Why Public Dog Parks are a Hard NO

I'd written a piece on this about 4 or 5 years ago, but - since we're always expanding, growing in awareness, and collecting new experiences and insights - I thought I'd write another one given the recent post on Ronin and why public dog parks are a hard NO for us.

8 reasons why public dog parks are a hard no for us:

1. There's a difference between "dog lovers" and "dog understander-ers". Most folks who bring their dogs to the dog park are dog lovers with visions of their dog blissfully running around the park playing with other dogs and making bff's with everyone they encounter. Our level of expectation and who we believe our dog should be is often very far apart from reality and who the dog is. This often reveals itself (and is misread) when our expectation and dream puts them in a circumstance or situation that doesn't support who they are.

2. Many don't understand how to read or interpret canine body language, state of mind, behavior, assess the energy; nor do they hold any level of relevance to their dog or have much influence over their dog's state of mind, choices, and behavior.

3. Dogs are animals. And regardless of how much we want to "make them human", they are still animals with their own drives, instincts, and behaviors (most of which are gravely misunderstood and mislabeled by the majority of humans). Regardless of how far long they are in their domestication, there are still hard-wired behaviors some may engage in today that stem from thousands of years ago when they were living in a more instinctual, natural manner: burying bones and high value things, circling before laying down, "fluffing" an area before laying down, rolling in foul, dead, disgusting, decaying thing (a predatory behavior to mask their own scent), marking territory, protecting territory, etc. Prey drive and a phenomenon called "predatory drift" (when "play" and arousal drifts over a certain line and activates predatory instincts; this is one of the biggest reasons why we harp on state of mind conditioning, awareness, and *management*- it can make a difference in lighting that match) can quickly get activated~ leading to a most unfortunate situation, and the dog *falsely* labeled as "aggressive". Sadly, this misinterpreted behavior becoming a stain and a stigma attached to the dog wherever he or she may go, and their world becomes smaller and smaller. Their human more fearful. All because of lack of awareness and education.

4. Many use the dog park as a replacement for exercise and a space for their dogs to "burn off energy." Their dogs drag them up to the gate (which also gets reinforced when they continue to gain ground, the leash comes off, the gate flies open, and access is granted), then this dog with *all of this energy they have yet to release* (which impacts their behavior and brings a certain energy into the existing group of dogs that are already in the park) blows into the park tearing around setting all the other dogs off. This can potentially trigger a most unfortunate circumstance if one understands the concept of state of mind (the measure of a dog's level of arousal, escalation, excitement, and *intensity*), drive, instinct, etc.... and who knows. A dog with excellent social skills may even attempt to address the "crazy dog" who just blew into the park and try to help him take it down several notches - which can also be misread and misinterpreted by a lot of people. Or a dog with a stronger energy may have a more forceful conversation with the new dog..... Many dogs, though, don't want to be around, nor do they have high tolerance for, crazy, unbridled, overly-excited, overly-escalated energy.

5. Some may bring fearful, nervous, anxious, timid, shy, or even aggressive dogs to the dog park in an attempt to socialize them and "make friends". Encouraging them to "play." Bringing a dog like this into the dog park sets the dog up for failure, weakens the dog's trust in the human, may put them in a state of complete overwhelm, and only increases their fear, anxiety, and nervousness-- which could also set the stage for reactivity and aggression (actually building what we're likely trying to prevent!). It can be like putting a bull's eye on this dog, and can also set the stage for creating *trauma*; which - as with humans - can be difficult to overcome.

6. Many simply don't have control or influence over their dogs.

7. Because there's a lack of ability in reading our dogs, there's also a lack in advocacy for them in times of discomfort, uncertainty, and overwhelm.

8. Many people spend their time looking at their phones, reading, or engaged in conversations amongst each other instead of watching the dogs. I see this all the time with people walking their dogs, as well

... and so on.

Again, the public dog park *should* be a safe, controlled, secure space for dogs to go to fine tune and hone their existing social skills. This is not the case in the great majority of dog parks out there. They're pretty much a big free-for-all, and anyone with any dog can enter. Many who enter the park are just "winging it", as well. Maybe they just got their dog and are trying to "see how they do" and "how it goes."

Because the standard "dog lover's" definition of what "social behavior" is, dogs are often forced into situations they feel incredibly uncomfortable in and aren't necessarily equipped to handle.

Common definition of "social behavior": a dog's ability to "play" with other dogs.

Our definition of "social behavior": a dog's ability to share space with others... without being a jerk.

Social behavior is a dog's ability to respectfully share space with others. That's it. "Play" is a type of conversation. "Playfulness" is a trait. Not all dogs are playful dogs. And it also has to do with how safe a dog feels with the other dog/s in the scenario.... relationship. Comfort. Familiarity. Like with some people. When we feel safe and comfortable with someone else, we tend to open up more and "be ourselves." Relationships take time. Some take more time with some dogs than others. No relationship should ever be forced.

Social behavior doesn't have to involve physical contact or engagement. It's simply sharing space. Even dogs who are minding their own business and are hanging back and observing are being social when sharing space with others.

Dogs are a social species of animal, as are humans. But having social SKILLS are a very different thing.

We've got to get rid of the belief that dogs have to have a million friends and play with everyone they encounter.

Many dogs miss this critical social skill development window within their first year of life... which is why I'm working hard to provide opportunities for Ronin to build his- in a safe, secure, relatively predictable space. I'm taking precautions to prevent any traumatic experiences that could deeply impact him and shape his perceptions.