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Dog Safety in a Park | Taking your dog to a park can be a mutually beneficial to your and your pup’s health. As your pet enjoys and plays in the green space, you can have fun as you exercise and recharge after a long day.
But as with every space, there are certain rules that you have to follow, especially when it comes to public spaces other people will share. These rules are for the dog’s safety and to ensure decorum in the park as there are many visitors. However, there are ways you can also do this on your own by considering some basic tips and rules.
Here are some tips to ensure dog park safety.
Before you bring your dog to a park, make sure you know its nature, likes and dislikes. Even though a park may seem like an excellent place for your dog to have fun, some dogs can get agitated or overwhelmed. Therefore, if your dog does not like crowded spaces and being around strange people, then a park day is not ideal.
Your dog will love playing and running around in the park vicinity, but you have to be considerate of other people and their pets too. Therefore, some parks have a strict leash policy that states you cannot take it off. However, there may be some designated areas where you can take the leash off. Ideally, you should know the dog park’s rules before you step into one. Moreover, make sure to carry a non-retractable or a nylon leash so you have control over your canine.
One of the reasons dog park safety is crucial is many kinds of dogs visit a park. Some are small in size, while others have an aggressive nature. Considering this, some parks have separate designated areas for small and big-sized dogs respectively. Try to know which area your dog belongs to and stay within it. This enables all dogs to play as much as they want but with their counterparts.
Perhaps one disadvantage of taking your dog out in a public space is the threat of contagious diseases. To prevent this, make sure your dog is vaccinated against all possible illnesses such as rabies or parvo. This also means that you cannot take a puppy to a park since their vaccinations are not complete because of their age. Ultimately, your vet can decide what shots are essential for your dog’s safety. Moreover, if you know your pet’s sick, do not bring it to the park as it can be dangerous for other pets.
Even if you observe your dog with an eagle’s eye, there will be some incidents where you will have to use basic commands to stop them or alert them from potential danger. Therefore, making sure your dog knows all basic commands such as stopping, sitting, or running back to you is imperative in maintaining dog park safety. Furthermore, you should ensure your dog remembers all of them and has not forgotten them.
For safety purposes, make sure your dog has a GPS tracker that you can mount on your dog’s collar. Even though you should keep a watchful eye on your pet, you should be prepared in case of an unforeseen incident. If you don’t want to place a GPS tracker on your pup’s collar, have your vet microchip them to ensure they can be found.
A park may have a small water body, but you should not let your dog drink from it for health purposes. Other pets may also fight, and it could get unruly all because of water. To avoid this, you should bring bottled water with detachable cups so your pet can be satiated whenever they’re thirsty.
Some park rules discourage food in an area frequented by dogs. The food’s smell may attract the dog, and it might run in that direction. Therefore, don’t bring anything that might cause a ruckus among dogs that you won’t be able to eat peacefully too.
This is one rule that applies in all public settings and not just for ensuring dog park safety. Always make sure you have picked up your dog’s poop in a ziplock or biodegradable bag. This is important because you’re not only polluting the environment, but it also poses a health risk for other pets and even humans.
Having lots of toys and treats in a park may seem like a fun activity for your pet. However, whne you think about it, there may be many pets playing around in a park. It could result in a fight amongst them to get the toy or treat. This is something you should avoid keenly. However, if there is an open space and there aren’t that many pets, a small game of catch or Frisbee can be a good idea.
Even if you follow all park rules, you should know your dog’s body language very well, especially when it gets aggressive. This is because it might be acting differently or strangely. Ultimately, this is something that only you can pick up on. Thus, in a park setting, it is increasingly important that you are aware of your dog’s body language so you can stop it in time.
Finally, don’t get into a dog fight no matter what. This is to ensure your own safety as you never know how a dog will react. However, there are ways to stop a dog fight without intervening. For example, you can carry an air horn so you can distract them away from the fighting.
Your dog’s safety should be your utmost priority. To do this, you should follow the tips above and also comply with your local park rules. As such, enjoying and playing in the park should not be a problem if you care for your dog and others around you.