Dog Park Manners

After sharing my dog park adventure with everyone it came to my attention that maybe dog parks need a bit more preparation than some owners think. It was frustrating to go to the park and not know what to do in certain situations. So here's an excerpt from a great article I found about dog park manners:

Q) What should you do when when an owner doesn't pick up after his dog?

A) Most likely he just forgot his poop baggie (Yeah right). Kindly whip out your spare and offer it to him.

Q) One dog owner at our park always brings treats and feeds all of the dogs. Because of it, my dog's developed a bad habit of begging off others. How can I stop this owner from feeding my dog?

A) If you've already asked this feeder politely and been ignored, you'll have to play dirty. The next time you see this jolly treat tosser, tell her that your Fido will take a pass on the tidbit today and forevermore. His sensitive stomach can't take such treats and you wouldn't want to risk any unplanned visits to the vet hospital.

Q) What should I do when another dog jumps on me?

A) While some suggest a knee in the chest or a bonk on the nose, the truth is that since the bouncing Bozo's just after your attention the best medicine is to make like a statue and hold perfectly still. That means, don't touch him, don't yell at him, just ignore him as if he doesn't exist. Enough unsuccessful attempts at your attention and enough consecutive treatments of the cold shoulder and he'll get the idea. Jump on someone else instead. The other alternative is to ask Bozo's owner to anticipate Bozo's jumping behavior and call him to her side before he jumps on you. Of course that only works if Bozo actually listens to his owner.

Q) Yesterday my dog ran up to a dog on lead and the owner got mad at me. She said her dog was afraid of other dogs but mine is friendly so I didn't see a problem. Who was right? Since her dog has the problem, shouldn't she stay out of the dog park?

A) Dog parks are for all dogs that are under owner control, meaning they come immediately when called and walk calmly on lead. Many dogs are perfectly behaved until other dogs come charging -- or even walking -- into their personal space. These dogs have a right to use the dog parks as best they can. They may have to play off to the side or be leashed as they walk near busier areas. And of course their owners should be rewarding them with praise or treats when they're relaxed around other dogs. In any case, eventhough your dog looks friendly to you, he may not look friendly to another dog. When you see a dog on lead or off to the side of the park, it's common courtesy to keep your dog away unless the other owner says it's okay.

Q) My spayed dog and others have become the object of a certain male dog's affections. My dog does not enjoy his "attention" and sometimes growls at him. Is this a sign of a developing aggression on her part? Should I do something about the situation?

A) Yes, you should do something -- keep the happy humper away from your pristine pooch. His owner call him to her side before he starts his obnoxious game. Whether he's just being amorous or trying to show who's boss, helping himself is bad form. A well socialized dog knows how to tell the naughty boy to knock it off. A sharp look or a growl and a quick snap usually do the job. But some slow-pokes don't get the message. If the bad behavior persists and his owner can't control it, protect your pooch by playing at a different end of the park.

This article was written by a dog behaviorist and veterinarian Sophia Yin. Check out her site here: http://www.askdryin.com/index.php