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Dog Park Tips
Tips on keeping
your pet happy,
and safe, at the
dog park
We are very
fortunate here in Fountain Hills to have one of the finest off-leash
dog parks in the valley. Many of us who are regulars at the park can
vividly remember the first time we brought our dogs to the park. It
can be stressful to introduce this very special member of your
family to a new environment, to run free with all of those other
unknown pooches! “Will he be hurt or catch a disease?” is often
foremost in our minds.
Here are some tips
to help make that initial visit and each visit thereafter a safe and
happy one. However, before you dive into the list below, please note
that while these are recommendations based on my own experience and
that of other ADOG members who regularly frequent the park, they are
certainly not guarantees of dog behavior. As the person who knows
your pet(s) the best, you will ultimately be the best judge of how
to introduce your dog to any new environment.
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Your first
visit:
When you enter the park the first few times, don’t be surprised
if you’re instantly greeted by a pack of dogs. This applies
especially to the small dog section. It can be somewhat
intimidating to allow your pet to be surrounded by unknown dogs.
However, after a few minutes of sniffing they normally will
accept your dog as part of the gang. After several trips to the
park they won’t even pay much attention as you enter.
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Remember to
“lose the leash”:
This is an off-leash park. Dogs can be defensive when they are
restrained, so take your dog off leash as soon as possible when
you enter the park so that they are free to run and interact.
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Don’t cuddle
Fido:
Do not carry your small dog into the park or you can expect to
have dogs jumping up on you trying to get at your pet. Dogs
typically want to sniff and say hello, not hurt your guy or
girl. So to keep from getting knocked down or nipped by one of
these boisterous dogs, put your pet down immediately. This may
be one of the hardest and scariest things you do when you first
visit the park. Also, your dog may want you to pick it back up,
but please show tough love and let your pet fend for itself and
adjust to the other dogs at the park.
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Avoid dog
fights:
Most dog fights happen over who owns a toy or gets the special
food treat. So be aware of that fact if you want to play ball or
carry treats for your dog. Also, I have witnessed more fights by
the two-legged dog park patrons over the years then by our pets.
If you should witness a dog fight, use caution trying to break
it up. With the small guys a little water can work, but for a
serious dog fight some experts recommend that two people pull
the dogs apart by their rear legs.
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Large and
small don’t mix:
There is a small and large dog section for a reason, so if
you’re tempted to take your small dog in to the large dog
section, please realize that you may be putting it at risk. All
it takes is for one large dog to think your fluffy little guy is
a rabbit or a toy. This could result in serious injury (or
worse) and could happen in a matter of seconds! No one can stop
you from doing this, but none of us want to see any park patron
needlessly injured.
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Caution with
children:
Please remember – this is a dog park, not a children’s park. If
you want to bring small children to the park, please keep your
eye on them at all times and try to restrain them from running.
The dogs may think they want to play and one of the big guys
might accidentally hurt them. Always, whether small or large,
even the most passive dog could react aggressively if startled
or lunged at as a small, curious child may tend to do.
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Read the
rules:
Please read the posted Fountain Hills Parks and Recreation
posted at the park entry and follow them consistently so that we
can all have a pleasant and safe visit.
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Enjoy and
make friends!
The park is normally pretty quiet during the week, but on
Saturday and Sunday it gets busy both early and late in the day.
You’ll find that if you come to the park at the same time each
day, you will normally see the same people and their dogs. That
makes it very easy for you and your dog to forge some enjoyable
dog-centered friendships.
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