Doggone Etiquette—

Park

Your Dog

 

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:           

Oh, to be running free! Not free as a bird, but free as yourself, a dog! That is what a lot of you dogs only dream about. You are sound asleep, but all four legs are in motion, with little chasing yips or panting to add to the reality. What fun! And then you wake up and there you are, just lying on your rug as usual. It was all only a dream. How about we try to make your dreams of freedom come true? Do you think we could pull it off? Let’s see how your VIPeople feel about it.

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:            

Letting Rufus run free (that’s “free” but under your complete control) may soon be a reality in this area when the dog park opens. Before we go any further with the dog’s dream, there are a lot of things that you, as owners, need to be very clear about. A major one is to accept the fact that not every dog is suitable for all-out freedom with other dogs and people here, there, and everywhere. Come to think of it, nor is every dog owner. If all you have in mind is to sit on a bench and chat with other dog owners while your dog is racing around out of reach or out of sight, the dog park is not for you.

This social outlook applies to the dog, too, but from a different angle. Knowing how your dog fits into any and all social situations is vital. So, is Rufus a socially acceptable dog around other dogs, especially ones he has never met before? How about with people (men, women, and children) who are strangers? These are two extremely important things to consider regardless of whether you intend to keep Rufus in the fenced-in play ground, or running loose. If he has been an only dog in the family, prepark socializing with one or two calm and friendly dogs will indicate how he might do in the park. If he has to be top dog over every dog he meets, then forget about freedom in the dog park until you can work with a trainer to calm down his ego.

Dog bites can occur without any warning in play, both to people and other dogs. It happens quickly and with various degrees of severity. Dogs also bite the person who is trying to put a stop the chaos the dogs have caused. Don’t get caught in the middle should the play of two or more dogs begin to get rough. Instead, call your dog to you to get him out of it. And that’s where positive, no-nonsense obedience training pays off.

Other basic preparations for this venture are fairly obvious. When our Park and Bark opens, there will be numerous rules and regulations set out for the benefit of all who enter. But it’s up to each dog owner to be sure his dog is in good health (no hidden infectious diseases, worms, etc), that he gets along well with other dogs and people, and is obedient. The rules governing both dogs and their owners, along with helpful suggestions for having a good time, will be available to all.

In the meantime, if this whole idea appeals to you, brush up on any of your dog’s weaknesses and practice, practice, practice! No rush. Slow and steady does it best — especially in the summertime.

Until next time — BE GOOD!

—Bardi

Bardi McLennan bred, trained and showed Welsh terriers for 30 years, during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog Fancy Magazine. In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs, the latest being Rescue Me!, which received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award in 2008.