“Yawning doesn’t always mean tired, and growling doesn’t always mean aggressive.” “A wagging tail doesn’t always mean happy,” Haussmann said. Tip #4: Familiarize yourself with canine body language. “If you see them, opt for a long walk instead.” “There are always those problem dogs and owners that frequent local dog parks,” he said. He said to make sure your dog is not bullying other dogs or being bullied, and to start with shorter visits during quieter times.Īlso, if you feel like something just isn’t right at the park, Horan said it’s best to trust your gut and leave. Often, a dog may be overwhelmed at the park if she has had limited experiences or negative experiences with other dogs. If your dog is already an adult, Haussmann said you should try to gauge her comfort level. Tip #3: Know your dog’s social comfort level. Each one has its own dynamic, and you may find that you and your dog fit in better elsewhere.” “If you are set on visiting a dog park with your dog, shop around. “Just because there is a dog park right around the corner from your house, doesn’t mean you have to use it,” Horan said. Tip #2: Shop around for the best dog park. He said once the pup is around 4 months old and has had lots of fun experiences with other dogs, you could try visiting the dog park during a quieter time with a handful of other dogs around. He also said to introduce your puppy to as many people and dogs as possible. Haussmann said dog owners should make sure to socialize their puppies by looking into local puppy socialization groups with certified professional trainers. Tips to make the dog park a positive experience In other words, take your dog for a long walk and then visit the dog park. He said this pent-up energy can cause the dog to be incapable of controlling himself and could cause the dog to act inappropriately when released “into a sea of other dogs.” “Dogs that do not get regular exercise get stir crazy.” “Dog parks should be a reward for your dog, not used as the only source for exercise,” Horan said. Mistake #4: Using the dog park as the dog’s only exercise. Dogs should have a good history of positive experiences for coming when called. To prevent this, he said dog owners should teach their dogs to respond to verbal cues before they take their dogs to the park. The problem with this, according to Haussmann, is that it teaches the dog that ignoring you will result in a “treat-frenzied game of chase” and coming when called will result in leaving the park and “ending the party.” Mistake #3: Chasing your dog around repeating the command “come!” He has seen plenty of altercations between owners because one of them was completely oblivious to what the dog was doing. “Owners come in, turn their dog loose and then bury their face in either their cell phone or a book,” he said. Sometimes dogs will act inappropriately when their owners aren’t paying attention, said professional dog trainer Andrew Horan, owner of Citizen K9 in Virginia. Mistake #2: Not paying attention to your dog. If she is not having a good time, I would recommend finding another creative way to expel her energy.” “You should know your dog well enough to follow his or her lead on this. Other dogs are just a bit too intense or tend to bully the others, he said. “Many dogs are not comfortable around unknown dogs and can become fearful or aggressive,” he said. Some people feel pressure to bring their dogs to the dog park because it seems like the right thing to do, said professional dog trainer Robert Haussmann, founder of Dogboy Inc. Mistake #1: Assuming your dog enjoys the dog park. Hopefully the rest of us can try to avoid these errors and set our dogs up for success. I asked two professional dog trainers to share some of the most common mistakes dog owners make at dog parks. However, it can also be stressful or even dangerous when dog owners aren’t paying attention to their dogs or aren’t picking up on their dogs’ signals. Visiting the dog park is a positive experience for a lot of dogs and their owners.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |