09/02/2017
Yet another dog lost their life at a Winnipeg dog park the other day. How many is too many? When it's your dog, is that too many?
Seeing people commenting that they take their own dog-aggressive dogs there on the daily is not reassuring, it's rolling the dice with other dog's lives. If your dog has issues with other dogs and you "use" a public dog park to "work on it," let me put this politely: your lack of respect for the health and safety of others enjoying their day is selfish, dangerous, and morally reprehensible.
"But how am I going to exercise my dog?"
There are plenty of ways to physically and mentally tire out your over-aroused dog without endangering others. Brain games, focus training, obedience training, nosework walks, tracking- the list is truly endless. Fall is an excellent time to get FidoRoverRexBuddy into a positive reinforcement training class which will give you training homework!
A little creativity and a willingness to step outside the box are all you need for some fun, relaxing, TIRING time spent with your best friend.
Practicing a calm Down on a mat in a new, lively place every day is a marvelous exercise. Your dog will be welcome at more places, and their world will grow larger!
Humble brag: Ace is not naturally calm dog. Here he is lying mostly* calmly at Hat Trix Hair Salon. If your salon does not allow polite dogs, https://www.facebook.com/HatTrixHairSalon/ does!
If you want to hit the park with your dog who enjoys meeting and playing with other dogs they don't know, who knows how to politely approach other dogs, then by all means brush up on your "red flag behaviours" and go, just maybe go a bit less!
Many dogs are overstimulated in a dog park situation and would benefit greatly from once weekly excursions instead of daily.
..It's a matter of life and death.
To read more about keeping your dog safe:
1. https://nodogaboutit.wordpress.com/2015/09/02/playing-at-the-dog-park-red-alert-behaviors/
2. https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/amp/15-things-humans-do-wrong-at-dog-parks
