Should I take my dog to a dog park?

Oct 10

Written By Elyse .

what’s the background?

To the average dog owner, dog parks may look like a canine paradise. But your dog trainer, coach, or veterinarian may have advised you to stay away from dog parks. What’s the deal?

To sum it up in the form of an SAT-style analogy: dog parks are to dog professionals what trampolines are to pediatric emergency doctors. Every experienced pediatrician has tended to countless patients with trampoline-related injuries, to the extent that the American Association of Pediatrics advises doctors to “counsel their patients and families against recreational trampoline use.”

Likewise, practically every experienced dog professional has seen examples of dog park play turned violent — leading to injury, behavioral issues, or worse.

So, back to our analogy: imagine that you are the parent of an elementary school-aged child, and the trampoline park happens to be the hottest birthday party spot of the year. What would you do?

Some parents may not be concerned by (or aware of) the risks, and encourage their kids to use trampolines at-will. Some risk-averse parents may heed their pediatrician’s advice to a tee, and have their kids miss the parties altogether. And some parents may acknowledge both the risk and the social/practical benefits of trampoline parties, and will allow their kids to attend with some safety rules in place. None of these options are the universally “correct” choice.

Many dog professionals, understandably, do not think that the potential benefits of dog parks outweigh the risks. At the same time, for the average dog owner, dog parks are often the most accessible opportunity for giving their dog off-leash exercise — and for finding a “dog community” in their area.

Further complicating matters, there is no universal definition of a “dog park” — and your level of risk is very different in a 20-square-foot dirt patch “dog park” than it is at a pristine, multi-acre dog beach.

Here at The Data-Driven Dog, we believe that there is rarely a singular, black-and-white, “correct” answer. The question of to dog park, or not to dog park? comes down to personal assessment of risk and reward.

what’s the tl;dr? here’s the data-driven bottom line:

Under the right circumstances, dog parks can be a wonderful place for off-leash exercise and community for owners.

Not all dog parks are created equal, and not all dogs are well-suited to an “open play” environment.

Under the wrong circumstances, dog parks can lead to injury, illness, or even death.

In a perfect world, plentiful outdoor green space would be accessible to all dogs and humans. Free body movement in nature allows dogs to move in their natural gait, as well as explore and gain enrichment from the environment. Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world. Most dog parks in the United States today are small, fenced-in fields — an environment that is much less enriching for dogs than, say, sprawling wooded nature trails.

Some dogs do enjoy and benefit from the average dog park’s “open play” environment. In particular, dog parks can be a good outlet for younger, more playful dogs — if they have developed healthy socialization and play behaviors.

Ultimately, owners must assess the risk vs. reward of dog park usage for their specific dog and circumstance. To mitigate risk, owners should have a game plan and necessary supplies before heading into a dog park. Be sure to assess the park in terms of design, cleanliness, and safety.

If you choose to take your dog to a dog park:

Know your dog.

Many dogs simply do not enjoy or benefit from an ‘open play’ environment such as a dog park. Understand your dog’s temperament and body language, and remember that their interest in playing with other dogs may decrease as they mature. Even if your dog does enjoy open play, dog parks may not be the right fit for them — for example, mixed-size dog parks can be deadly for small dogs.

Choose your dog park wisely.

Scope out a dog park before taking your pup there. Dog parks run the gamut — from tiny dirt patches to acres of lush, shady nature trails. Are the dogs engaging in safe and respectful play, or are dogs forming loose packs and bullying others? Are there separate park areas for big and small dogs? Does the dog park have double-gated entrances — ideally in multiple spots, with visual barriers from the rest of the park to avoid “gate rushing”?

Stay vigilant and monitor your dog closely.
Follow your dog around the park. Monitor their behavior, and the behavior of other dogs in the park. Read up on dog body language, and understand what healthy and safe open play behavior looks like. Be prepared to remove your dog from the park if needed.

Bring the supplies you need — including an animal deterrent such as dog-safe citronella spray to use in case of a fight.
Never go to the dog park empty-handed. In addition to animal deterrent, make sure that you have poop bags and fresh water for your pup.

**what can go right?**

Dogs and their humans need and deserve access to accessible recreational outdoor space. The necessity of regular exercise for dogs is well-established — and there is a growing body of evidence that off-leash exercise is particularly impactful.

In other words: dogs benefit from free body movement in a natural environment. In the right context, well-designed dog parks can be a fantastic and accessible way for humans to give their dogs that form of exercise and enrichment.

The Data-Driven Dog advocates for the creation of thoughtfully-designed off-leash spaces for dogs, created with safety and risk mitigation in mind. This is particularly important in major US cities, where the urban dog-owning population continues to grow. There will almost certainly always be a demand for dog parks in some form, and so these parks should be designed in an intentional way.

**what can go wrong?**

Dog parks can pose a threat to your dog’s health and wellbeing. Illness can spread at dog parks due to the close contact between dogs, including via shared water bowls and toys. Injury is also a risk, particularly from dog fights.

With that being said, any activity with your dog — whether going for a leash walk in your neighborhood, playing at a dog park, or taking a dog sport class — involves some level of risk.

Unfortunately, many (if not most) dog parks in the United States are poorly-designed. Many dog owners are uneducated on dog body language and safe open play protocols. Because of these factors, dog parks can pose a relatively high risk to a dog’s physical and behavioral health.