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9/7/2020

Dog Parks: The Good. The Bad. The Ugly.

5 Comments

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It’s funny, when yo mention dog park to a dog owner, you’re only going to get one of two reactions. “MY DOG LOVES THE DOG PARK!” OR “Absolutely Not Will Ever Go To The Dog Park Again!”


Personally, I’m a huge anti dog park guy. I’ve seen way too many things happen inside the park to ever go back. However, I’m also a dog owner who has a fairly big fenced in yard, can take his dog’s off leash in fields for running, and have the liberty to meet many friends and clients with their dogs to socialize my dogs with. I understand the appeal to dog owners have to take their dog to the dog park, and honestly on paper it sounds amazing. Here is the problem with the dog park. You have to rely on other dog owners to watch, and correct their dogs behavior as needed, and that just doesn’t happen. Too many dog owners will go to the park and either sit on their phone, converse with the other owners, smoke a cig, bring Chik-fil-a inside the park, or try and take a nap instead of being an accountable dog parent. Yes, I’ve seen all of this happen, and if you’re a regular you’ve seen it too. Without this lack of accountability and oversight from owner to dog, issues are bound to flare up more frequently than they should.


The dog park should be a reward for your dog for being well behaved, but it should not be your outlet to get rid of your dogs energy in order for your dog to be well behaved. That just doesn’t work. Over and over again you’ll hear me talk about the importance of mental exercise over physical exertion. That is what Say It Once Dog Training is built on. If you are relying on purely physical means to get your dog calm, this tends to be an issue. Multiple dogs who are high strung in the same area competing for the same ball, affection, water fountain, new dog coming into the gate, will eventually lead to a mistake. Once again, a mistake isn’t the problem, how you react, or a lack of reaction to the mistake is a problem. This is where dogs get learned behaviors, and where big time problems appear. If everyone was committed to stopping their dogs ill behavior and working with their dog to be better behaved, it would be a beautiful process, but that’s not the case. Some people don’t care enough, and that’s okay! I’m just not going to put my dogs in a position where a mistake can be made.  


If you are going to go to the park, that’s awesome! Let me give you some quick pointers on how to have a better behaved dog at the park.


  1. The entrance is huge. Most dog owners pull up to the dog park and the dog either drags them on leash to the gate, or the owner lets them off leash to run to the gate. If my dog enters crazy, it’ll lead to more anxiety and issues. What I suggest is practicing opening your car door, and if your dog tries to run out, simply say no and shut the door. Repeat until they understand they have to remain in a sit, calmly, until you are ready for them to exit. (Video of this on our facebook page)
  2. Once out of the car, don’t always make a B line straight for the park entrance. Do training in the parking lot, walk past the park, go to the park and turn back to the car. Keep them guessing, and keep them focused on you.
  3. If you feel that your dog is acting unruly, take them out. Walk them, calm them down, and do some training. When ready, renter the park. 
  4. If your dog does great with smaller groups and gets overwhelmed by larger groups, go to the park during non peak hours, and on a Tuesday instead of the weekend.
  5. If your dog protects their ball at the park, not only do you need to fix that behavior, but definitely don’t bring a ball to the park.
  6. When a new dog comes to the gate, this is a great time for you to practice and reinforce a stay command. Don’t let them bum rush the new pup!
  7. Don’t pet jumping dogs, and try not to get the dogs overexcited. Believe me, they are amped enough, you don’t have to add any fuel to the fire.
  8. Dogs have disagreements, just like humans. It’s not the end of the world. But there is a difference between and a dog being a bully. 
  9. Communication between you and your dog is important, as well as communicating between you and other owners as well
  10. Advocate for your dog by putting them in the best possible position!
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5 Comments
Adriana Portillo
12/9/2020 11:35:36 pm

I got my puppy on June he is 6 Months now and Since quarantine we started to take him to the dog park every day , until he got attacked by a Bully and Pitbull (my puppy was off leash since we were in the dog park) he smelled all the other dogs except them.... it was super fast we where super scared since he is still a puppy... I asked the vet for a solution and told me to keep going.... he now gets intimidated by some dogs....and barks to people in other locations not the park.... how can I still socialize

We use the prong , yet he pulls when going to the Dog Park....

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Barney
3/2/2021 09:14:37 am

I too do not like dog parks. You are right about owners. They stand around smoke their cigarettes and do not pay attention. Then they also let their kids run too.

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Daryl Wikowski
4/20/2021 02:09:31 am

It will continue to amaze me what people ask their vet and what people think their vet actually understands about dogs. Newsflashdog owners most vets are at canine experts they Excel in the field of health of animals that does not make them dog experts. These are the same people who are prescribing anxiety medication two dogs that they never actually observe only in their facility for a brief time. Things like this should only be prescribed by a professional canine behaviorist. To answer your question pick out a friend or family member who has a dog that's how you can socialize still make appointments to get your dogs together and train together give each other new ideas your dogs will have a great time and you can also work on training. You're never going to get any training done at a dog park there's just too many owners that let their dogs do whatever they want
Daryl Wikowski
{SUPERK9TRAINER}

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Logan Brown link
2/15/2021 12:20:25 pm

Those are some great pointers on taking a dog to the park! It is important to monitor your dog's interactions to ensure play remains safe and that other dogs remain mutually interested. A well-trained dog is a happy dog indeed.

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Paul Burton link
7/27/2021 11:02:36 am

Interesting post! Dog parks are a great place to let your dog run off-leash and socialize with other dogs. Adequate physical and mental exercise facilitates the maintenance of a dog's health. However, I believe that taking your dog out is a responsibility and a commitment to taming your dog's unruly behavior.

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    Vinnie Somma

    I Train dogs well. Spelling is questionable

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  • Home
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  • Group Class Sign Ups
    • Pittsburgh PA
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