Dog Parks: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Ah, the dog park. The magical canine land where dog moms and dads have the best of times, and sometimes, the worst of times.

But the bad experiences can be avoided as they tend to involve owners who have no knowledge, or possibly even regard for, dog park etiquette. Yes, there is a such thing as dog park etiquette. 

Let me break it down for you.

If your dog is aggressive, a dog park probably isn’t the best place for him to go.

I know it sucks. You just want your beloved Rover to be able to get out of the house, and have fun. But if he isn’t friendly, bringing him in a gated area with other dogs isn’t the right thing to do.

You may think the more interaction your dog gets, the friendlier he will be. Unfortunately, chances are he won’t – especially if he’s already past the puppy stage. It’s not right to endanger other animals to test your theory. Get a fenced in backyard, or keep him on a leash. It’s as simple as that.

It’s not hard to figure out what’s good about dog parks. Your pooch is able to unwind, have fun – and most importantly – gets adequate exercise. Pet obesity is seriously overlooked in American households.

According to a study by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, about 54 percent of dogs and 58 percent of cats were overweight or obese in 2015.

So, as much as their big, sad begging eyes may kill you, table scraps are a big no-no. Ask a vet, I’m not lying.

Consistent park visits also teach your dog how to socialize with people, and other dogs. But  you need to start bringing your pooch early, ideally when he is still a puppy.

I REPEAT: Puppy.

Make sure to wait until he is finished with all of his puppy vaccinations so you don’t endanger him or other dogs.

This is the most overlooked rule in the dog park game, and one many people with adult dogs may not want to hear. If your 5-year-old dog doesn’t play well with others, on or off-leash, then you need to recognize that the dog park may not be in the cards.

Too many people cannot accept that their dogs are too aggressive and too temperamental to safely interact with other animals. This is amplified in a dog park setting where they can run wild off-leash in an enclosed area. Things can get out of hand quickly.

On a lighter, more whiny note: I really hate that the small dog section is always empty.

Seriously, every time I go, there might be one anti-social Lhasa Apso – but that’s generally it. Of course, the big dog section has like 25 dogs running around, having a ball. But my long-haired Chihuahua’s just look at me, unsure of why I brought them there to play in the patch of land alone.

And I’m not just talking about a single dog park during business hours on a weekday. This has happened to me at multiple parks, Monday through Sunday; morning, afternoon and evening.

So, people with small dogs (ones that are friendly, please) bring your tiny balls of fur to the dog park! They don’t want to be cooped up in the apartment day in and day out. I promise.

 

Here are some local dog parks to check out:

Sarasota County

17th Street Paw Park – 4570 17th St, Sarasota

Arlington Paw Park – 2650 Waldemere St, Sarasota

Brohard Beach Paw Park – 1600 Harbor Drive South, Venice

Lakeview Dog Park – 7150 Lago St, Sarasota

Woodmere Paw Park – 3951 Woodmere Park Blvd, Sarasota

Manatee County

Creekwood Canine Park – 7025 44th Avenue East, Bradenton

Dog Leg Canine Park – 7550 69th Street East, Palmetto

Happy Tails Canine Park – 51st Street W, Bradenton (between 29th Ave W and 27th Ave W)