General
You are responsible for your dog’s health, well being and behavior. Respect the wishes and requests of both other dog owners and non dog owners. Communication is key, clearly state what type of behavior is unwanted or desired, e.g. “Please do not pet my dog” or “Could you put a leash on your dog?” Clean up after your dog. Remove poop and prevent your dog from peeing in inappropriate places. Always have poop bags on you. In case you run out, ask a fellow dog owner - they are usually willing to help out! Public Spaces
People
Some people have phobias or dislike dogs which should be respected (unless they request absurd behavior). Remember to be considerate towards people of different religions or cultures. In the Muslim and Jewish community, dogs can be considered aggressive and unclean and this can result in dog avoidant behavior. Non-western cultures may not be used to large dogs and therefore people may react fearfully. Make sure your dog doesn’t approach strangers on their own accord, just to keep everyone safe and comfortable. Dog parks
Dog parks generally have a list of rules to obey while using the park. Breaking the rules repeatedly or even once can result in fines or other disciplinary actions. While the rules at each individual park may differ slightly, many of them will be very similar, including rules such as;
Dogs need to be up to date on vaccinations. Dogs need to be old enough to be out in public. Dogs must be identifiable, such as having a microchip or carrying rabies and identification tags. Pick up any dog waste and dispose of it properly. Owners must stay present while their dog is using the park. Children who enter the dog park are expected to behave and follow the dog park rules.
There may also be general information that users of the dog park need to know including;
What to do if there is a human-to-dog or dog-to-dog safety incident. Toys or balls to borrow, water sources, and entrance/exit rules. Consequences for violations.
Remember: dog parks are not suitable for every dog.
Some may be more or less sociable: genetic dog-on-dog aggression is a real thing. Very young (under 4 months old) and very old dogs have no place in a dog park. Not only is their immune system compromised when it comes to contagious diseases, they are at heightened risk of injury from rowdy dogs due to decreased mobility and strength. Consider a puppy play group for very young dogs and play dates with known companions for old dogs. Female dogs in heat have no place at a dog park: not only is there the risk of pregnancy, dog fights may occur between nearby males.
Dog Ownership
