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… and really want to take them to their local dog run, here’s a list of pros and cons to mull over before leashing up your pet and heading out the door.

• The dog park is a great way for both you and your pet to make new friends. For example, I have met many kind and considerate owners whose dogs get along swimmingly with Zoe.
• It is also a nice way for your pooch to burn off energy. Whether they’re romping with their buddies, sniffing around the park with their pals, or playing fetch with you, your pet will come home absolutely exhausted. This also lessens the chance of your pet being destructive.
• If you have a well-behaved and social dog, going to the dog park can be a great way for you to teach others about the power of positive reinforcement dog training.
• The dog park can provide community grounds for fun activities, such as a breed specific meetup group.
• There’s less of a chance of your pet encountering things such as bikes, roller blades, and cars; dog parks offer owners a safe place to let their pet run around in an enclosed area without the fear of them getting hurt.

• Dog owners bringing in aggressive dogs that could do some serious harm to you and your dog. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to enforce the rules if your community does not band together to report owners and their dogs to the local precinct or animal control officer.
• There’s always a chance of lawsuit. For example, a dog park patron broke up a dog fight at a local park in Brooklyn and broke their hand when they got bit by a dog.. The patron is suing the owner of the dog for bringing an aggressive animal to the park, and the damages they suffered breaking up the fight.
• Potential harassment from other dog owners. In some instances, there have been reports of dog owners who confronted an irresponsible dog owner whose pet kept starting fights or went after other dogs and people. Unfortunately, this confrontation led to the owner being verbally harassed by the irresponsible dog owner who refused to take control of their dog.
• Bringing an intact dog or a female in heat could create fights and lead to accidental pregnancies.
• There’s a big potential for your dog picking up parasites and diseases, such as kennel cough or Giardia, especially if there are community water bowls and people do not pick up after their pets.
• Your dog could pick up bad habits or even be traumatized if an out-of-control dog at the park attacks, or harasses them.
• Your pet could also get hurt. For example, if you have a small dog, it is far better to let them play in the run designed for smaller breeds because you don’t know how the bigger dogs will react to a small canine. There’s even the chance they could get hurt accidentally if a larger breed steps on them while trying to play.

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The dog park can be a great way for you to teach others about the power of positive reinforcement dog training…

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…well behaved and not fearful or aggressive and you’d like to attend your local dog park, here’s a few tips to make your trip pleasant and to help you potentially avoid any conflicts:

• If you have a smaller dog and you’re afraid he or she will get hurt, attend a dog park that has a separate run for small breeds.
• Brush up on canine body language and watch your dog like a hawk, so you can redirect and avoid any dog-on-dog conflict.
• Make sure your pet has a rock-solid recall, so you can keep your dog out of any scuffles or fights.
• Make sure your pooch is up-to-date on his or her shots. Also, bring your own water bowl or water bottle, and clean it when you get home from the park.
• Stand outside the park at different times for a few days to observe the crowd. At my local dog run, there are certain times when known aggressive dogs attend, and many people make sure to go either before or after the dogs show up in an attempt to avoid them.
• Ease in to the dog park by going at off-times. For example, at the dog park near me, it is empty in the early afternoons, which makes it a great time for newbie dog owners to go and let their pooch run around off-leash.
• If a dog or owner is causing a problem, either go into the little dog section or leave. It’s not worth getting harassed or your dog getting hurt; you can always come back at a later time or another day.

Dog parks can be a great place for you and your pet to make new friends, but it is imperative that you keep an eye on your dog and scope out the environment before you bring your dog.

About the Author:

Amanda Ferris is an accomplished writer who has written for sites such as TheThings, IndieReader, Fashion&Style, and New York Family. For the past five years, she has volunteered for Bay Ridge, Brooklyn’s very own Love Wanted Pet Adoptions. She currently owns a laid-back 12-year old Bichon Frise named Esme, and a 3-year-old fearful mystery mutt named Zoe whose noise phobia and anxiety sparked her foray into the world of positive reinforcement dog training.