pet owner to come out to the dog park after throwing back a few beers during the football game. Stick with the regular dog park attendees and just avoid potentially explosive individuals.
5. Socially irresponsible pet owners
An obvious negative point of dog parks are the socially irresponsible pet owners that do not pick up after their dogs. They likely do not have their dog on a heartworm preventative which would deworm their dog monthly. Therefore, the dog park is a source to spread intestinal parasites. Unbelievably, I do see children running barefoot in dog parks, and even swimming in the lakes that are at some dog parks. Parks that include water for the dogs to swim in should not be used as a simultaneous beach for the kids to play in!
Other diseases can be transmitted at dog parks among dogs. Again, stick to dogs and owners that you are familiar with and are regulars.
While on the topic of dog parks that include bodies of water for the dogs to swim, heads up to those of you that live in areas with fresh waters that go above 85 degrees in the summer. Last summer in central Florida 3 young boys died of amoebic encephalitis after enjoying water sports in fresh water lakes. The dog park I frequented includes a huge lake that is ski-able. The health department posted signs warning of the danger of the amoeba and to swim at your own risk. It was almost laughable the people that even leaned on the sign post while watching their dogs play in the water. Keep your dogs out of fresh water lakes that have reached 85 degrees or higher during the summer.
Irresponsbile pet owners are also guilty of bringing dogs with no social skills to the dog park. Injury can occur because these dogs are either scared to death and bite out of fear, or are dog aggressive from lack of socialization when young. Again, simply stick to groups of humans and dogs that are regulars at your dog park and play well together.
source: luvmypet.com
17
A dog park can provide a lot of the benefits of doggy day care (see previous article) without the cost. But many more variables are at play at a dog park because many more humans are involved. Dog Parks can be much more dangerous than dog day care. Also, pet owners often do not have 8 hours to spend at a dog park, but only one or two hours at a time. Also,many humans have no idea of proper etiquette for a dog park, or even that a dog should not be yelled at for being a dog while at the dog park. But an informed pet owner can still use a dog park for a positive experience for the dog and for themselves.
Lets discuss some of the pros and cons of a dog park.
Pros of Dog Parks
Many of the pros for day care listed above are also pros for dog parks. Positive points of a dog enjoying a dog park include:
• The benefits of exercise
• Learning to interact with other dogs and humans
• Benefits of mental stimulation for the dog
• Strengthening the bond between pet and owner
The benefits of exercise include prevention of obesity, strengthening muscles and bones, expending excess energy which decreases the likelihood of unacceptable behaviors done out of boredom, and tiring the dog out so it leaves the owner alone. Whether the owner may need to concentrate on a project, sleep through the night without interruption, or enjoy an evening watching tv without the dog asking to play constantly, tiring the dog out at a dog park beforehand is a responsible and positive way to achieve this.
Dog parks expose dogs to others of its species, enabling the dog to learn important social cues, and skills. Dogs brought to dog parks from a young age are typically much more confident in general, in addition to being comfortable around other dogs. Even unexpected interactions with novel dogs goes much more smoothly for a dog that routinely goes to dog parks. Dog park veterans look at other dogs as potential playmates, rather than as a challenge.
Mental stimulation is an important factor to consider in dogs with problem behaviors. How much was born out of boredom? This is especially true for larger breeds of dogs. Large dogs in urban areas often have zero lot line yards, or no yard at all. When do large dogs get to run all out at full speed? Even their play is limited by space at home. These dogs benefit greatly both physically and mentally from the freedom to run and play that a dog park has to offer. Mentally, dogs play games with each other, and use problem solving skills in these games. Even games as simple as “chase” involve mental exercise and problem solving skills. Playing at the dog park constantly introduces novel situations to dogs, increasing their ability to problem solve. Dogs with problem solving skills and well developed social skills are less likely to develop problem behaviors.
Strengthening the bond between owner and pet is easily done with time spent with the pet at the dog park. It is a positive experience for both the owner and pet. The pet learns that going with the owner means fun, and not just going to the vet, groomer, or boarding facility. The social opportunity for the owner is a positive experience also. Owners enjoy talking about their dog to others at the park. Owners meet new people, and take pride in people asking about their dog.
Cons of the Dog Park:
Negative aspects of the dog park are all because the humans involved do not know or understand dog behavior and communication, or the humans involved do not act in a socially responsibly manner.
1. Innocent Injury –injuries can happen during play. This is true with any species. Kids get hurt while playing. Well, so do dogs. Accidental injuries are going to happen. The problem arises when the owners get out of control in the way they deal with those accidents. People that do not understand that injuries happen during play may start threatening lawsuits. Most injuries are minor and do not require medical care. A scrape of a tooth on the skin of a leg is more likely to cause a bruise or superficial abrasion than the scrape of a tooth on a densely furred body area. Bruises, sore muscles, and even pulled muscles are common injuries. This is no different than the injuries from kids playing football, soccer or any other social game.
It should be noted that the innocent injuries can be more severe if the dogs are not evenly matched. That is why there are small dog areas in dog parks, separate from large dog play areas. Even if small dogs are not scared of large dogs, and play well with good social skills, they should not be allowed to play with the big dogs. The risk of serious injury is too great. A 90 pound dog coming down on the back of a 9 pound dog during play can cause serious injury. My 84 pound dog stepped on the foot of a 15 pound dog while trying to jump over the smaller dog. The smaller dog suffered two fractures of the metatarsals, and I was personally responsible for the treatment of that dog. It was innocent, and the owner understood that and was not mad. But this injury could have been avoided if the small dog had not been allowed in the big dog area.
Innocent injury can also happen to a human while at the dog park. Most common is a dog running into the legs of a human. A big dog running in play into the knee of a human can cause serious injury. Dog owners have been carried off in an ambulance due to knee injury at the dog park. Toddlers should be left at home or watched carefully to be kept out of the way of playing dogs. Small children can easily be knocked over by dogs playing and suffer head injuries or broken bones.
Running with sticks! How many times did our parents yell at us not to run with sticks?! Well, we throw the sticks and give them to our pets to run with! Dogs often compete for the toy at a dog park. Injuries from sticks and pointed objects occur at dog parks. Do not throw sticks at a dog park! Throw a ball, or frisbee, or some other rubber toy!
2. Non-innocent injury
Again, this is due to inappropriate human action. Non innocent injury happens when dogs that do not belong at the dog park are brought to the dog park. Unfortunately, it does occur that dogs that are in training for fighting are brought to the dog park and let loose. While rare, it happens, and can lead to serious injury. I witnessed serious human injury when the owner of a victim dog was trying to rescue his dog from the attacking dog. The best thing to do is to stick with humans and dogs that are familiar to you at the dog park. Owners and their pets quickly become familiar with the safe dogs and also quickly learn what dogs to avoid. Stay away from owners and dogs you have never seen at the park before, until you witness the dog & owner interacting with others.
3. Avoidable injury
Choke chains should never be left on a dog at a dog park. The danger of another dog’s leg, paw, or jaw getting caught in the choke chain and choking the dog wearing the chain, or breaking a bone in the dog that becomes tangled, is too great. Only collars that can be unfastened if two dogs become tangled should be allowed to be on a dog at play. If two dogs become tangled in a choke chain, the only way the two dogs are going to become untangled is by having a pair of wire cutters handy. How many people carry those around in their back pocket? A dog could choke to death with a crowd of people trying to help because there were no wire cutters handy to cut the choke chain off.
Big dogs accidentally injuring small dogs also fall in the avoidable injury category, although already discussed in the accidental injury section.
Those darn retractable leashes….hate those things… but, owners that leave their dogs on retractable leashes at the dog park can cause injury to other dogs and to humans
Heat stroke is another avoidable injury. Dog parks should not be frequented if they do not have water stations and the ability to hose down a hot dog.
Treats and Food. Do not bring treats and food to a dog park. Competition for food among dogs can lead to fights that otherwise would not have happened. Unfamiliar dogs can approach a human with food and lead the human to act in a manner that is inappropriate. Children should not be allowed to have food at a dog park as injury can occur if a dog attempts to take it from them.
4. Inappropriate human interaction: As a regular dog park attendee myself, I have been witness to many inappropriate human displays. My own dog was kicked in the ribs by the owner of of a Boston Terrier who did not understand that his dog and my dog were having a great time. Neither dog was vocalizing, both were continuing play and were not signaling distress of any kind. Yet the Boston’s owner misread the manner in which my dog was grabbing at his dog’s neck, and went over and kicked my dog several feet. The injury in this case was not severe, but was actually inflicted by a human on my dog. Injury to human could have followed if I had been more explosive. It is not uncommon for pet owners to be over-protective and end up in fights with other owners at the dog park.
It is not uncommon for a pet owner to come out to the dog park after throwing back a few beers during the football game. Stick with the regular dog park attendees and just avoid potentially explosive individuals.
5. Socially irresponsible pet owners.
An obvious negative point of dog parks are the socially irresponsible pet owners that do not pick up after their dogs. They likely do not have their dog on a heartworm preventative which would deworm their dog monthly. Therefore, the dog park is a source to spread intestinal parasites. Unbelievably, I do see children running barefoot in dog parks, and even swimming in the lakes that are at some dog parks. Parks that include water for the dogs to swim in should not be used as a simultaneous beach for the kids to play in!
Other diseases can be transmitted at dog parks among dogs. Again, stick to dogs and owners that you are familiar with and are regulars.
While on the topic of dog parks that include bodies of water for the dogs to swim, heads up to those of you that live in areas with fresh waters that go above 85 degrees in the summer. Last summer in central Florida 3 young boys died of amoebic encephalitis after enjoying water sports in fresh water lakes. The dog park I frequented includes a huge lake that is ski-able. The health department posted signs warning of the danger of the amoeba and to swim at your own risk. It was almost laughable the people that even leaned on the sign post while watching their dogs play in the water. Keep your dogs out of fresh water lakes that have reached 85 degrees or higher during the summer.
Irresponsbile pet owners are also guilty of bringing dogs with no social skills to the dog park. Injury can occur because these dogs are either scared to death and bite out of fear, or are dog aggressive from lack of socialization when young. Again, simply stick to groups of humans and dogs that are regulars at your dog park and play well together.
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