Dog Parks
You can find a Dog Park just about anywhere. A dog park is a fenced in area where your dogs can run free and play with other dogs and dog owners without worrying about Leash Laws. Some of the larger Dog Parks contain separate enclosures for dogs depending on their size. This way a Great Dane is not playing with a Pomeranian which could result in injuries.
There are a few things to consider when choosing a dog park.
Feces: This is a problem in most doggie parks as the feces is either not picked up at all or at the most not picked up on a regular basis. Some dog parks do provide pooper scooper bags for the responsible dog owner. However, not all dog owners pick up their dogs’ poop. The lack of removing the dog feces and not disinfecting the park on a regular basis spreads disease and bacteria such as Ecoli. Please be a responsible dog owner and pick up your dog’s poop. Example: You go to the Dog Park, you and your dog step in feces. You don’t get it completely off your feet or your dogs’ paws. You go home, now you have the potential of disease spreading to your yard. Also, as a note: If you don’t pick up your dog feces in your own yard, when your landscaper comes to mow, the feces gets on the blades of the mower. Now the landscaper goes to the next job and has just spread your dogs’ feces in a neighbors yard.
Dog Fights: Dog fights do occur in Dog Parks. This usually occurs when dogs are not properly socialized and trained properly. Dog fights also occur when pet sitters bring ‘packs’ – sometimes up to 10 dogs at one time to a park. The general rule for the amount of dogs any one person can bring to a park is ruled by the state that the park is located. A sign should be posted at the entrance gate. When any one person brings a large ‘pack’ into a dog park, there is, always an Alpha dog within that ‘pack’. (Remember, dogs are descendants of wolves and act in the same manner when in a ‘pack’) When a strange dog or person approaches in a threatening manner, the ‘pack leader’ sometimes will lash out protecting their ‘pack’. If this occurs, please notify the person running the Dog Park. If a pet sitter brings more than the legally required amount of dogs to a park, they are required to have a special permit to do so.
Dog Biting a person: This generally occurs when a dog owner steps in to break up a dog fight. The dogs are so frenzied that they are not realizing who you are and will lash out. Again, this generally occurs when dogs are not properly socialized. If you need to break up a dog fight, grab your dog by the base of the tail and pull back giving your dog a firm, loud command “NO”. Do not grab the strange dog. Don’t hit either dog; this can only intensify the fight. If you have water with you (preferably a water hose) throw the water at them.
Liability: Doggie Parks generally do not carry liability insurance as they are a high risk operation. If you are attacked by a dog, it is the responsibility of the dog’s owner (or caretaker) to take care of your injury.
Keep in mind, you are in a dog park, large dogs are running around having fun and playing. Please be aware of the dogs around you at all times. You may be walking and a dog is playing and accidentally bumps into you. This doesn’t mean that the dog is at fault, you just walked into his path of play.
Please be a responsible dog owner; pick up your dogs’ feces, have your dog properly socialized and trained. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Keep in mind that not all dogs are properly socialized and trained.
Here is a dog park website that lets you put in your city and find dog parks in your city.