Keeping Your Dog Safe When Going to the Dog Park

Going to the dog park can be a fun and relaxing experience for you and your dog. It is a great way for them to release energy, run and play without the fear of ruining anything in the house, and socializes them with other people and dogs. However, before you go there are a few things you should keep in mind.

Make sure your dogs shots are all up to date
Unfortunately not all dog owners take proper care of their dogs, and some may bring their pet to the dog park without their proper vaccinations. The only thing you can do to keep your dog from picking up an unwanted illness is to keep their vaccinations up to date. It may not prevent them from picking up some illness either minor or serious - but at least you are decreasing the odds of that happening. If this is a major concern of yours there are other options that you may consider such as doggie daycare or gated dog parks, where there is a fee to bring your dog. However, even though there is a fee you also know that the dogs that are brought there are completely up to date with their vaccinations.

Bring drinking water and a dish
Always bring your own water for your dog to drink while at the dog park. There may be water available and it may be fine for them to drink, but you never know if it is completely safe. The worry is not about the water itself, but the bacteria and cleanliness of the dish that it is in. Also, as mentioned before you do not know if the other dogs at the dog park are not sick and if they have had their proper vaccinations. By bringing your own water and a dish, you are decreasing the chance that they will come home with an illness from the dog park.

Know your dogs' limits
When you go to the dog park there is no telling how many people and dogs are going to be there when you arrive. If your dog is shy, bring them to an area of the park where there are only a couple other dogs rather than a large pack. When you go into the dog park take a look at the other dogs and what they are doing. Bring them to an area where you know they will be comfortable, eventually they will move into an area with more or fewer dogs on their own. What you are trying to do is avoid overwhelming your dog when you arrive.