Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

Guide to Taking a Dog to a Park | Having a dog means unlimited opportunities for movement and fun. Whether it is a quick stroll in the street, some playtime in the back yard, or socializing with other pups in a dog park, you will always find your dog ready for play.

However, just as there are rules and etiquettes to outdoor dining, dogs and dog parents have to follow a set of park etiquette to ensure everyone is safe and can enjoy their time out. These dog park rules are not too difficult to follow, especially if you frequent a local park. You should keep up to date with your local dog park’s rules so you and your pup (along with other dogs and their owners) can have fun without any problems.

But if you want some general tips on how to take your dog to a park, here is an ultimate guide for you:

Dog Park Tips and Guide

Research Park Guidelines

If you’re not going to a dog park in particular, you can head to other local parks. However, some local parks allow dogs only if they are on a leash. Therefore, before choosing a park for your dog, make sure you know the park rules. It is also possible that a park may have special areas where you can take off the leash and let your canine play. However, for this, you will need to be updated with your local park’s rules.

Evaluate Your Dog’s Behavior

Before bringing your dog to dog parks, make sure your pet is friendly around other people and animals. An aggressive or socially awkward dog may get intimidated by loud noises, the smell of other people and dogs, etc. Therefore, evaluate whether your dog likes to be in such situations and can play around others in a public place.

Check Vaccinations

Your dog is likely to catch skin diseases and other health issues if it is not vaccinated. Before taking it out on a regular park stroll, make sure your pet is vaccinated for rubella, bordetella, and even influenza. Moreover, make sure your pet does not have ticks or fleas, or it may transfer them to other dogs.

Don’t Bring a Puppy to the Park

A puppy is too young to adjust to the park environment and may need extra attention and care. Furthermore, a puppy is also not fully vaccinated, making it more susceptible to health issues. Furthermore, they experience stress or anxiety if there are too many canines or big dogs in the park.

Familiarize Yourself with the Park

Some park areas are designated for pets based on the size of your dog. Once you are in the park, make sure to stay in the area assigned by local authorities for your furry friend. A small-sized poodle should not be mixing with large breeds in their area as it may be dangerous. Therefore, make sure that you and your dog know and follow such dog park rules.

Revise Commands

Your dog may get excited and very curious upon entering a park. However, to follow dog park rules, it is important your canine understands basic commands. These commands should be reiterated once before you step into the park so there is no trouble later on.

Don’t Take Food

The main purpose of taking your dog to the park is to let them have fun in an open space. But park etiquettes suggest you avoid eating in the park, ensuring your dog doesn’t get distracted by its smell or sight. This is especially true for dog parks where you can expect a huge group of dogs running towards you if you open up a sandwich to eat in their presence.

Carry Fewer Toys

Even though carrying toys to a park may seem like a fun thing to do, it may actually be a bit troublesome for you in the long run. A ball or a frisbee is fine for a game of catch, but your dog may lose other toys. Not only this, but it is also possible that other pets may want to play with it, increasing the chance of a fight. Having too many toys also makes it susceptible to germs that your dog may carry inside your home.

Keep Your Dog Safe

Your dog may know a local park well enough, but if it’s a new place, then they may get lost or disoriented. Therefore, make sure your canine is in your sight and doesn’t go too far away. Since many people take their puppers to dog parks, make sure your pet has a collar with a name tag and address. In the case it goes missing missing, park security can ensure your pet returns to you safely.

Don’t Let Your Dog Get into a Fight

Make sure your dog does not get into a fight with another pet. To do this, be observant of your dog’s behaviors towards other animals or things that may upset them. However, if your dog does get into a fight, make sure to never step in without proper precaution. You never know how the other pet may react. Distract your dog with noises, commands, or treats.

Select the Right Time

To make sure your dog follows dog park rules, you can begin by acquainting it to the park when there are fewer people and pets around. Ideally, a workday is suitable because your canine can have the park to themselves and enjoy it freely, without large groups of people and children. This may intimidate a dog, especially if it’s not people-friendly.

Pick Up After Your Dog

Finally, one of the most important part of park etiquette is to leave the environment as you found it. This is known as the ‘Leave no trace’ principle, which suggests that open and natural spaces should be left as clean as possible without any traces of human involvement. Therefore, if you carry plastic bags for dog treats, then make sure to clean up after yourself. Moreover, pick up after your dog poops and keep it in a ziplock bag, so it is not an obstacle for other park-goers.

The Bottom Line

Getting a dog comes with equal parts fun and responsibilities. This is why it’s perfectly alright to plan a day with your dog where you both have fun and make memories. However, it should be within the bounds of park etiquette so there is no danger or threat to you, your dog, and others present in the park.

by Maria A Davidson

We are in business to provide great products for the outdoorsy hikers, campers and their dogs; and to help clean our parks, rivers and oceans for a better planet earth for hikers and their dogs.

Parks Clean

Parks are high-traffic areas in most cities. This means that trash is bound to show up in and around your park and playground.

When discussing ways your family can help clean your local park, don’t overlook a literal cleanup! Picking up trash will make a huge difference in the appearance and vibe of your park. A clean area will encourage others to keep the park pristine. When picking up trash and debris, make sure to wear gloves to protect yourself, and put trash in appropriate receptacles or lawn bags. You can also contact your local trash company to schedule a pickup when you are finished.

Rivers Clean

The storm drain on your street collects the water from your roof, driveway, and sidewalk and funnels it directly in your local lake or river. Nutrients from grass and leaves, pet waste, and fertilizers “enrich” our lakes and streams — feeding algae blooms and harming fish. Chemicals from washing your car in the drive and household chemical spills add up, taking a nasty toll on our favorite swimming areas and fishing spots. Soil can also be picked up by runoff, reducing the clarity of water and hurting fish.

So as you prepare your lawn and garden, here are a few helpful tips to keep our lakes and rivers beautiful and safe for all of us.

Use mulch and vegetation to keep soil from washing away.
Sweep or rake grass and leaves away from street curbs.
Mulch and compost grass clippings and leaves.
Keep paved surfaces to a minimum.
Capture water runoff with a rain garden and rain barrels.
Wash your car on the grass, where the water will get filtered.
Keep chemicals away from storm drains.
Collect your pet’s waste.
Aim your rain-gutter downspouts onto grass.

Beaches Clean (do it for the ocean)

In 2007, the United States Senate and House of Representatives passed the National Clean Beaches Week Resolution to recognize the value of beaches to the American way of life and the important contributions of beaches to the economy, recreation, and natural environment of the United States.

Clean Beaches Week, celebrated annually July 1-7, offers the perfect opportunity to encourage stewardship and volunteerism along our coastlines. But where do you even begin? Follow these tips to get started.

Identify a clean-up site. Choose a place that needs some TLC, making sure that volunteers can safely access the site. Get permission, if needed, for your clean-up event, perhaps from the local parks agency.
Choose a site coordinator. (That might be you!) A beach clean-up takes a lot of work and needs an organized person to keep everything on track before, during, and after the event.
Visit the site in advance. The coordinator will need to know where to set up a volunteer check-in station, where to leave trash and recyclables, and what area(s) volunteers will clean.
Gather supplies. Depending on your location, you’ll need supplies such as trash bags, a first aid kit, hand sanitizer, wipes, and large coolers of water. You should also provide (or ask volunteers to bring) items such as reusable work/garden gloves, reusable water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Plan how to handle the recyclables. Reach out to recyclers in your area (and perhaps your community’s solid waste departments) to make arrangements for accepting any glass, plastic, and aluminum that you collect.
Line up event partners. Contact local businesses for donations of drinks, food, and supplies. Ask a local solid waste hauler to donate their services for trash removal.
Plan for handling hazardous waste. Determine how you’ll dispose of any medical and sewage waste you might find. One solution: A wide-mouth container with a tight-fitting lid, such as an empty laundry detergent bottle. Clearly label that it contains hazardous waste.
Get volunteers to help. Recruit friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. Create an event on Facebook and ask volunteers to sign up online. This will give you an idea of how many people to expect and will help communicate event details.
Stay safe. Be prepared for a variety of health emergencies, from minor cuts and scrapes to heat stroke.
Take photos! Post pics online to share the success of your event and recognize volunteers for their hard work.