Getty Images / Meaghan Browning
For a draw of pawl owner who live in city , there are limited situation to take Canis familiaris for enamored breaks and exercise . The main option ? dog-iron parks .
domestic dog parking lot have their welfare . They are places where your dog can still itself , run around off leash , and socialize with other dog-iron . But dog Mungo Park also have their fortune . With so many deary share the same space , detent who use wiener parks can easily spread parasites , such as giardia , and get in fight with other dogs they do n’t get along with .
Credit:Getty Images/Meaghan Browning
AOneVet study(first write in April 2021 ) , ranked 20 urban center in the U.S. by how safe their dog green are for its nonmigratory pups . St. Louis range No . 1 because of its extensive wienerwurst - favorable trails . There are , however , many component that go into making a park safe for your dog-iron , and , in the end , you both need to be comfy in that blank space .
The Spruce Pets spoke with Jamie Freyer , DMV , a veterinary expert with more than 10 years of experience , about how to avoid vulgar health and safety hazards at dog parks . Here are the primary takeaways .
Look Out for Common Dog Park Illnesses
Dr. Freyer:“The common categories we see issues from pawl parks are dog fights , accidental trauma , such as head - on collisions or picking up something that they ’re not reckon to eat up , and then the third family is that they can pick up [ diseases ] from the other Canis familiaris . Giardia is one of the disease that they can nibble up , and that ’s really unmanageable to get out of the environment so it quell around for a farsighted meter . And if a dog is not full vaccinated , disease , such as Parvo , are going to be easy to pick up in a Canis familiaris park as well . "
There Are Ways to Keep Your Dog From Getting Sick
" Keep dogs away from any other dog ’ stool . Pick up after yourself as well . ensure that your dog is fully vaccinated . And really , I ’m function to keep coming back to this , but really stay on with your dog , watch your domestic dog . You see what they ’re doing . You see what they ’re eating . you’re able to stop them from eating things that they ’re not supposed to if you ’re watching them .
" I do n’t do it [ communal dog bowls ] from a transmissible disease stand . I would recommend bringing your own . "
Getty Images / Rachel Hanes / EyeEm
Credit:Getty Images / Rachel Hanes / EyeEm
Don’t Take Your Eyes Off Your Dog
" Again , be with your dog , watch your dog . I ’ve discover a lot of people at Canis familiaris parks that just let their blackguard go , and then they ’re on their phones , or they ’re not really pay attention . It ’s really important to devote attention to your dog , not only what they ’re doing , but the cad they ’re interact with . The body language of the dogs can give you clue as to whether they ’re having a happy interaction or a not - so - felicitous interaction . And if you ’re watching and if you ’re there with your frump , then you’re able to get them out of a regretful office a lot faster than if you ’re sitting on a park terrace 20 feet away . "
Watch Your Dog’s Body Language
" you could see if the Canis familiaris looks uncomfortable , so if their ears are back , if they ’re present signs of accent like yawning , licking their lips , turning away , trying to get away from the conflict . Even if click see like they ’re playing , if one dog is constantly the attacker , and the other cad is being aggress upon , that ’s a foretoken . Play should be adequate . It reckon on the breed and how they play , but say one dog is chamfer the other one and they ’re all having fun , and then the other dog starts chamfer the first frump . That ’s mutual play and they ’re behaving the way they should be . But if it ’s just one dog chasing one hotdog around , that ’s more one - sided and you may need to get your dog out of a situation like that . "
Tip
" you may also minimize the risk of hotdog competitiveness by leaving your dog ’s favorite toys and goody at home , or at least out of ken at the Mungo Park . Some dogs can become aggressive when guarding toys or treats , so easily to keep open those for one - on - one bid . Also , see buy an air saddle horn to bring along to safely break up dog fights without having to risk getting bitten . Usually the loud stochasticity will galvanise fighting dogs long enough for them to release their grip on one another . “—Dr . Amy Fox , The Spruce Pets Veterinary Review Board member
Pick Up After Your Pup
" That ’s the biggie : blame up after yourself . You should n’t be get out anything behind . No poop , and nothing that you ’ve brought there . Also , really just make certain that your dog is being polite to other dogs , too . It ’s not just make certain that your dog does n’t get pick on , but if you see your dog aggressing on another pawl or picking on another dog , then it ’s consider good behavior to go over and perpetrate your dog off from the situation . "
Getty Images / Akchamczuk
Do Your Research
" In this Clarence Day and age , I would probably do a short online search on it and see what people are saying about that particular hotdog ballpark and the types of thing that go on there . That might be a place you could find some clues that that particular pawl park is not for you or not for your pet . I in person would probably require to have my frankfurter on a leash the first clip , so I could kind of see what the other dog were like and check that the other possessor were paying attention to their dogs and that my dog felt comfortable at that exceptional car park .
" If it ’s dirty , if there ’s ninny everywhere , if there ’s no good fencing , if there are too many dog in too small of an arena . You want to check that that the blackguard have lots of way to feel like they can get out of situations that are making them uncomfortable .
" Many parks also have freestanding shimmer areas for large / active blackguard and minuscule dogs , which can help ensure your dog has compatible playmates . "
Credit:Getty Images / Akchamczuk
If Your Puppy Isn’t Vaccinated, Exercise Caution
" It ’s complicated . What I recommend — and it can be difficult — but you could take your detent spot , just do n’t countenance them touch the terra firma . you’re able to kind of pick them up and you’re able to take them spot and expose them to unexampled things , without letting them get in and whiff some other blackguard ’s permissive waste , which could theoretically make them unhinged .
" If you have friend that have dogs that play well with others and are tidy , you may take them to your friends’houses , as long as their dogs are appropriately immunize . There are still things you could do during that stage to socialize safely , because that ’s a really crucial developmental stage for them , especially before they arrive at 16 weeks sometime . And it ’s really good for them to continue getting socialise even though their immunity is not quite there yet . "
" It is a full estimate to keep your unvaccinated andiron away from any dogs showing signs of illness include diarrhea , vomiting , sneeze , and cough , as these could be contagious and lead to more serious malady in an unvaccinated frump . “—Amy Fox , The Spruce Pets Veterinary Review Board penis
If Your Dog Is Sick, Don’t Go to the Park
" It ’s not really fair to the other weenie there if you have a go at it you have something contagious to bring in there . You do n’t want to perpetuate the cycle of transmission at the dog green . "
" discover a more isolated quad where their detent can relieve itself or get some example alone while it is recovering . " — Amy Fox , The Spruce Pets Veterinary Review Board member
Worth Repeating: Watch Your Dog, Watch Your Dog, Watch Your Dog
" I just really require to stress : Watch your dog , watch the other dogs , check that other people are watching their dog . That ’s really how to curb most of the bad thing and give up most of the bad thing from happening is to just be really vigilant with paying attention . "
