Going to the with your pet can be a great opportunity to let them release their energy in a healthy way while socializing with other pets and people alike. If your is a fan of other dogs and is very social, then a can be a great activity you partake in with them, but there are always ways to improve something that’s already great. When it comes to the , you can try taking a few different toys to maximize the fun your pet can have and try to tire them out as much as possible. That way, upon your return home, they’re ready to fall asleep in your lap.
How to Know if Your is Ready for the
One of the most important factors when deciding to go to the is to really consider if your pet is ready for the . A should know that going to the is a time when you are making your pet vulnerable, but you are also making other people’s pets vulnerable. If you aren’t absolutely sure your is ready for the , then you should definitely not take them to an . An should only be reserved for completely and successfully socialized dogs.
Ignoring this puts your and other pets at risk. Many dogs that aren’t completely socialized tend to become very uncomfortable around other animals and may become aggressive and territorial. can be especially dangerous if they don’t feel comfortable around other animals. If a big were to get aggressive around a , it could be a terrifying sight to see, and the best way to avoid this is to be as cautious as possible when it comes to other people’s pets interacting with your own. Also, many big breeds are misunderstood and seen as dangerous and aggressive, and even though it’s nice to think that other would understand these are wrongful stereotypes, not everyone sees it that way.
This means if you own a more ‘controversial’ breed like an American Staffordshire Terrier, a Rottweiler, or an American Pit Bull, you could be in serious trouble if your even so much as snaps at another animal. Sadly, some breeds get undeserved hate, and many other bully breeds get mislabeled as aggressive. If you take one of these pets to a and they aren’t completely comfortable, it can have dire consequences if anything goes wrong. This is why it’s so important to make sure your really is ready to interact with other pets before going to an .
If you aren’t too sure, you should start by taking your to a large open and keeping them on a . This doesn’t have to be a , and you should probably start with a place that has as few other animals as possible. As your starts to get more comfortable with its surroundings, you can start taking them to busier places, but always remember to keep them on a .
Etiquette
Many people don’t realize that going to a is not just a fun outing with your pet. At its best, it can be a great resource to use to help your already social release some extra energy. At its worst, it’s a dangerous place where careless pet owners can cause trifles in other pet owners’ lives. Many parks don’t have separate areas for large dogs and smaller dogs, which also means that a might kill someone else’s tiny in a worst-case scenario.
Being aware of etiquette is not like knowing which fancy spoon to use for your soup at a nice restaurant. Understanding etiquette means that while you are in charge and responsible for your , you are simultaneously allowing some of the other ‘s safety to be your responsibility. If you don’t understand what this means, think about this example:
Some parks have off- areas and on- areas to accommodate the comfort levels of other pets and pet owners. If you know your isn’t great with other dogs, but you also want them to feel more comfortable around other areas, going to an open area where you can keep your spaced out from other animals while remaining on a can be a great experience for them. These dogs can observe other animals from a distance and catch their scents in the air while still hopefully being able to enjoy the benefits of being at a with their .
Now imagine you have a tiny Jack Russel Terrier, and even though he is amazingly well trained and always listens to you and comes on command, you should not have them off- in an on- area.
Someone else can be minding their business, following the rules, and might have their on a longer so they can enjoy the open space and fetch with their outside. If that isn’t the most welcoming of other pets and they not only get startled by your Jack Russel Terrier running up to them, but they get territorial as they watch your attempt to take their toy, things can go bad fast. In situations like these, the blame is almost always put on the that shows signs of aggression first, but this is where etiquette comes into . The person who had their pet on a , spaced out from other animals, as far as they could tell, was accepting responsibility for their and the safety of dogs around them.
“But why did they take their to a if they don’t get along well with other dogs?”
Well, one of the only ways to help dogs get along with other animals is to have them spend time near other animals.
If you’re ignoring these rules when you go to a , then you are part of the problem.
etiquette is taking responsibility for your and accepting that other dogs on that premises are also slightly your responsibility. There are rules in parks for a reason. Everyone who partakes in parks, both off- and on-, is somewhat responsible for everyone else’s pets’ safety and comfort.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “My won’t leave my side if I have them off-” you do not deserve to go to a . The point of these rules is to accept that you do not know what other dogs’ comfort levels are, but you know the rules and your ‘s comfort levels, so make the most out of those two things in the best way you can.
It’s easy to think this is an exaggeration and an overly daunting fear tactic to prevent some dogs from going to parks, but it isn’t. All dogs can enjoy a if they are brought into them the right way and if owners really understand how big of an impact they can make in these spaces.
This tragic story is just one incident of a time a larger mauled a puppy to death because the larger ‘s owners were not adhering to etiquette. It isn’t uncommon for situations like these to happen, but if more owners became aware of their own place in these situations, they could be prevented.
Aside from the doom and gloom of the seriously dangerous aspects of parks, these parks are awesome opportunities for social animals to get their kicks out in a healthy way.
There are many excellent pet owners who completely understand the seriousness of parks and always adhere to the rules, and if you’re one of them, you deserve a huge high-five. If you know your little Pit Bull puppy or your Bernadoodle is a wildly social pet, and they have always got along well with other dogs, that’s awesome, and you should continue taking your to these parks, and if you feel ready, there are plenty of fun things you can take along with you.
What to Take to the
If you have a that you know is great with other animals and regularly has puppy dates, that is amazing, and parks will obviously be a great time for you.
Aside from basic things you should always take to a , like a , maybe some poop bags, and probably a , there are a couple of handy dandy items most owners don’t think to bring.
Portable water bowls are an excellent thing to bring with your pet. Often, people go to parks in the spring and summer when the weather is lovely, but your is going to love you for bringing that extra water along too.
Some owners like to bring something that can cool their off while they’re out and about playing. This awesome cooling handkerchief is something you can prep ahead of time and lets your wear while they’re running their little tails off.
Of course, other great things to take with you to the are some toys. Here is a list of seven toys you could bring to the . You can either take the toys directly from this list or let it inspire you to take some other things your might love.
Although you can absolutely take these toys to the if you’re staying in a area, this list is going to examine toys that are beneficial to take into an . This also assumes your is very friendly and has never shown any aggressive or dominant behavioral tendencies. These toys are great for pet owners who have well-socialized dogs that they know will not become territorial over any toys when playing with new friends they make in the , to put it simply. Sharing is caring, and these dogs get that.
1. A Rope
A rope is a great option for toys where dogs can interact with both people and other dogs. If your pet loves tug of war, taking this to a can be a great time for them to with other pets and people.
2. Tennis Ball(s)
Many dogs love playing fetch, and if you’re interested in watching a bunch of dogs have a crazy good time, then taking a few tennis balls to a can be a great way to entertain your and some other pets. It’s a good idea to take more than one since some dogs like to catch these and return them, but some just like to chew on them until they’re ripped to shreds. It’s a good idea to buy tennis balls that you don’t care about losing if you take these to a because there is a high chance you will lose almost all of them.
3. Frisbee
While tennis balls and frisbees provide similar entertainment, frisbees are easier to see and catch, so tend to prefer frisbees. Also, tons of stores sell flimsy little frisbees, or you can buy some at your local dollar stores. If you just dropped twenty dollars on what is sure to be your ‘s new favorite frisbee, maybe leave it at home. It’ll likely last longer that way.
4. Hide and Seek Toys
If you haven’t heard of hide and seek toys yet, these little toys are quite similar to puzzle games. Some of these toys are meant to hide snacks, and you should not take those ones to the . Instead, focus on hide and seek toys that have smaller toys inside them. This means that if you take a hide and seek toy, you can actually bring a handful of fun toys in a small package, so your puppy and its friend can enjoy the benefits of these toys.
5. KONG Toy
KONG toys are great and durable chew toys, so even if you take one of these to the , you’ll be able to take it home with you, no matter how many dogs your pet decides to share it with.
6. Squeaky Toy
Some people hate having squeaky toys in their house because of the annoying noise, but there is no better place to let your get their squeak on than at a . These toys will likely attract other friends for your pet to meet, and a huge bonus is that the noise will likely be drowned out by all the other fun chaos happening in parks.
7. Balance Toy
Bringing a toy for rehabilitation or training to a might seem weird, but you’d be surprised at how many dogs are curious about balance toys. This balance disc is great because it’s interactive, durable, and good for joints as it doesn’t put any pressure on them. Also, dogs that enjoy this toy might only stand on it for a few minutes before moving on to the next entertaining item on their to-do list, which means it’s a great toy-sharing experience.
What Not to Bring to the
Do not bring or food to a . If you are giving your in your car, that’s different. But, if you are in an , any sort of food is a big no-no. Even some of the friendliest dogs might act up at the sight of food. If you want to reward your for good behavior at a , wait until you are back in your car or back home.
You should also not bring any toys your pet has a special bond with, as some dogs with anxiety really take to a specific item. It can upset them to see another destroying one of their favorite stuffed animals, so avoid this by leaving your ‘s best and most well-liked toys at home.
Conclusion
There are so many fun things you can take to the , and this list only has seven ideas in a world full of hundreds of types of toys. Use your better judgment when thinking of which toys you want to bring along, and if you’re unsure if something is a good idea or not, maybe just leave it at home. Toys at the are excellent tools for making a good experience into a great one. Don’t pick anything you’ll be stressed about losing or damaging, and remember that the whole point of this is to let your have the most fun. So embrace that fun and enjoy watching them with all sorts of furry friends.
