TOP TIPS
For a Happier Dog Park Adventure
Dog parks can be wonderful places for dogs to run off-leash and play with other dogs, but some people avoid them because of the risk of dog fights. How common are dog fights at a dog park? Well, that depends a lot on the design of the park and the behaviours of the park users — the dogs and the humans. While you may not be able to change the design of the dog park or control the behaviours of others using the park, there are some simple things you can do to help ensure that your dog has a happy, conflict-free visit.
Consider if your dog is a good fit for a dog park.
Dog parks are intended for dogs that enjoy meeting unknown dogs. Unfortunately, sometimes people find out the hard way that their dog is not well-suited to a dog park environment; and in some cases, well-meaning but misinformed caregivers make the mistake of using the dog park to try to teach their dog to like other dogs. If you enjoy the dog park more than your dog does, it is better to leave your dog at home, for your dog’s sake and others using the park.
Learn to read dog body language.
Dogs communicate a lot through body language and some signals are subtle and easy to overlook. Learn what appropriate dog play looks like and watch for signs of stress, especially lowered or hunched postures with tails tucked.
The 2014 study “Identifying behavioral precursors to play-induced aggression in pet dogs in public off-leash dog parks” (Mehrkam, L., et. al) looked at play bouts in dog parks to determine which behaviours could predict that a play bout would lead to play-induced aggression. The study found that there wasn’t one particular behaviour that predicted play-induced aggression but that the aggressor often showed clusters of “defensive” behaviours such as running away from the other dog, squirming, a tucked tail, exposing the belly, snapping, and growling.
Dogs who play well with their friends but haven’t had much experience playing with unfamiliar dogs might be too rough when playing with new dogs. Some dogs don’t play well together because they have incompatible play styles. Avoid pressuring your dog to play with another dog because forced interactions can easily lead to a dog conflict. If you are not sure if both dogs are enjoying the play bout, try a consent test: interrupt the dogs’ play by calling the dogs away from each other, then let the “underdog” — the dog who is less assertive, the one frequently on the bottom during wrestling, or the one being chased — choose to resume play or not.
Poster artwork created by Lili Chin and provided through the IAABC.
https://iaabc.org/en/dog-posters
Ensure your dog has plenty of space to avoid conflicts.
Dogs tend to avoid conflict by moving away but when there isn’t enough space, dog fights are more likely to occur. You can help by avoiding crowded areas within the park, going to the dog park at non-peak times, and leaving when it starts to get crowded.
How much space do dogs need at a dog park? The answer depends on the dogs present, but some research suggests dogs need at least 5000 square feet per dog in a dog park environment where unfamiliar dogs are interacting and playgroups are constantly changing as dogs come and go.
Use caution when entering the park.
The entrance area inside the dog park can be very busy with dogs racing around and running up to the gate to meet new arrivals, so it’s no surprise that most dog conflicts occur within 100 ft of the entrance, with the majority of these occurring within 20 ft of the entrance. You can help reduce the risks of dog conflicts by waiting until there are fewer dogs near the gate (or using an alternate entrance), immediately moving farther into the park while encouraging your dog to follow you, calling your dog away from dogs entering the park, and avoiding high risk activities near the entrance area such as throwing a toy or looking at your cell phone.
Actively supervise your dog.
Resist the urge to look at your cell phone or do other activities that take your attention away from your dog. Watch for signs that your dog is uncomfortable or that your dog’s behaviour is making others uncomfortable. At some point you might need to call your dog away from unruly or fearful dogs, so practice calling your dog to you periodically during your visit to test if your dog is able to respond to your voice. It’s also a good idea for your dog to take mini-breaks from play because excessive, intense play can escalate to a dog fight.
Poster artwork created by Lili Chin and provided through the IAABC.
https://iaabc.org/en/dog-posters
You may want to carefully monitor wrestling type play and playgroups with more than two dogs. The 2014 dog park study mentioned earlier (Mehrkam, L., et. al) found that play-induced aggression occurred more often in play groups with three or more dogs than playgroups with two dogs, and that social wrestling was more likely to end in play-induced aggression (when compared with chasing and play that involved a toy). You might also want to be extra attentive when you see adult dogs interacting with male adolescent dogs. A 2003 dog park study “‘Bark Parks’ — A Study on Interdog Aggression in a Limited-Control Environment”(Shyan, Fortune, and King) found that of the fourteen aggressive incidents observed, most aggressors were adult dogs and most recipients were male dogs less and a year old.
Keep moving through the park.
If you and your dog are physically able to, it’s a good idea to keep walking throughout the park because dog conflicts are less likely to occur when the caregiver is walking instead of sitting or standing around. You and your dog are more attentive to each other when you are moving along together and you will be better able to notice early signs of a conflict brewing.
Know when it’s time to leave.
Just like people, dogs are less tolerant of stressors when they are tired, so don’t stay too long. As well, be willing to leave early if you are concerned about the behaviours of other dogs or people in the park. For example, if a dog fight occurs and the aggressor isn’t immediately removed from the park, you may want to leave because the aggressor is more likely to be aggressive towards
other dogs after a conflict.
Consider alternatives to a dog park.
Dog parks can be great but they are not for every dog. Thankfully, there are other options such as private playdates, sniff walks on a long leash, and well-run social dog walk classes. You might discover that you and your dog enjoy these more than the dog park.
Additional Resources
“A Safer Visit to the Dog Park” published in FORUM, the national newsletter of the Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers; Special Issue Volume One, pages 57-63
“Making Dog Parks Safer: Reducing the Risks of Dog Fights” published on the Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers YouTube Channel
