Dog Park Etiquette
Trips to the dog park are great because they offer pet owners and their pets a great opportunity to bond, socialize, and burn energy. However, with all of that comes some sort of responsibility. Dog Park rules and regulations are there to ensure the safety and fun of all visitors. It is important to know the rules no matter what dog park you visit. This will help keep your dog and other dogs safe.
Keep in mind that city or town establishes its own rules for the local dog park. These rules are usually displayed on the fence or gate of the dog park. We recommend that you perform an online search of the rules if you cannot locate them at the park. According to DogPark.com, there are a set of common rules which must be always followed. Let’s dive deeper!
Dog owners are held responsible for their animals. You must always take responsibility of your dog’s behavior. Ensure that they are properly socialized and non-aggressive toward strangers and the dogs that they are playing with. A few other rules to follow include:
- Picking up after your dog. Be prepared to scoop, bag, and dispose of their waste properly. This is very important because leaving messes is very unsanitary!
- Make sure your dog is vaccinated. All dogs visiting the dog park must be up to date on their vaccinations.
- Avoid bringing food inside the dog park. Other dogs may not have good manners around people enjoying a meal and can act aggressively toward you if they pick up a scent of the food you are eating.
- Small children are not allowed. Think about it! Infants and toddlers can easily be knocked over by overly active dogs. Strange dogs may be unfamiliar with kids, putting children at risk for bad experiences or injuries.
- Always have a collar on your dog. While it is recommended to always keep a collar on your dog anyways, there is a chance that your dog may race for the exit. You can help keep them safe by making sure that they have a collar with up-to-date tags on it.
It is also important to practice safety on the trip to and from the park too. Always follow proper dog transportation rules if you do not live within walking distance of your local dog park. Trips to the dog park can be a fun way to bond with your dog, but you must obey all park rules to ensure safety and sanitation.
