How To Pick The Right Dog Park for Your Pooch

What makes a dog park the ‘right dog park’ for Fido? If you spend a lot of time trying to find the best travel destinations for yourself, you should also be picky when it comes to your choice of dog parks for your pet. 

What are dog parks?

Most parks in the country allow dogs to visit, but not all parks have dog-friendly amenities. 

Dog parks often have water fountains, leash posts, trash cans, and a few pieces of training equipment. These spaces are designed to enclose dog park goers with metal fencing.

Most dog parks have double gates to ensure pet parents and their fur babies can come and go safely.

There are a wide variety of dog parks. Some are made for a specific dog size, while others are built with unique installations like wading pools. 

Why is choosing the right dog park important?

Dog parks are supposed to be a safe space where Fido can run around and play.

If you don’t do your research about the dog parks near you, you may end up not having a great day out with your pooch.

Choosing the right dog park helps you make sure your dog will have fun. 

Researching first allows you to see the layout of the dog park, the facilities they have, and their specific park rules. 

Asking around or calling ahead can also help you prepare a few dog park essentials.

How to choose the right dog park for Fido

There are a few things you need to check and look for when it comes to choosing the right dog park. Here are a few:

1) Check if they have well-maintained facilities

Does the park have water fountains? Are the grounds clean? Are there poop bags and garbage bins available?

Although you can bring your supplies, it would still be great if the dog parks you visit with Fido come with a good source of clean water and a place where you can throw poop bags.

Remember to check the dog playground for any loose nails or boards that can cause accidents.

2) Look at the dog park layout

Make sure the fences around the park well-maintained.

It’s also important to check if there’s enough room to accommodate the number of fur parents that visit every day?

Dog fights are more likely to break out if the park is too small. Some dogs prefer plenty of space, while some feel safe when there are fewer people around.

The dog park fences should be high enough to prevent dogs from jumping over or crawling under. 

3) Consider your dog’s personality

If you have a shy dog, it’s best to bring him to the park during off-peak hours. You can also opt to go to indoor dog parks instead.

In case your dog doesn’t like sharing, your best choice of a dog park is one that has plenty of space. 

4) Check if there’s a separate space for big dogs and small dogs

You always want your fur baby to have positive experiences with other dogs.

If he comes across an overly excited dog much bigger than him, he might hesitate to play, interact, or worse, come back to the dog park. 

Don’t assume that all the other dogs you and Fido will meet at the park are well-behaved.

It’s not to say big dogs are inherently more aggressive. It’s always best to err on the side of caution.

5) See if the dog park has enough shade

Dogs engage in very strenuous play at the park. Shade needs to be available in case Fido needs to rest for a bit. 

According to the American Kennel Club website, your fur baby can’t cool himself down as efficiently as you can.

Apart from providing plenty of clean water, you also need to check for shady areas where you two can cool down.

6) Pay attention to the crowd

What kind of pet owners would you be surrounded with? Do they mind their dogs closely? 

Pay attention to the people around you, too, not only for your dog’s safety but also for yours. 

Some fur parents don’t pay much attention to their dogs at the park. Part of dog park etiquette is to watch your dog closely to prevent any accidents or fights. 

You’re not there to judge fellow pet owners, of course.

Checking out what kind of crowd hangs out at a dog park allows you to see if you will have positive experiences with your pet if you do decide to visit.

Your choice matters 

Every fur parent wants only what’s best for their pets, which makes choosing the right dog park for Fido even more essential. 

You don’t have to overthink it, but you do need to make sure no harm will come to you and your pet while you’re both at the park.