The Dirt on Dog Parks
Originally published June 2017. Updated October 2024.
Are dog parks good?
Dog parks are popular.
Many owners dream of seeing their dog burn off a bunch of energy in the ultimate doggy fun place while they meet other dog lovers and swap dog stories.
It’s fun to see our dogs having fun!
Some owners may also see the dog park as a crucial part of socialization to prevent aggression, or a means of helping their shy dog make friends.
Dogs running free, enjoying time with their own species and returning home ready to rest are all very appealing aims.
Unfortunately, though, dog parks aren’t guaranteed to get you there. In fact, sometimes they make things worse.
As a professional dog trainer, I have two main concerns with dog parks:
Unknown Physical Health
Unknown dogs + no prerequisites for entering the park = increased risk of exposure.
Back in 2015, a young unvaccinated dog and his family were enjoying an off-leash area in one of Austin’s most popular parks. Four days later the dog began developing symptoms and later tested positive for Rabies. Everyone he interacted with at the park was exposed.
Rabies is an extreme example, but it isn’t the only concern.
Your dog can contract any number of diseases and parasites at a dog park. There is simply no way to know if all the other dogs your pup is frolicking with are reasonably healthy. Sure a little runny nose and cough may not be the end of the world, but Rabies is nothing to mess around with.
Unknown Behavioral Health
Just as there are no medical prerequisites to visiting a dog park, there are no behavioral prerequisites.
Anyone can bring any dog into a dog park.
Sadly, when owners don’t know their dog as well as they think they do, this can go very wrong, very quickly.
It is incredibly easy for dogs to be bullied (or be bullies) and for us humans to completely miss it until a fight erupts.
For some dogs, visiting the dog park can actually make their overall behavior worse as their fears are confirmed or bullying and rude behaviors indulged.
The Truth
Most dogs do not need to go to the dog park to live happy, satisfied lives.
In fact, most dogs are dog-selective and don’t want to “play” with ALL the dogs at the dog park.
Aggressive or reactive dogs do need help learning to live peacefully in a neighborhood and city full of dogs, but sending them out into the dog park to "sort it out" isn't going to help. You and your dog are much better off hiring a reward-based professional trainer to coach you to success.
If your dog is social, but you don't want to take the physical or behavioral risks of a dog park, plan play dates with friends' dogs who you know are healthy and suited to playing with your dog.
To learn more about dog body language and communication, check out the following resources:
