Dog Parks: Yay or Nay

I'm sure there are many studies and facts out there about how important it is to socialize your dog. I'm going to talk about my experience caring for dogs and taking them to dog parks. This is a service I provide and it is by far the best part of my job.

This is Teddy.

I take him to the park every weekday for an hour. He has gone from a crazy nippy puppy to a well adjusted and socialized dog. He still gets crazy sometimes but he is the sweetest dog. He sits on his porch every day waiting for me to take him to the dog park so that he can play with the other dogs and chase tennis balls. While we do run into some wild card dogs, teddy has learned to navigate and read other dogs personalities and stays away from them. I also carry a dog horn and use it immediately if the situation arises.

When Teddy was a puppy whenever I went to play with him he would get play nippy and jump all over, and if he was a tiny dog that would've be adorable. Unfortunately I was no match for him. He's since learned that that behavior is not good for humans. But watching him at the dog park it makes me so happy to see him be able to do that with his equals and not be hurting anyone. When he is at the dog park even though its fenced in he's completely free. He has lots of dog friends, and gets so excited when they stop by the park. His mood increases, he eats better and he sleeps better. And of course, he's getting boat loads of exercise which will improve his overall health.

I've seen first hand the dramatic changes that can happen in dogs when they get frequent socialization and exercise. It's really the best thing you can provide for your dog. I completely understand how difficult it may be to fit it in your schedule, which is why I include it in my available services! There are definitely other ways to socialize your dog and get them exercise though. If dog parks are not for you do not feel pressure to take your dog there.

Dogs parks can be great but please do your research before introducing your dog to any park. It can be a lot especially for a puppy. Don't go in at first, walk your dog by the park first, not too close! Look into dog parks in your area. Public parks are definitely riskier especially the parks for larger dogs. Think about getting your dog neutered first or socializing them with dogs one on one at first and training them. Yes your dogs need to be trained when interacting with other dogs. If all this scares you, it might be a good idea to get a membership with a private dog park that requires a training session. All dogs are different, at the end of the day its up to you to decide what works best for you and your dog.