Dog parks offer a wonderful opportunity for your dog to learn appropriate dog-to-dog behavior with dogs of all ages, sizes, and temperaments. In addition to these benefits, dog parks also give us humans a chance to get out of the house and socialize, meeting new friends along the way.

Most people who take their dogs to dog parks are respectful, polite, responsible, and look out not only for their own dogs but also for others. After all, if one dog gets hurt, everyone is affected. Most dog parks are well-maintained, clean, and safe. With so many benefits, are there any disadvantages?

Potential Risks at Dog Parks

Not a month goes by that I don’t hear from one of my clients about their dog or a neighbor’s dog getting hurt at a dog park. In 99% of these cases, the issue stemmed from the attitude of the human. A well-known actor (this is L.A. after all) brought two of his dogs to a park. As soon as the dogs entered, they zeroed in on a Lab resting under a picnic table. Within seconds, cries and growls filled the air. People rushed to help the Lab, who sustained multiple puncture wounds. When the actor finally arrived at the scene, he simply said, “Hey, dogs are dogs, they were only playing.”

On another occasion, a woman came directly from a rescue with her new 80-lb dog and wanted to see how he would behave around other dogs. The dog attacked a small, blind Pekingese, causing several thousand dollars in medical bills.

In other cases, dogs are hurt because of how they play—some dogs are more physical than others, leading to unintentional injuries. Others never learned proper dog etiquette due to a lack of proper socialization when they were young. As a result, their pushy behavior often leads to misunderstandings and triggers fights.

Additionally, not every dog enjoys visiting dog parks. Older dogs may not care about being around other dogs and are perfectly content interacting only with their humans. Well-intentioned as some people are, they can unintentionally cause problems by failing to read their dog’s body language, which may be saying, “Get me out of here!”

So, what should you look for when choosing a dog park? Visit the park before bringing your dog. Talk to other park-goers. Safe parks have one thing in common: responsible owners who won’t tolerate aggressive dogs and look out for one another. Make sure there’s a separate area for small dogs. How clean is the park? Is water available? If you find yourself stepping over mounds of feces, it’s a good bet that park isn’t for you or your dog. See if the park has a ranger who oversees activities. This is rare but speaks volumes about safety.

Once you’ve chosen a dog park, don’t bring food or your dog’s favorite toys, as these can often cause problems. Observe how other dogs are behaving, and if play becomes too rowdy, intervene before a problem arises. If your dog seems fearful, leave the park.

Know your dog. If your dog shows signs of aggression or fearfulness, don’t take them to a dog park. You can work on behavioral problems with a trainer, but in the meantime, take your dog for walks, jogs, play fetch, or try games like hide-and-seek and “find-it.”

There are wonderful dog parks out there that benefit both people and dogs. To find them, do a little research, use your common sense, be responsible, and keep a watchful eye. You and your dog can have a lot of fun!

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These are common complaints voiced by the over 300 families I see each year. One person says, “He’s lazy.” Another complains, “She’s defiant.” The most frequent complaint is, “He knows what to do, but he’s just being stubborn.” As frustrating as this can be, the truth is, it isn’t about disobedience, defiance, or stubbornness. The reality is that none of these dogs really know what they’re supposed to do.

Positive Dog Training: Shifting the Focus

Positive training isn’t about teaching your dog to stop doing something; it’s about teaching him what you want him TO DO instead. For example, it isn’t about how Marcy can get Buster to stop jumping, it’s about teaching Buster to lay down when people come through the door. It isn’t about getting Buster to stop chewing slippers, it’s about teaching Buster to chew appropriate toys and ignore slippers. If you don’t know what you want your dog to do in any given situation, your dog won’t be able to figure it out either. So, it’s all about first picturing what you want your dog TO DO, not just what you want him to stop doing.

Let’s say you want your dog to sit and stay when a squirrel runs through the yard, the mail carrier arrives, or someone walks in the door. These are pretty powerful distractions! In essence, you have to be more attractive than any of them. Let’s face it—these distractions are worth the equivalent of $10,000 to your dog, and you’re worth squat. To get your dog to do what you want, you need to become more valuable than these distractions and teach your dog in baby steps.

Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement means using rewards for behaviors you want your dog to repeat. When your dog performs the sit behavior, for example, reward him. Give him a treat every time he puts his behind on the floor, and there’s a good chance he’ll keep sitting. Start training in a non-distracting environment, and gradually add more challenging distractions until he reliably stays in a sit position, even with a squirrel running by. The key is to have realistic expectations based on your particular dog and progress from kindergarten to a college level of reliability.

Two Simple Methods for Success

We use two simple methods to train your dog effectively:

1. The Magnet Game: Simply wait for the behavior to occur, then reward your dog with praise, a scratch behind the ear, and especially treats. In essence, the “sit” behavior attracts the treats, just like a magnet attracts iron.
2. Step-by-Step Training (a.k.a. “School”): Use a visual prompt, such as food or a favorite toy, to lure the dog into doing what you want, then praise and reward. Gradually add more distractions. Your dog will need to be at a “college” level of “sit/stay” to be successful with a squirrel running by.

The difference between the two methods is that in Method 1, you don’t ask for the behavior, but reward your dog whenever it naturally occurs. For example, you might be watching television when you notice your dog sitting on her bed. You then say, “Good dog,” and throw her a treat. In Method 2, you are asking for the behavior (such as a sit) and then rewarding her. Both methods are used throughout the day until the dog understands that a certain behavior (like “sit”) is always worth a reward.

Using Treats in the Training Process

But does that mean you always have to use treats? Absolutely not. Once an association is made, you can gradually phase out treats and reward your dog on a variable schedule. In human terms, think of it like a Las Vegas slot machine. At first, you put money into the machine just for fun, but occasionally you win. That occasional jackpot keeps you playing. Similarly, with positive training, your dog initially gets a treat every time he sits, but eventually, treats are given intermittently, keeping your dog engaged. He continues to sit because once in a while, he’ll hit the “jackpot.” Of course, praise and affection are always included, so his interest remains high.

We recommend using high-quality treats, like chicken, turkey, cheese, or dry kibble. Avoid greasy foods and commercial dog training treats that list ingredients like by-products, artificial coloring, additives, wheat, corn, or sugar.

You can shape virtually any behavior you want in your dog. All you need to do is:

Catch your dog in the act and reward him (The Magnet Game), and

Teach your dog step-by-step what you want him to do (School).

It’s all about being consistent, communicating clearly, and managing your environment so your dog can’t get into trouble during training.

If your dog is aggressive or has moderate-to-severe behavioral problems, a professional trainer is necessary. Always err on the side of safety. You can learn a lot about positive dog training from books and DVDs, but joining a group class can also be fun. Since many trainers still use methods that involve physical force, I suggest interviewing potential trainers before hiring them. You can find trainers who use positive training methods through the Association of Pet Dog Trainers ( www.apdt.com ) or The National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors ( www.nadoi.org ).

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