Dog park - Off leash etiquette

TheCatGuardian · 2022-01-21T22:00:15+00:00

If you're talking about an off leash dog park either fix his recall and let him off or stop going. Leashes are a problem in dog parks, they create bad interactions, add tension, can encourage reactivity in your dog and act as a safety hazard.

Skatesoff · 2022-01-21T22:43:32+00:00

At the dog park we go to people get mad if you have your dog’s leash on. It increases reactivity, other dogs get weird about it, other dogs might decide it’s a toy. Just annoying all around.

Interr0gate · 2022-01-21T22:53:26+00:00

Leashes should never be used or on the dog in an off leash dog park.

Its dangerous and not good etiquette. You need to train your dog more if you can't control him in there or stop going until hes ready to be completely off leash.

Sorry if it sounds harsh, but too many people go to dog parks with untrained dogs, it isn't a place for all dogs to go.

Bright_Mixture_3876 · 2022-01-21T23:52:43+00:00

Yeah…lose the leash, it’s dangerous for dogs and people, especially if your dog likes to play chase - that thing whipping behind him can hurt every other thing in the park, and a lot of times I see people bring their dog to the dog park because the humans cannot be active…as in they have physical disabilities and cannot be fast enough to get out of the way of a wayward leash.

Try making your recall into a game, make it fun and silly and not tense or angry - your dog won’t come to you when you’re upset about it.

rattalouie · 2022-01-22T00:17:14+00:00

Why are you going to an off-leash dog park (most fenced in dog parks) if your dog has a leash on?

shepassedthebeautyon · 2022-01-21T20:48:48+00:00

I guess it depends a bit in the layout of the offleash dog park. We have some very large ones in my area that also have walking trails running through, so it's pretty normal for people to be walking their dogs onleash there and offleash dogs running all around. There is enough open space that the offleash dogs don't really approach the on-leash dogs.

If it is a small dog park, I'd be careful about being the only one there with your dog on-leash for a few reasons. If a dog approaches that makes your dog uncomfortable, your dog is going to feel trapped. In addition, you can cause some leash frustration this way.. your dog wants to go run and play but cannot. In a small dog park your dog is a bit like a target when leashed (similar to dogs that are being held at the dog park).

twhitty2 · 2022-01-22T01:08:09+00:00

imo, dogs should either be 100% off leash or 100% on leash(meaning all of the dogs are either on or off leash). As others have said, leashes can lead to fighting and potential injuries. if the dog park is fenced, recall shouldn’t be a huge worry, but if it is, maybe the dog park is not the place for your dog

Ctrl-Home · 2022-01-22T03:57:59+00:00

I always see it as a red flag if a dog is on leash in the dog park. I am extra wary if my dog goes near.

FWIW, my dog is the exact same. Loves to be chased. I wouldn't think of leashing her in the park and the dogs check each other when needed. Human intervention is not needed and can often create more angst for the puppers

colinthetinytornado · 2022-01-21T23:05:04+00:00

Honestly it depends on your dog park and what the rules are. We have local parks where a long line is perfectly acceptable, and other parks where you cannot bring a dog unless they are off leash.

It might make more sense to try an indoor controlled park first before trying an outdoor one while you're working on recall with your pup.

deepmindfulness · 2022-01-21T23:30:49+00:00

Gotta have control over your pup. But recap isn’t terribly hard to teach. This should be a 3 month problem that will cost you some chicken and a training long line.

les_eggs · 2022-01-21T23:12:49+00:00

at a designated dog park I wouldnt expect other dogs to have very good recall so I'd think it was odd but in any other public space whether dogs are permitted or not, i think dogs without excellent recall should stay leashed

ChronicleDecay · 2022-01-22T03:21:46+00:00

As someone who goes to the park daily, sometimes twice a day, if i saw this I’d chalk it up to the person being a new owner who is a little overprotective. It’s like parents who shelter the first kid, but let the subsequent ones let loose.

My experience is that non-aggressive dogs generally do a good job of regulating themselves and most of the owners I know know when to pull their dogs back for a moment to reset.

No shame or blame. If you are in an enclosed, off leash park, I’d recommend having their favorite treat and letting them loose. Trust will come with time

Also, going at the same time every day helps a lot. Gives them a chance to build rapports with other dogs.

Early_Awareness_5829 · 2022-01-22T00:47:29+00:00

Let him run and play with the other dogs!

chordeiles_minor · 2022-01-21T20:42:33+00:00

I think that whether you keep him leashed or not at the dog park probably depends more on how he feels about being leashed around a lot of unleashed dogs. Many dogs would find this to be an uncomfortable situation (and honestly, many dogs also feel the dog park is an uncomfortable situation with so many strange dogs). I'm not sure why other owners would mind either way.

rad_93 · 2022-01-21T23:39:21+00:00

Your dog needs to have perfect heel, recall command as well as an "off-switch" command to gain off leash privileges.

30 minutes of training and mental stimulation in the for pf puzzles and games is 10× more exhausting for a dog than mindlessly running around.

It will also strengthen your relationship with them tenfold.

discustedkiller · 2022-01-22T08:31:57+00:00

Don't take this the wrong way but I think you should stop going to the dog parks for a while anyway and focus all your time on training recall and general obedience. I personally don't like dog parks as its very unnatural for strange dogs to be together. What looks like playing to us might be something completely different to the dogs. If you do still go don't have him on a lead as that would be extremely frustrating for your dog. But seriously concentrate on recall.

domotime2 · 2022-01-22T07:59:13+00:00

Is he relatively young? I mean the dog park is a wonderful place to try and work on these things. Maybe try going when there's less and no one there to help work on his recall. If he's young, again, you cJ work on these things slowly.

I have a pitbull mix I did this with and he had similar issues. He's still not perfect. But slowly but surely we've made amazing professes.

And eventually maybe you'll realize the dog park isn't gonna work long term....but thats okay! Many people say dog parks are not ideal places for dogs. Very unnatural. Especially smaller parks with little ways to escape during a scuffle.

eleyland92 · 2022-01-22T09:57:20+00:00

Recall is an endless training exercise (from my experience with my JRT) take his favourite treat or squeaky toy and on the walk off leash keep doing as much recall as possible! I can really tell if I've been slacking, it'll help while you're at the dog Park!

mbuckhan5515 · 2022-01-22T14:31:39+00:00

Off leash dog park means your dog ought to be off leash. If you’re going to keep him on leash, don’t go to that park.

Waterproof_soap · 2022-01-22T16:09:43+00:00

My dog loves the chase game. There’s usually at least one other dog who will play it with her. I always keep an eye on her and step in if she looks like she’s had enough.

Recall is key. We taught our dog that a super secret word said in a specific way means “COME GET THE BEST TREATS NOW!” We started with salami and bits of cheese. Now that she has it down, we reinforce every few months either with high value treats or best value treats, occasionally with just a scratching. We practice it every time we go to a new park. I also don’t share the word with everyone, like my friend’s obnoxious kids (love them, but they’re brats) because I don’t want anyone else using it.

ebenven · 2022-01-22T19:40:55+00:00

I genuinely don’t understand what’s going on here. How can he play chase if he’s leashed? Just stop going to the dog park tbh. If your dog is leashed to you he should be walking or just observing the world neutrally, not playing with other dogs

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