Dog Park Etiquette

Energized by the cooler weather, many dogs and their owners are making tracks to the city’s dog parks. However, Dick Russell does not believe the dog parks—as they are currently run by BREC—provide the best way to introduce, exercise and entertain dogs.

The Baton Rouge veteran dog trainer’s biggest criticism of BREC parks is lack of supervision and regulated hours for play sessions. Dogs wake up in the morning and they just want to get through life as easy as they can. If they feel they are in a position where they need to defend themselves, they become aggressive. Dog-to-dog aggression is caused by fear—not dominance, not prey aggression,” he explains. “When a dog becomes aggressive, you have to be able to stop the aggression without a person or dog getting hurt.” And that can be a daunting task for owners who may be inexperienced, caught unaware or understandably apprehensive about approaching an aggressive dog they don’t know.

Russell’s preferred method involves the simultaneous release of 20 to 40 dogs and their owners on three acres, which he does every Saturday on his Greenwell Springs property. “I have three rules: 1) I must maintain sanity in the face of all of it, 2) the owners keep moving, and 3) short of drawing blood, the dogs can do anything they want.” With 48 years of experience as a professional trainer, Russell is adept at reading dogs, anticipating trouble and swiftly interceding before a tragedy occurs. He also brandishes a dressage whip. “I have to use it very rarely,” he deadpans, “when the owners stop moving.”

BREC Special Facilities Director Donna Mitchell says the organization has neither the authority to ticket irresponsible owners nor the budget and manpower to supervise or police the dog parks. However, before opening the first dog parks in 2005, she says BREC surveyed successful dog parks throughout the country, and none was staffed.

“It’s similar to playgrounds in terms of supervision,” Mitchell explains. “You are responsible for your dog and your dog’s actions. People sometimes want us to be breed specific (as far as outlawing some breeds in the park). We can’t. I’ve seen dachshunds as vicious as any pitbull.”

And while it may not be as ideal as his Saturday morning sessions in the country, Russell advocates dog park socialization over none at all. To help dogs and their owners enjoy the experience, Russell, Mitchell and other dog park regulars offer the following tips on dog park etiquette.

Introduce your dog to the park when it’s not crowded. At most dog parks, Mitchell says Saturday morning is a peak time. Your dog may be overwhelmed by the sights and smells of new territory and being bombarded by a new pack of friends simultaneously. Choose a time when the park is sparsely populated for the first visit.

If possible, arrange for everyone to enter at the same time. If the group enters together, no one dog has had time to establish or mark the area as his or her territory before the party starts. “That way it’s not one dog coming into a pack and everybody else coming up at the same time, which leads (the new dog) to feel threatened and possibly fight or go into roll-over-and-scream-like-a-dying-rabbit mode and encourages the pack to become aggressive,” Russell says.

Look for wide open spaces. The bigger the field, the better. Russell says, “There has to be a space big enough where they (the dogs) can retreat and come in and out of the pack as they need to. Playing is based on a dog’s confidence level. A dog that’s feeling iffy needs three to four acres, so the dogs don’t get jammed up. The parks can’t be too big.”

Remember more dogs work better than a few. Susan Fagan and her daughter Mackenzie bring their pomeranian, Penny, and soft-coated wheaten terrier, Ailin, to City Park two to three times a week. “Sometimes there are five dogs, sometimes 25,” says Susan. “The more, the merrier. The size of the dogs doesn’t really matter. I’ve never seen a dog act aggressively. They all want to play.”

Let your dog off the leash as soon as you securely enter the park. A lot of first-time park visitors keep their dogs on the leashes because they want to make sure the dogs will do well in the environment before freeing them. It is a well-meaning but self-defeating strategy. When dogs meet, they need to have fight-or-take options. Leashed dogs know their only option is fight and because they can only run the length of the leash. Russell says. “The quicker they are off the leashes, the better it works.” Owners concerned about dog compatibility might employ the strategy of Christina and Nick White. When they bring their English bulldog, Colonel Buster Brown, to parks, they let him meet the other dogs by sniffing through the fence first. They say it gives them an indication of how things will go once they enter.

Follow the rules. “I’ve seen people stop and read all those rules, and other people get to the sign and keep on walking,” Mitchell says. “All of the rules came from other dog parks. We didn’t see the need to reinvent the wheel. The same rules kept coming up.” For example, the posted signs discourage children from playing in the area. While the family pet may gentle around a child, another dog may not distinguish a toddler from part of the pack and inadvertently grab or knock down the child.

Keep moving. “You need motion to make things work,” Russell asserts. “Owners should walk around the park (not necessarily in a circle). If the owners bunch up and talk, the dogs bunch up, which could end in fisticuffs. With motion going, nobody can settle on one target. Plus, running is fun.” At the park, Mitchell says, “If an owner sits on the same bench, the dog interprets that area as his or her territory. It’s important that nothing is routine.”

Don’t over-react to boisterous play. “Sometimes the owners interpret things the wrong way,” says Russell. “A rambunctious lab could appear aggressive to someone with a shih-tzu. A lot of folks think they’re seeing a dog fight and it’s rough, happy play. It’s hard to know the difference between the two.” Growling, barking and wrestling is all part of dog’s play. Linda Hopkins regularly brings golden retriever, Hope, and border collie, Oreo, to Forest Park. “It’s great for them to be with other dogs,” she says. “If there is a problem, make a loud noise, holler and break it up.” The owner’s vigilance is essential. “You should not just let your dog run free and not watch. You would not do the same thing with a child on the playground,” Mitchell cautions. “You need to be in constant control of your dog.”

If you’re having a problem with another dog, leave. How can you address a problem with the owner? “You can’t,” says Russell. “Just pack up your dog and leave.”

When they approach a dog park with their best furry friends, Russell says, “People should expect the best, and they should realize everyone else thinks their dog is very special. The good news is things will generally go well because the dogs worship the god of frolic. Let them be free, have a space big enough where they can retreat and come into the pack as they need to. And keep walking.”

Click here for BREC’s dog park rules or call 272-9200.

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