Dog park etiquette and best practices

Dog parks have a mixed reputation within the canine companion community.

On one hand, a dog park can be a great place for your dog to exercise and socialize. On the other hand, some dogs at the dog park aren’t well socialized or are badly-trained which can be dangerous or lead to your dog picking up bad habits.

But for people who don’t have a yard or who live in a city, dog parks are the best — and sometimes only — option. It’s important to know the risks involved as well as proper “petiquette” to set you and your dog up for dog park success.

Do’s

1. Do make sure your dog has been trained in the basics

Before you unleash your dog into a new environment, make sure they are socialized and have basic training, like not jumping up on people, how to “leave it,” and most importantly: recall. The dog park can be an unpredictable place, and it’s critical to be able to call your dog if something unexpected happens. “Your dog should know recall/come VERY well,” commented Redditor u/sjzerbe, in a r/Dogtraining post that much of the commentary for this article was drawn from, who described the command as non-negotiable. “It’s important because if something crazy goes down, you need to be able to call your dog to you immediately.” “…in the Reddit

2. Do scout it out first

Every dog park is different, which is why it’s useful to see what it’s like before you take your dog there. Does it have a water fountain or should you bring your own water? Is it gravel or dirt or grass? Are there separate areas for small and large dogs? Is there a double-gate system? What is it like at the time of day when you would typically take your dog? Knowing all of this beforehand will help you be prepared, which will make you more relaxed, which will make your dog more relaxed. “I would walk past the park without your dog a couple times first to check it out and see what kinds of dogs and owners are there and to know to lay of the land a bit — some are better than others for sure,” said Redditor u/shradams, who also says to check fence height if your dog is a jumper.

3. Do follow the rules

This one might seem kinda obvious, but rules might differ slightly from park to park. For example, dogs that haven’t been neutered or spayed are explicitly prohibited in some parks. While letting your intact dog hump another dog is generally frowned upon at any park, in some places, you might actually be breaking the law.

4. Do take a pause before you enter

Making sure your dog is calm when they enter the park will help set the tone for the entire experience. This will help them from becoming over-excited. Even though it might seem cute, being overexcited is a sign of stress which can lead to aggression. Redditor u/FEED_ME_SARA even says, “dog must approach the gate on a loose leash,” adding that if there’s no slack in the leash, “we turn around and start over until they can.”

5. Do bring plenty of water

Even if there is a water fountain at the dog park, it’s always a good idea to bring some water in case the fountain is broken or there’s a big group of thirsty dogs clamoring for a drink. More than once, I’ve forgotten to bring water on a hot day and was saved by the kindness of less forgetful people. So pay it forward and bring enough water to share.

Hydration is key.
Credit: Getty Images

6. Do make friends

The dog park is the great equalizer. It’s a place where people from all walks of life and all ages gather, united by their love of dogs. Even if you have nothing else in common, the topic of dog ownership has surprising depth. I have had life-changing conversations with people all because our dogs sniffed each other’s butts. You don’t have to make conversation with everyone you meet, this is just to say conversation can be a rewarding experience, and that even if you don’t end up with a friend for life, chatting while you’re at the dog park is an indispensable opportunity to swap dog-related tips and resources.

7. Do actively pay attention to your dog

That being said, there’s a caveat: talking to people at the dog park is great as long as you always have eyes on your dog. Taking your dog to the dog park is not your time. It is your dog’s time. They are there to play and exercise and that means paying attention to what’s happening. “You won’t believe how many people go to dog parks and release their dog, then just sit on their phones or talk to other people,” said u/WA_State_Buckeye. “The moment you are inattentive is when something stupid happens.”

Paying attention isn’t just about being able to respond if something happens, it’s about understanding your dog so you can prevent something from happening in the first place. That means watching your dog and constantly assessing their mood and behavior. Do they seem fearful and anxious around a certain dog? Are they resource-guarding a tennis ball? Know how to read your dog so can intervene before something bad happens.

8. Do know when it’s time to leave

Ideally, you want to leave on a high note, so your dog has nothing but positive associations with the dog park. “It’s totally fine to only stay for 5, 10, 15 minutes,” said u/taggalito, who recommends leaving before your dog gets overtired or overstimulated. “Once the dog hits that threshold, behavior gets worse, recall disappears, and less than positive interactions can occur.”

But anyone who has been to a dog park knows that it’s an unpredictable place with lots of different variables. If a fight breaks out or your dog is being aggressive to other dogs, that’s your cue to leave. “If your dog is in a fight as the instigator just leave. If your dog is in a fight as the victim/receiver I would remove [them] from the dog park itself but walk around a bit to get them in a better frame of mind before you leave,” said u/Bright_Mixture_3876.

Also, if your dog is too shy for the dog park, you’ll know almost immediately. Don’t hang around for hours hoping their personality will change. If they’re not at least somewhat curious about the other dogs as soon as they get there, and they look like they want to leave, they probably do want to leave.

Don’ts

1. Don’t bring your dog if they’re unvaccinated, sick, or in heat

Even the best-maintained dog parks are a breeding ground for diseases like parvo and parasites. For the safety of all dogs, only bring your pup once they’ve been fully vaccinated and are otherwise healthy. If your un-spayed female dog is in heat, “keep her at home — unless you want unplanned puppies or to stir up an aggressive interest in male dogs,” said the American Kennel Club.

2. Don’t keep them on a leash

It might seem counterintuitive, but this is the one occasion where your dog should not be on a leash. If your dog is leashed where other dogs are off-leash, your dog is likely to feel inhibited and vulnerable which could lead to all sorts of problems. “If one dog is leashed and the other dog is not, it can create a power imbalance,” said u/niallnz, noting that such an imbalance can lead to poor behavior. Another Redditor u/SirSeaGoat pointed out that “leashes get in the way of body language,” which means other dogs might not be able to read them.

3. Don’t bring small children

The dog park is not the right place for little ones. There are countless stories of kids getting knocked over by rambunctious dogs or bitten because they don’t know how to pet a dog. Plus, as u/whoiamidonotknow points out, running around — as kids do because they’re kids — might rile dogs up. “Expect to be chased if you run. It’s the primary reason people recommend against or otherwise strongly caution anyone bringing their kids inside.”

4. Don’t bring treats or nice toys

“Treats are the 100% guaranteed way to get EVERY dogs attention in a dog park,” said u/indipit. “If you have them in your pocket, the dogs can still smell them just fine. Dogs that resource guard will immediately get into a fight with your dog in order to keep him from getting those treats.” Many dog park will prohibit treats for this reason, but even if your local dog park sign doesn’t explicitly say it, this is widely considered an unspoken rule. If you’re training your dog and want to give them treats as a reward, some people recommend leaving them in your car and giving them to your dog after — as long as they aren’t visible or smellable to other dogs.

Just like treats, flashy new toys might trigger tension or fighting between dogs. Plus, anything you bring to the dog park will probably be destroyed, so don’t bring anything you care about keeping in tact. Play it safe and stick to dirty tennis balls.

Sometimes, a dirty tennis ball is all they need.
Credit: Getty Images

5. Don’t leave your dog’s poop un-scooped

Whatever you do, don’t be that person who doesn’t pick up after their dog. If you were scrolling through your phone and didn’t notice your dog popping a squat (see rule #7: actively pay attention to your dog) people will call you out on it and show you where your dog pooped. No one wants a poopy dog park, plus it’s an actual health hazard that can spread disease. Many dog parks will have a poop station with a bag dispenser and trash can, but if not, one of your fellow dog park goers will happily give you one.

6. Don’t ignore your dog’s issues or needs

In other words, “Be harshly realistic about your dog’s potential as a park playmate,” said Miller. “The dog park is not the appropriate place to work on fixing your dog’s behavior problems.” If your dog has behavioral issues, like resource-guarding or mounting other dogs, it can be irresponsible or even dangerous to unleash them, hoping they’ll behave. Maybe you’ll get lucky a few times, but the issue won’t go away on its own, and you might even be inadvertently reinforcing it. Address the behavior issue in a controlled environment.

If your dog seems nervous or unhappy, it could be a sign that they need more socialization training, but it could also mean that your dog just doesn’t like the dog park. “Dog parks are really overwhelming for most dogs, even the dogs who seem happy go lucky about it are often on stimulus overload,” said u/fishCodeHuntress. “And most dogs become less social as they get older.”

7. Don’t shirk responsibility

If something bad does happen and it’s your dog’s fault, it’s important to own up to it, instead of trotting out a “He’s harmless!” or “She’s just being playful!” or some other notorious, responsibility-shirking phrase. “If someone complains about your dog’s behavior, be prepared to consider his perspective before defending your dog or just blowing off the complaint. Apologize if your dog has been inappropriate, and be willing to leave the park if your dog is being too rough,” said Pat Miller, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA in Whole Dog Journal. “If you really disagree with the person’s assessment of your dog’s behavior, ask someone you respect for her honest and frank opinion.”

8. Don’t expect perfection

Perhaps most important of all, expect the unexpected. “Know that dog parks are a risk,” said u/chemfit. “Up to you if you are willing to take it. If your dog gets into a fight at a dog park, don’t be surprised. Even good dogs can have a bad day.”