It’s nice to imagine that a trip to the dog park is always going to be fun. Unfortunately, the reality is quite different since some habits can cause your experience to be more of a nightmare. We asked dog owners about which dog park habits they think cause trouble & here’s what they said. Do any of these sound familiar to you?
Crowding the entry gate
You may have seen a bunch of dogs & their owners crowding around the gate. It’s not cute. The moment a new dog walks in, all the dogs start sniffing & jumping around.
Several readers said the barking may cause some dogs to start panicking. Give them a little breathing room. Step back & wave at a distance, then allow the newest arrival to the park to settle before approaching them.
Bringing squeaky balls or prized toys
Yes, your furry friend may have a favorite squeaky toy that they take everywhere. But perhaps they should leave it at home. One reader said that as soon as they threw a squeaky toy into a crowd of dogs, it turned into a prize fight with one dog guarding it & another challenging it. You’ll have to play referee to them.
Even the sweetest of pups can turn possessive, so you should reserve the special toys for solo play. What’s wrong with playing fetch with a stick, anyway?
Letting mounting continue
A few readers said they’ve seen other dog owners ignore mounting & shrug it off as mere play. It’s not. Mounting causes other dogs nearby to feel more tense, and it’s also not enjoyable for the dog being mounted. It may even turn into a fight.
Trainers usually recommend trying to break the mounting yourself by pulling your dog away before things become too tense.
Turning group chase into a swarm
The dog park is meant for running. So what could be wrong with a couple of them running together? The issue is that a couple soon turns into a group & that becomes a stampede. Sadly, a few readers said they saw group chases end with some of the dogs pinning down another one.
It’s easy for hard-style chasing to turn into real aggression. You should really call the dogs off early to stop one of them from becoming a target & save everyone some trouble.
Mixing sizes against posted zones
Unfortunately, several readers admitted they’ve seen another owner bring their big dog to the small-dog side of the park. Yes, that side of the park might be empty, but rules are there for a reason.
The size difference between each dog could make playing unsafe, even though it might not turn into aggression. A 70-pound dog can easily knock over a 10-pound one with just a gentle paw. Do you really want that happening to your pup?
High-speed fetch in a crowded corner
Fetch is a good method of giving your dog some exercise. It’s not so great when it becomes a collision sport. A few readers told us they saw dogs getting injured because they ran through a crowd, including crashes & twisted legs.
Ligament injuries can happen to healthy dogs. You should always choose an open stretch when you’re throwing a ball & watch out for sprinting lanes. Nobody wants to pay a huge vet bill because they threw a ball at the wrong angle.
Sharing communal water bowls
You might think that allowing your pup to use the park’s shared bowl is okay. It’s not. Just think about how many mouths have been in these bowls, and the fact that germs like Giardia & parvo love standing water.
Several owners told us they just bring a collapsible bowl and bottle to avoid stomach issues.
Constant phone scrolling
Some people swear they’re only checking a message. But five minutes later, their dog’s halfway across the park chasing trouble because the owner’s eyes are too glued to the screen.
Nobody is expecting you to give your full attention every second. However, keeping your phone away usually means fewer awkward apologies & fewer messes missed on the ground.
Group chatting instead of supervising
Dog parks also work as social spots, and that’s fine, yet conversations can zap your focus. Many readers said they’ve seen a group laughing together while their dogs roughhouse unchecked right behind them.
You have to notice when your dog’s had enough. Talk, laugh, sip your coffee, sure, just keep half an eye on the fur flying nearby.
Staying too long when dogs are tired
Whenever your dog feels tired, the zoomies slow down & their tail drops a little. They might start getting annoyed with anyone who bumps them. Sadly, a few dog owners hang around anyway because they think more play means better exercise.
That’s when bad behavior begins. A short visit that ends while tails are still wagging is far better than dragging things out every time.
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