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Dog Parks?
What's the Problem; Dogs, or Dog Parks?
Article By: Glenn Redmond
Recently, I received a call about an apparent trouble
maker that was wreaking havoc in one of the dog parks
in St. John's. There were some incidents of aggression
that were causing concern for some dog park users, and
I was asked to evaluate the situation. A walk with the
offending dog and its owner was planned and I arrived
at Three Pond Barrens that Friday morning for the first
time, despite having lived back in Newfoundland for the
past 4 years.
It was a typical morning at the park, from what I understand,
and I observed cars coming and going, occupied by either
tired canines or ones barely able to contain their excitement
of what was to come. Owners opened car doors as dogs scrambled
to break free from their metal jails to explore the utopia
of sights and smells that the wooded area offers. There
was about 5 or 6 dogs running about as my client released
her 2 dogs into the mix. They all greeted each other with
great enthusiasm and we all started down the trail as
the dogs zoomed in and out, achieving that energy burn
so vital to their happiness.
The excursion was finished without incident and back
at the parking lot, as the group of owners gathered, I
was asked what I thought.
My response was not what everybody wanted to hear, but
it was said nonetheless. You see, I am not a big fan of
dog parks, especially when they are used everyday. Dogs
are pack animals, requiring consistent leadership to maintain
healthy dynamics in the pack. When a group of 3 or more
dogs are allowed to run together without strong leadership
from a human, they will instinctively form a pecking order.
If several dogs try to exert their leadership within this
new found pack, the result is often a fight to establish
who's who. Not only that, when a new dog comes into the
park that other dogs frequent everyday, the new kid on
the block is often seen as an intruder into the personal
territory of the regulars.
This often results in the new dog having to defend itself,
or at the very least cower to avoid harm. Either way,
those are not the dynamics we want to establish for healthy
relations with and among our pets. Dogs that are not neutered
or females in heat only complicate these matters further.
If two unneutered dogs meet, the result is most often
a fight to establish dominance. That's just dogs. However,
if an unaltered dog is brought into the mix of a group
of neutered dogs, the unneutered dog is often a target
of attack because of the smell of hormones and testosterone
alive and well. Neutered dogs feel threatened and act
accordingly. We would have no problem with a person fighting
an intruder in an attempt to protect their home. We do,
however, blame our dogs who act in the same manner, without
the proper leadership to guide them.
As well, dog parks can be a cesspool of disease. There
is no guarantee of the health of dogs that frequent the
park and with many owners having an aversion to picking
up feces, the little land mines of waste lie waiting for
a victim to infect. Fleas can be passed regularly as well
as a host of other parasites and viruses.
Now, before I offend a host of dog owners, let it be
said that I understand why dog parks are used so regularly.
We all have busy lives and having our dogs well exercised
allows us to get on with the rest of our day. It is also
vital that our dogs have some off leash time to meet their
exercise requirements. However, convenience often overrides
good judgment or at least healthy leadership, in the use
of these parks, and just because it is a help to us, does
not mean it is good for our dogs. I observed complete
lack of obedience and leadership while I was present at
the park and solving that issue would go a long way in
promoting safer relations within the dog park itself.
I would also encourage people to use these parks less
frequently and find other areas to exercise their dogs,
so the issues of guarding territory become diminished.
Besides that, some alone time while exercising our dogs
allows them to bond first to us instead of to other dogs
with the owners taking a secondary role.
With all of this being said, it does not mean my client
was off the hook or had no responsibility for the actions
of her companion. Her dog had become too familiar with
the area and I recommended the use of the park become
now and again instead of everyday as well as some continued
obedience. At the same time, I hope all dog owners educate
themselves on the possible dangers of dog parks and realize
their decision making affects the actions and safety of
their canines.
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