Dog parks have become a major thing. They are used daily by tens of thousands of households . They romp, run, play and wrestle. Sometimes, they simply hang out. It often reminds me of McDonalds Play Place. As a child, it was my favorite restaurant to eat in.
McDonalds knew that if they built it, the kids would return – and the children would bring their loved ones! It was outstanding marketing on their part. The children, after all, are usually people who get to choose where. The parents were happy because after ingestion, they must chat while the children played at the tiny windowed mobile – safe and included. What child wouldn’t enjoy it in the Play Place? Well, you will find a few. The ones who get bullied by other children. The ones who get hurt. As a child, I remember an episode where I was pushed from behind with a young child on the skid. I didn’t understand him. I was not certain when he was horrified and I had been carrying too long if he truly was seeking to bully me. All I know is that I wound up with a goose egg on my head along with a fat lip where I bit down hard. My mother came running to help me and later attending to my immediate demands, she turned to find both child and parent had vanished. They were nowhere to be seen.
This was early on in the days when McDonalds first realized that advertising to children was beneficial. We saw exciting colors and fun and wished to be a part of it! We did not have access to this information we do today. We made decisions based on different factors back then – the Play Place seemed charming and safe! Fast forward to today and the accessibility of information at your fingertips. Google”Play Place Accidents”. I got almost 5 million outcomes in under one second! Now, I am quite sure not all 5 thousand outcomes are horrible incidents, but probably, some of them are. Not quite as big a record at 1.5 million, but still a lot of incidents such as Spectator articles about dogs being murdered.
We do not suggest the conventional usage of Dog Parks. With the tales that we are privy to, we are aware that it’s not worth the danger. None of our employees would go into one. Check at any vet and I am quite certain that they’ve seen tremendous injury as a consequence of Leash-Free Dog Parks too. So, the question is, are you willing to take the danger? There are, naturally, a balance of facts. Probably most days go by without incident in the Dog Park Denmark. With a little planning and some rules to follow along, it can be an enjoyable adventure. So, how can you determine whether the risk is worthwhile? I’d break it down into the following:
Who is Maintaining the Park?
First off, let’s look at potential dangers from the environment itself. Is anyone cleaning up at the Park and watching out for debris and potential sharp objects? Broken bottles are sometimes a giant danger for interested dogs. Is someone keeping up the park and making sure that these dangers are removed? Of course the very same dangers are said of any park, not just the Dog Park, however at a standard park, you’re probably supervising your dog entirely or together with your leash to keep them close.
Who’s visiting the Park?
How many puppies are present in any particular time? For people who have little dogs, a frenzy of delight over a little dog running loose can escalate fast in a group of dogs. Small dogs can be hurt badly if one dog sees them as prey.
Who’s Monitoring the Interaction?
We request every new customer if they see Leash-Free Parks or Doggie Daycare. The solution gives us great information regarding the dog coming into class. So, which answer do we favor? At minimal in a respectable daycare, there’s an attendant who will be well versed in canine body language. They’ll realize that not all dogs are supposed to be loose together and will divide classes into proper players. They will understand the dogs and when a new dog is introduced into the group, it will generally be just one dog at a time. They’ll be able to read body language and divert dogs in the first signs that something is going to go wrong. At a leash-free playground, who is taking on this task? If there are 10 puppies, all belonging to people who do not know how to read body language, who is going to recognize and prevent it if a fight is going to erupt?
Can My Dog Like the Park?
This is GIANT! There is a fallacy out that indicates that all dogs adore playing with other dogs. Not all dogs are comfortable and confident in a group of puppies. Not all dogs know how to play well. There are in fact lots of bullies out there that prey more insecure dogs. We hear about people bringing their aggressive dogs to Leash-Free parks to possess them”work it out” all of the time. Do you need your pet interacting with those puppies? Would you know how to judge if your dog loves the playground? The puppy who hides behind you’re obviously saying he is not interested in playing. Forcing the interaction can result in disaster. Additionally, it causes your dog to get rid of trust in you. It just takes one episode for a dog to be very put off with other puppies and this will result in problems in other parts of life.
Who Should Go?
If you are going to use Leash-Free Dog Parks, we advocate the following:
Visit occasionally when you know the puppies that are at the park. Perhaps arrange a playgroup at particular times.
Educate yourself on canine body language so that you can read what is actually occurring
When a new dog enters and you have any doubt about these being favorable, throw social etiquette outside the window, then call your pet and leave.
Stay with your puppy and observe them closely. We’ve heard about the puppy owner sitting in the car while their dog runs loose at the park. Not a fantastic way to begin it whatsoever. Be close by and do not get overly distracted in discussions with others that you miss what is happening with your puppy.
Make certain that you have a fantastic recall so you are able to get your dog back quickly if need be.
Listen for your puppy! If they don’t need to play that day, don’t force it. Listen to what they are telling you and depart. They may have an upset stomach or something could be sore. They might dislike the vibe among the other dog’s is giving away. Listen to your puppy! They may not want to socialize that day.
In the long run, it’s up to you to determine whether or not to use Leash-Free Dog Parks. We expect that if you do, you will use due care and caution to keep your dogs safe from any possible injuries.
As always, Happy Training!