Why aren t dog parks good?

There is nothing natural, however, about dogs that aren’t familiar with one another to be put in large groups and expected to play together. Many of us just accept the assumption that dog parks are good places to socialize a dog, but that may not be the case. Though socialization is critical for the healthy development of puppies, the dog park is not where you want to bring your puppy to learn about appropriate interactions with other dogs, Mr. Hof added. The term “socialization” isn’t just dogs interacting or “socializing” with other dogs, but rather, “the process of exposing young puppies under 20 weeks to new experiences.” This helps them have more confidence and adapt to new situations. Dog parks may seem like great additions to the community, but they’re rife with problems — for you, and for your dog.

One main problem with going to dog parks is that there’s no way to know the temperaments of the other dogs. Unleashing a group of dogs within the same environment poses a variety of problems, including dogfights, which are a common concern among pet owners. Unfortunately, not all owners pay close enough attention to their dog while visiting the dog park. When this happens, dogs often use that time as an opportunity to misbehave. This can lead to some unpleasant altercations between dogs that could have possibly been avoided. Bringing your pooch to the dog park could expose him to other pets that may not be in good health. Sharing drinking water or coming in contact with another dog’s fecal matter can cause things such as kennel cough, canine influenza, giardia, fleas, and other parasites to spread easily. Furthermore, not all animals may be up-to-date on their necessary vaccinations. Since there is no easy way to know which animals are safe for your dog to mingle with, it may be best to avoid the dog park altogether. Owners like this often think that roughhousing is “cute” and that the dogs can work it out on their own. This is obviously not proper dog socialization, which can be learned with proper training.