Paws to Review Your Petiquette

Now that summer is officially here, it’s time to get out of the house and see the world.  Even if that means you only make it across town, it’s time to get out and do things.  But don’t forget to bring the dog.  There will be plenty of opportunities this summer to share an adventure with your pup, which means now is the best time to brush up on your petiquette.  

 Here are 10 simple petiquette rules that every dog and dog owner should practice.  And even though these refer to the dog park, these manners are good rules of thumb for any dog interaction scenario.

#1.   Choose the appropriate area for your dog.  Most dog parks have a small dog yard and a big dog yard.  While you may be ok with your smaller dog in the big dog yard, you cannot expect larger dogs to accommodate you by restricting their play and you assume the additional risk.  Larger dogs are not usually appreciated in the smaller dog yards at all. 

#2.  Enter the dog park (or any dog situation) calmly.  Never let your dog get overly excited or aggressive when approaching or entering an area with a lot of dogs. Too much excitement or fear will elevate the energy level of all the dogs greeting him/her and that high energy level can lead to problems.  Work on rewarding calm energy around the park and discourage elevated energy of any kind.

#3.  Watch your dog.  A trip to the dog park is not the time to get lost in conversation or stick your nose in a book.  A trip to the dog park is about bonding with your dog by interacting with him/her, reading his/her body language, and observing his/her interactions with other dogs.  Any situation can change in a moment.  Owners should be close by and ready to take action if needed.

#4.  Avoid an ambush.  Too often dogs will be surrounded by other dogs when entering the park. This level of energy can escalate very fast and, depending on the mix of dog personalities, it can lead to a serious problem.  When a new dog arrives, call your dog over to you and give him/her some attention until the new dog has a chance to get through the gate.  Wait for the crowd to disperse then let your dog go and greet.  I'm sure your dog would appreciate this same courtesy when entering the park as well.

#5.  Don’t let your dog obsess over another dog.  Too much attention can be a very bad thing, and unlike humans, dogs can’t use words to express their displeasure.  If your dog is annoying another dog he/she is at risk for a bite (or worse).  Puppies are usually the biggest offenders.  If your dog is obsessing over another dog who does not want his/her attention try to refocus his/her attention on something else. If that doesn’t work, you may need to leave early.

#6.  Keep your puppy in line.  While you may love and adore puppies, most adult dogs do not care for puppies at all. Why? Because puppies lack dog manners and constantly break petiquette rules.  And while other dogs may be the best teachers for a puppy (most of the time) you should keep in mind that not all owners appreciate their dog being bothered for the sake of your puppy’s petiquette lesson.  If your puppy is obsessing over another dog, refer to #5.  You may also consider befriending other puppy owners and coordinating a meetup time for your puppies to play together.  

#7.  Curb your dog’s barking.  If your dog barks out of excitement or frustration, you may be irritating other dogs and their owners.  Barking can be considered aggressive and excessive barking will get you complaints. To avoid scowls and dog fights, work with your dog more at home on curbing his/her barking habit.   

#8.  Pick up your dog’s poop.  There are no employees who come to pick it up and there are no magical poop-be-gone fairies to make it disappear.  More importantly, there are no excuses for not picking up after your dog.  And nothing ruins your day like when you or your dog steps in poop while trying to enjoy your time at the park.  We won’t even get into the unsanitary statistics of it all.  Pick up after your dog.

#9.   Dogs have good days and bad days.  If your dog seems to be overly aggressive, sensitive, or irritable in any way, then the dog park is not the place to go that day.  This could mean changing your plans for the day or leaving the dog park early.  Despite the wrench in your plans, avoiding a dog fight should always be your priority.

#10.  Don’t let your dog jump on or scratch at people’s legs for attention, no matter how small they are.  Small dogs are the worst offenders and because they are so cute we let them get away with it instead of discouraging the habit.  Of course, when those small dogs grow up to be big dogs weighing 60lbs plus, it isn’t so cute anymore.  Great or small, no one likes to be a dog’s jungle gym or scratching post, so be considerate of others.