Dog park perils: Expert details risks for humans, canines

[bigdoglover]

Marin Independent Journal

It seems like it should be the least complicated thing in the world: taking the dog to the dog park and letting it play.
In fact, it's an act fraught with potential hazards for everyone involved, canine or human, says Trish King, a trainer, author and dog behavior specialist.

King was at the Marin Humane Society on Sunday afternoon to dispense tips and wisdom in a lecture dubbed "Dog Parks - the Good, the Bad and the Ugly." An eager audience of about two dozen dog lovers lapped it up.

"I just wanted to do the best I could for my dog," said Catherine Chaffin of Corte Madera, who has an adopted beagle/Jack Russell terrier/whippet mix named Chandler. "It's best to know how to interpret and respond."

King, director of training and behavior at the Humane Society, said dog parks are an excellent way for people to exercise and socialize their dogs. But the parks are also a minefield of stressors for the animals, and stress can bring snowballing aggression.

According to King, common dog-park problems include:

- A dog's eagerness to reach the park, which leads it to pull hard on the leash. This prompts the owner to pull back, which makes the dog more aggressive in turn. Other dogs then pick up on that aggression and respond in kind;

- Dogs that bully other dogs that are more cautious or reserved;

- Dogs that form an impromptu pack, threatening incoming dogs;

- The natural tendency of dogs to gather around gates and entrances, posing a threatening environment for dogs just arriving at the park;

- The dogs' instinct to protect themselves, particularly if the owner fails to;

- Disobedient dogs.

"Many, many dogs who frequent dog parks are disobedient," King said. "They find out that they don't need their owner. They learn that they're faster, smarter and more agile than you are."

King offered owners tips to mitigate problems at dog parks, including:

- Keep a close eye on your dogs and be ready to intervene if it's in trouble;

- Provide obedience training; keep moving and walking around so your dog remains aware of your presence;

- Don't offer treats to other people's dogs, because they will become protective of their new food source and defend it aggressively.

Owners should also guide dogs away from the park gate to prevent an intimidating bottleneck of dogs greeting new arrivals.

"Ignorance in a dog park doesn't necessarily mean bad people are in a dog park," said King, author of "Parenting Your Dog." "It just means education is needed."

Beth Goudreau, a Forest Knolls resident, said she attended King's lecture to help her Australian shepherd mix.

"He doesn't have any dogs to play with," she said. "I'm just trying to determine how and when to intervene and how to create play situations for him that are healthy."

The lecture also brought George Cyr and London Rivera, animal-services officers for the Piedmont Police Department.

"We have four dog parks in our city and they've been a popular attraction over the years," Cyr said. "The more we learn about dog behavior, the more we can address the problems that happen periodically."