How to keep an active puppy safe at the dog park
Before you take your dog to the dog park, consider checking out the park solo so that you can see how the other dogs behave and interact with each other. If the dogs seem to play too rough for your dog, visit another dog park. If the dog park seems to match your puppy's level of activeness, bring him to the park and let him observe from the outside. Watching his reactions to the other dogs will give you an idea of how he'll act in response to actual interaction with the other dogs.
Once you've prepped your dog to enter the dog park, start off in a cautious manner. Evenings during the week, holidays, and weekends tend to be busy times for dog parks, so it's best to introduce your dog to the park when there's not a big canine crowd. Walk your dog before you take him to the dog park so that he's not too wound up with energy. Keep your first visit short so as not to overwhelm your puppy. Start out with a 15-minute visit, and slowly increase the length of your stay.
Once you've entered the unleashed area of the dog park, be sure to let your dog off his leash.
Mixing unleashed and leashed dogs can create a hostile environment. Leashed dogs and their owners can display body language that might be perceived by unleashed dogs as threatening, causing the unleashed dogs to act in an aggressive manner. Also, don't bring treats or toys to the dog park. Rewards and snacks might create jealousy and aggression between puppies.
Once your puppy is acclimated to the dog park scene, you still have to be vigilant about supervising him. Watch him closely when he's interacting with other dogs; keep an eye on both his body language and the body language of other canines. If he starts to become fearful or aggressive, it's time to leave the park. But with a little forethought and preparation, an active puppy will have a safe and rewarding dog park experience.
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