5 Major reasons why dog parks are dangerous- Dog Training Tips 

Biggest reason for me is inattentive bad dog owners They treat it like a daycare

I don't take my dog to the dog park any more. It's too bad, I liked to see her play and have fun with other dogs plus I liked the people I met there. We had two close calls that could have ended badly. It's not worth the risk. We walk daily at a park and she can practice her manners. She comes home tired and I get my steps in. It's good for both of us.

Live on 3 acres and most of it is fenced. I have 3 dogs so every day is a day at the dog park by just going outside.

I have never took my rescue dog to the dog park. I think everything you said is spot on. I would be afraid to because not sure how he was raised before we got her. Love your videos.

Other outlets you can do with you dog is join a dog group, that dose other types of traing to have fun with your dog, like agility, serch and rescuse, flyball or frisbee competions. there is so many thing we can do with our dogs to have fun, train and bond with our dogs. As responsable dog owners we need to set aside the time to make sure we do this. It not only beinifets them 100%, but us as well to keep us healthy and fit.Mind and body enrichment is very important for all living things. Thank you Tom for putting this out I have heard so many horor storys and from other people and the news about dog parks. People need to know the risk, and if you love your dog you'll avoid these places and find other ways like i mentioned above. Rock on Tom your awesome and love watching all your videos, so helpful. Oh forgot there is service dog training as well.

Such a great and valuable video! One of the problems I find when going to the dog park is that other dog people want to talk, and they want my attention. It becomes challenging to keep my focus on my dog to make sure nothing bad happens. I end up feeling rude to the people sometimes because I need to make sure my focus is on the dog behavior. Other people seem to assume that everything will go fine, but this video reinforces the fact that we cannot make that assumption.

I live in New York City with a large active intact male golden retriever I run him in the park on a 30 foot long line because dogs are not allowed off leash except in dog runs which are small and over crowded. He meets lots of other dogs in a controlled setting and is much happier than he would be in those tiny enclosures filled with so so many over stimulated puppies. Thanks for the video

Can we get this guy to a million subscribers please? So much good info

I'm watching this on my break from dog dayplay lol so much can go wrong if a group of dogs are together without professional supervision. They also do better with us because their people aren't there. Which sounds mean, but it's true. The dogs are held to our rules, and they know what the limitations are. It does cost money, but for a lot of dogs, it's worth it.

Dog treadmills are awesome!! Highly recommend for anxiety issues and also to keep dogs active in inclement weather or shortened daylight hours. I adopted a German Shepherd with serious anxiety issues. It was a total game changer & turned things around completely!!

I used to take my male pit bull to the dog park until I saw him become increasingly more frustrated by being, ironically, bullied by another dog. He’s never attacked any dog - but I saw the potential for things to go bad when another regular there, a standard poodle, used to tease him (snd only him! Some dogs innately just don’t like other individual dogs) and then run away (the poodle was faster). Eventually, this dynamic was going to erupt into violence and I’m well-aware of the potential of the pit bull to kill another dog. I walk him once or twice daily now but I often feel like he misses the company of his friends at the park. Yet, I had to protect him (and the poodle) from what eventually would have happened. Dog parks are not preschools because dogs aren’t toddlers, even though for many of us they feel like our kids.

Just broke up a fight between two working GSD's, a mother and daughter , 8yrs and 6yrs old . Im a very experienced dog handler 58 but still fit and it took everything i had to stop one killing the other . Dog fights are serious business people , i was in a training area on my own but i knew the "training lead trick" and thats what literally saved the older dogs life because one person can not physically stop two dogs from fighting if they are both intent on fighting . Always have a quality training lead and learn the "training lead trick" today .

My dog went to the dog park from 3 months of age for one year almost everyday ... then we stopped gradually because she was not as excited anymore when we went. Never had any issues and most owners at that dog park were great and caring. She has a couple dog playmates that we met at the park that we now meet in private. Our dog park has two section meant for big and small dogs but it was mostly used for separating dogs that we thought would not get along ... or to test out. Problem dogs came once and mostly never came back... we could almost always see them coming from a mile away. Today my dog is super chill in almost any type of situation and is not over excited when meeting new dogs... sometimes not even interested. A huge part of her socialisation and desensitization was all those hours spent with other owners and other dogs. Dog trainers do not have to go to dog parks because most already have (training) premises for dogs to get socialized... so it's a moot point coming from them. I also think that dog trainers do not hear as much from owners that socialized their dogs in a dog park and never have issues... because these people do not tend to need or ask the help... its the other way around ... dog trainers meet people that had issues. I do agree though that it can be stressful for a dog that does not enjoy other dogs. As a puppy she loved every dog but I do have a sense that now that she is older my dog sees other new dogs as potential dangers so she is more reserved/careful so I don't force it on her.

You might mention that you can also go to the dog park without the dog, find safe dogs and owners, and invite them for playdates elsewhere.

I adopted a Doberman at ten months old. He was basically raised in a dog park so when I got him I started taking him. He does great,great recall at the dog park. One day he was about 21/2 years old and an Irish setter keep humphing him for about an hour. Kept telling the owner to get his dog and he wouldn’t. So I was leaving and hear come humpy and humped my dog and he tore up that dog. Terrible fight. Couldn’t stop my dog.finally got him. Never went back. E-collars for the win.

I wish I knew before what Tom said about Terrier breeds!! We have an American staffy/pit bull mix and I was determined to get her well socialized as a puppy so she wouldn’t be an “aggressive pitty” so I thought taking her to a dog park would help…nope!! Totally triggered her prey drive (though I’m sure it would have happened anyways) but we’ve had to do a lot of undoing bad habits of chasing other dogs. Good intentions just gone wrong…wish I knew better before and what signs to look out for. Thanks for this video Tom!!

If you can’t get outside to physically stimulate your dog, I recommend a FLIRT POLE! It’s perfect for my apartment when we can’t go out for a run or whatever. It gets a lot of the twitchy energy out and is a super fun way to play with your dog. Make sure they have a good “out” or “drop it”

Took my young dog to dog park as a puppy thinking she would have fun. She was 3 months old. A bigger older dog ran over, rolled her and wouldn’t let her up. I ran over quickly and we left. She has been reactive (growls) ever since even going to my daughter’s house when her dog gets close. My dog is now 10 yrs old and still reacts even if another dog walks by her when she is on the groomers table and above said dog! I feel awful for her being so fearful.

DOG PARK JUST OPENED NEAR ME YOU PAY £8 AN HOUR THERE IS AGILITY EQUIPMENT TUNNELS, BRIDGES RAISED PLATFORMS ETC ITS ALL FENCED IN WHEN YOU RENT IT ITS ONLY YOUR DOG\DOGS ALLOWED IN WITH YOU SO YOU ARE PAYING FOR PRIVACY TO LET YOUR DOG OFF LEASH BOOKING MY DOG IN THIS WEEK FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS

Thanks for making this! I rarely take my service dog to a dog park in NYC for all of these reasons. It’s too big of a health and safety risk. My dog came from a service dog school and won’t ever defend himself if he’s attacked (he doesn’t even understand the concept, believe it or not), and I can’t jump in to save him with my disabilities. I’ll only let him go into a dog park if there’s only a few dogs and the people look like they are involved in playing and watching their own dog. I also ask the people if their dogs are vaccinated or have potential to be sick with anything, as well as if their dogs are fearful or reactive in any way - nobody gets insulted when I explain I have a task trained medically necessary service dog who can’t do his job if he gets sick or injured, and that it puts my safety and ability to function at risk. I use other outlets for my boy. We play at home at least twice a day. He chews on bones. I hide treats for him to hunt around the apartment. He does puzzles with food or special treats inside. As a working dog with a 24/7/365 job, these things are crucial to his health and well-being, as well as keeping him cognitively sharp to be able to problem solve if there would be an emergency. He does get time to run and play when we go to my brother’s house, but otherwise, he gets walked 4-5 times in a 24 hour period to ensure he gets some time outside to sniff and do his business. Of course, aside from his job, I’m always playing brain games and training/reinforcement exercises. My boy is also a major music lover. I play DogTV or a doggy music playlist for him when we go to sleep (I wear headphones so I won’t have to hear it, lol). Additionally, I learned to play guitar, ukulele, and bass, which I play nearly every day for 1-3 hours at night and/or in the morning - sometimes he likes chill music, other times, he’s feeling the Metallica (it’s hilarious watching him relax to metal, punk, and hard rock!). All of these activities collectively help him burn off energy and relax so he will feel good and be able to do his job. I wish he could spend more time around dogs, but I don’t have friends with dogs, and the risk is far too high to let him around places with unknown dogs who may end up hurting him or making him sick. My boy is perfectly happy and healthy. He’s always the correct weight and in better shape and health at nearly 10 years old than dogs more than half his age (that’s according to his labs and the vet, not my words). I also do all of his baths and grooming myself too. He’s been in my life since 2017, and we’ve only been separated twice for a total of about 9 hours when I needed surgery and someone watched him in the waiting area until I was brought into recovery and we were reunited. It’s rare to be with anyone 24/7/365, let alone a dog. It takes a lot of work, and it’s a two way street. People are always highly impressed with his obedience and service skills. I’m obviously doing something right. There are sadly a lot of people who don’t understand what it means to take care of a dog - from the dog’s perspective and needs. It’s a two way street. If more people really took care of their dogs properly, the dog park would be a safer place.

My biggest complaint about dog parks is the owners not picking up after their dogs!

Literally witnessed 2 Sheppard’s corner a mixed breed and ripped apart this dogs neck. Passed away en route to vet. Owners don’t watch.. Remember all dogs are animals & just like some of us they can flip at any time. Respect your dogs for what they are. Owner of Sheppard’s literally just took off. I’ll never forget the owner screaming Never take dogs to a “dog park” Dogs rely on us to keep them safe

When we were in our puppy days, we went to the dog park 3-4 times a week just because he had so much puppy energy and my idea of "socializing" made sense to me, the more dogs he played with, the better. Now that I'm older and further along in my trainer's journey I am extremely picky with dog parks now, and so is my dog😂. He tolerates dogs and will play with a couple but for the most part he will find a shady spot and just "pup watch." My opinion? Rounds of fetch and off leash (+e-collars) walks are the most fulfilling for us right now, and will continue to be my goal throughout my journeys of being an owner and a trainer

The biggest issue in the dog parks are the owners of aggressive dogs who justify their dogs and blame you. I would rather do selective meetings with friendly play mates and keep away

7:40 The description of how it feels being a trainer at or around a dog park is spot on.

I really wish you would not encourage people to have their dogs off leash. Too many people do it, and don't have the right training, not to mention they do it in areas where leash laws apply. My neighbors allowed their full size labradoodle to be off leash. She was friendly, but when I got my miniature Goldendoodle I took her outside to practice being on a leash in our front yard. Their dog ran up to her, and was mildly aggressive, not trying to hurt, dominate. She traumatized my poor 4 month old puppy, and she is now 3 years old, and still mildly reactive to large breed dogs. People need to follow the laws, and if you live in a neighborhood, please don't just allow your dog/dogs to run amok. Other people have the right to be in their own yards without having lose dogs antagonize them or their dogs.

I used to frequent a dog park years ago now I may go once a month and its usually when its not busy. Always kept my dog out of any large groups of dogs and just used the 4 acres to let my dog run somewhat free. I agree with Tom it can be a gamble any way you put it. Id say a lot of the problems lie with the owners not paying attention to their dog, knowing their dogs tendencies, not being proactive/ not correcting their dog or anothers when things get to be too much and finally not training their dog before so they can head off some issues before they happen. Then there always the asshats that have an aggressive dog that bring it there because they can. Ive heard stories when I do go of people breaking up fights for good reason and then the aggressive dogs owner kicking the other person in the face recently. Much falls on the owners. Apparently it can be a good ol' royal rumble at times.

Great video! This gives me some more points to bring up when people try to call me a bad owner for not going to the dog park.

Not to mention it can be dangerous for humans. I am lucky i live 10 min from a huge dog park. Same group of people go there every morning and we all know each other and we are super respectful and protective. The pooches all know and love each other. Two months ago, normal morning the dogs were playing and running as usual but they were running fast and ran straight into one of the girls. They broke her leg….. so no matter what head on a swivel. 😢

Thank you for sharing Tom

I’m grateful that sniff spot is an option near me. My boy loves fetch, but fearful of dogs. 75lb baby.

Light hearted funny (Only because nothing happened) Great dog park, probably 30 other dogs, very chill A new guy brought his “dogs” They were at LEAST half wolf. I have never seen every single dog in the dog park stop dead. Went still and stared at the wolves. All dogs returned to their owners immediatly and just stared at them like YOU ARE NOT A DOG Stopped going there but it was funny

in all honesty, dog parks kinda scare me. i trust my girl, she plays well with most dogs (if they’re too big she needs extra time to get used to them) and her recall is absolutely fantastic, it’s the owners of the other dogs that i absolutely do not trust. i’ll be getting a domerhan puppy in about 2 weeks, ain’t no way im taking her to one of these parks. play dates with trusted dogs from people i know, or the dogs of the trainers that will be helping me with her (if everything goes well, she will end up becoming my service dog), absolutely. but random pups? i’d rather not risk it. great video as always!

I only let my dog in the park if there's little to no dogs and I make friends where we schedule to meet up. I don't have a fenced in yard so I want her to be able to have unleashed time

I stopped taking one of my dogs to the dog park because she gets overwhelmed by the amount and energy of dogs that are present. She will literally have a panic attack. She loves to play with other dogs that have good manners, but most dogs at the dog park tend to bully her. She’s 9 now and doesn’t like over excited dogs in general.

There are private fenced in dog facilities - no other people, animals that one can take their dog to. Requires up to date vaccinations, licensed, etc. Affordable

I find the whole idea of dog parks really weird. Do dogs even LIKE or NEED TO go to a strange place and be forced to socialize with strange dogs? Or is that an example of humans ascribing human wants and feelings to their pets?

If I operated a private dog park, I would set some basic standards. 1. Every member must show proof that their dog is up to date of vaccinations. 2. Pass three basic tests in training area before being let in the doggy social area. A. Threshold B. Place/Recall C. Be able to lead dog through basic agility course, at least on leash. D. Recertify every month. What do you think of these standards?

I appreciate the thoughts for sure. I was disappointed that you didn't mention the risk to larger dogs specifically. I find that small dogs are often less well trained, and if they start a fight with a large dog and get injured, the large dog is going to get blamed.

Only organized dog events such as obedience classes, agility classes, even dog shows. These are the safe places for group dog events. If you love your dog give them good training and safe interactions. Can joh woth your dog, swimming, etc.

The only thing i use the dog park for is practice being neutral when in busy places with reactive dogs around us. We walk the outside of the fence starting about 20' away till we can walk the fence line and she does not react to other dogs barking at us while owners call and call in hopeless attempts to recall. Chaos that i both want to avoid. That being inside the fence, and use, being outside fence. Outside i can work at a distance my dog is ready for. And when too much, we can move away from the fence and work at that distance. But we dont ever go inside. Its too much like doggy prison with owners as guards. 1/2 the inmates act fine and listen to any instructions, 1/4 are nervous wrecks that dont listen and 1/4 have aggression issues that dont listen. All Runnin everywhere and the guards barely have control of the yard. But the outside. There is great lessons to be had in a positive way outside those walls

Thank you! For what it’s worth…this isn’t the first time I’ve heard this

So it says $199 does that mean I’m gonna pay $99 for the collar course Could you tell me how long it is and can I keep it forever in my database to go back to if I need it thanks

I have been going to dog parks for 12 years and have never had any issues with my dogs... I have three 25 lb dogs (one of them a rescue) and I'm constantly watching other dogs' body language to determine whether I need to step in or not. It's all about energy... if you're unsure or nervous or haven't built a good enough relationship with your dog to trust them then don't bring them to the dog park until you're calm and confident and you and your dog have built trust with each other. As long as you're dog is vaccinated, has a good temperament, you've drained their energy or enter the dog park in a calm manner and you're attentive, dog parks are a great place to socialize your dogs. Remember, dog parks are for socialization not for excercise.

This is the reason that most not all guide dog schools have strict rules about dog parks mine that I went to was no going to dog parks it can cause issues but that doesn’t mean you can’t do play to blow off steam in other ways i have been bitten my guide dog has been bitten and we were just walking so communication is key

What would be your opinion about taking your dog there to use the equipment? It's on the far side of the fenced area from the entrance. He's intact, so i don't want him running around a dog park right now regardless, but i really have been wanting to use the agility equipment there. He has an e collar, and a long line i just... Idk.

Thank you for this! Ive been wanting to get my pitty girl acclimated to other dogs by going to the dog park but i can see why its not a good idea for her and other dogs and owners safety.

A puppy learns best from older dogs. If a dog dominates your pup, good chance your older pup will copy. Rolling the dice. If one goes, don't stay long, walk a couple laps, then leave. Don't sit around, linger, and play with phone. If it's packed, walk away. Carry a bear horn, stun gun, and pepper spray. Protect your dog at all costs. Dog scraps are very quick. This stresses me to think about it. Most have a separate training section. This is a better choice for association. They can interact with other dogs but are protected by a fence. The few dogs they know and get along with can join them in the training section. If the owner is chill, the dog will be to. At DP's, the dog's attention will be heavily distracted. E collars can cause anxiety here. For training, find a huge, leashed park and attach them to a 20-30-foot lead. I prefer bright colors, easy to see and step on.

Portland, OR resident here with an off leash (remote collar) trained Siberian. So … would you take your dog with good obedience to the 1000 Acres Dog park? We occasionally go to dog parks and use them as opportunities to pressure her training (strict heel, focus on me, not the other dogs, call her off unstable dogs / recall, and yes, sometimes play with other dogs, tho’ being a Siberian, she’s mostly aloof and more focused on pee marking the whole park as her own) Or, even in the huge dog park, given the risks you note in this video, still stay away? Even in that glorious dog park, there are opportunities where dogs will be around each other doing what dogs do … IE by the river area … or, would you just enjoy the vastness and keep your personal pet away from other dogs as much as possible / not even go there?

I have taken my dog to a local dog park that's within walking distance to my house, but I will not allow my dog to go inside unless I recognize and know that the dogs inside the large dog area (my dog is a large breed) because he is rather submissive to other dogs and as of right now he is an intact male that just turned 1 year old. I haven't had the resources to neuter him as well as I was waiting for him to be at or close to his growth plates closing for certain personal reasons. He loves the park. But he has become dog selective only because of 1 single dog that he had a negative encounter with at that park. Therefore I don't take him as often and if that specific dog is there, or there are dogs I don't know or recognize, I will NOT take my boy inside. We opt for the small dog side as long as it's open with no dogs in it and if a small dog does show up, we immediately leash up and leave so they can have the side they are supposed to be on. I use the small side of this dog park mostly for releasing some of his energy (he's not overly high energy) as well as training, mostly his recall which is almost perfect but we will continue to work on that every single day in and out of the park. Thnaks for your imput.

Personally, I have an ACD. I have never taken him to a dog park. God bless!

Garret wing also says same about dog parks.. What breed is lakota? I've always wondered she's pretty

Doesn’t work for my Sheltie. He starts herding the other dogs and it annoys them.

Dont forget, toys, food, attention can spark fights. Its not for everyone Biking is a great alternative in any environment

Walking through home depot or a pet friendly store with your pup is 10x better than a dog park !!!! Learn people

Dogs are animals is the line

Oh yeah no dog parks for us! There was a pup Someyeed and an adult (different owners) The bigger one was really bullying the pup. I told the owner that it was bullying. He was so suprised, he was like ooh my gosh I thought this was normal socialisation! I said ooh noo this will create your dog to be reactive at some point! Please intervene Meanwhile my Carpathian Shepherd was barking and very nicely trying to correct the adult, but he didnt really care. And I didnt want to put my dog in a bad situation (we were alone at the dog park before they came) So I took her outside the dog park, played with her outside the park to make it a positive ending and went back home. I never go when others are there. Seen an experience before with a owner with a doberman who was, according to them, recently chemically castrated. (Even though he was agressive before) He would fight any male dog and small dogs and some females as well. And they used this excuse for a year .... I was like dude .. then DONT go to the dog park. And yes, spot on! Dogs dont like to be embushed by 10-20 dogs when walking through the gate. All and all, I will never reccomend a dog park unless there is no one there, take a dog friend and that way you will have fun & safety. And still watch body language closely. Love your advice ❤

Was there not another option other than showing a Rottweiler with teeth bared. Kind of lends to misconception of them to be feared.

My dog goes nowhere near those dirty places

Off leash dogs make a lot of people nervous when walking their dogs or just walking or jogging without a dog. Even with a remote E. colar, it's a worry. Just be respectful of others.

PARVO

Dog parks are not a good place. If you’re very lucky and you have one of those that is acres and acres and acres and you can get away from other people you might be OK. But 90% of them are just terrible. Unsocialized dogs, stupid owners that don’t pay any attention and don’t know a darn thing about dogs. I never take my dog to dog parks.

Where can u buy the e collar you use or does anyone know of a good e collar to get?????

you keep talking about the ecollor. It's prohibited in my country. If you use it your dog will be taken away from you because it's considered animal abuse. When you come to Amsterdam you'll have to realize that Tom

Poorly trained dogs with poorly trained owners. I avoid the dog park.

🐶🫶🏾

Dang, reading these comments it is clear 90% of you all should not have dogs before you get personal training.

well we let people drive cars- dog parks are much less dangerous for dog and owner than that. but they SHOULD put a "rules" board at the entrance. (no toys, no agro dogs unless they have a muzzle on- if the owner is not able to have the strength to lift your dog up off the ground then don't come in, dogs need to be healthy and have the shots required by your city/state) dog parks can be a good training option- for example comming when called, showing a dog that other dogs are not aggressive, showing dogs how other dogs play, and becoming friends with other dogs, and what the other sex of dogs, etc. and yes the exercise. its also a great way to meet other dog owners and get tips and it teaches people about all the other breeds of dogs. . should we not let kids into the city play park? Best high drive dog exercise rig ever- freedom to gooo under excellent steering and dog control- urban mushing perfected- you don't crash with this design and you can go most anywhere with it- on or off road- even on urban sidewalks and or single track dirt trails- d o g p o w e r e d s c o o t e r

Every trainer I watch, or have worked with IRL, recommends against dog parks. The training place I've been taking my second dog has play sessions that are smaller, highly supervised, and require a test run around other dogs, so it's about has controlled as it gets. Plus, they'll keep track of behaviors like resource guarding toys or water that could be an issue. It's just a much more reliable environment than the dog park, and even then, fights can happen. I used to take my first dog to the park almost daily for a year or two. We stopped because he lost interest in other dogs for the most part and just wanted to explore, so hikes became more our speed. People get crazy at dog parks though, I've had way more issues with humans than dogs there.

it depends on the style of park. Small enclosed fenced in areas tend to force dogs to interact and they may become territorial if taken there regularly. Large open unfenced areas of several acres with plenty of open space are far better as you can create space and allow the dogs to choose interactions.

My other dog got dog aggressive because of the dog park he was 105 lb boxer/ridgeback

He was polite and sugar coated it a bit. Dogs die pretty much daily at dog parks all over the world. As Tom said, if you come across an intact male, or just a very alpha dog, it may react more aggressively than expected. Or, since most people do not know as much as they think about dogs, they may not understand a dog's behavior. One dog could do a quick bite on another dog and the owner of the dog that was bitten flies mad and gets into a shouting match with the other dog owner when the real fact is the dog that was bitten was just doing something the other dog didn't like so it issued a correction via a quick bite and release, just as a mother dog does with her pups to let them know what they are doing in the moment isn't acceptable. Dogs understand this and usually won't react negatively, but sometimes they do turn into a fight. Another thing is if your dog is a happy-go-lucky sort like my dog is, it's going to think every other dog out there is a friend that they can play with. They never had reason to think other dogs are unfriendly, so they do not react negatively to other dogs. Often, just one dog starting a fight with your happy-go-lucky dog is enough that it flips that switch in your dog and instead of seeing a dog to potentially play with, your dog will (often for the rest of its life) view other dogs as a threat and react negatively to any other dog for the rest of its life. This means on walks, when your dog sees another dog, instead of being happy and excited, it's going to act like an aggressive and angry dog or most owners will see their dogs' actions like that. Dogs in that mode are often in a fight or flight mode, and since you have the dog on leash you've taken away the "flight" option, leaving the dog with the fight response, so they puff up their chest and bark like a crazy dog attempting to scare off the other dog because it usually doesn't want to get in a fight, it just wants to frighten away the other dog. There's so much to dog psychology that most owners do not fully understand that once you hear it, it makes perfect sense.

Website issue: I didn't see a "contact us" link on your training site, so I'm posting this here in hopes you see it. The Dogtra link for the collar on Amazon link currently says, "Currently unavailable. We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock." I just wanted to give you a heads up.

My partner and I only take our anxious, fearful rescue to dog parks that are in more suburban areas. They’re way less frequented and often have more space. I really don’t trust the busy parks.

Can you do a seminar in the Virginia Beach area?!? That would be amazing for us down here!! Lots and lots of doggos

Agreed. Will never take my dog to a “dog park”

I love dog parks and my dogs love them too. The parks in my area are usually well taken care and have many rules. I have never had a bad experience and been going with dogs for over 40 years. I do think there can be risks. People do need to have the knowledge and be able to ready your dog and other dogs. To say dog parks are just bad is very one-sided. You should do your homework before choosing a dog park. I advise going and talk to the people who are there. Exam it, walk it is it clean and safe. Don't just give up on a dog park because someone says they are bad. Know that just like a kid at a playground your dog is your responsibility. Be sure to have a good recall and read on your dog.

I always hang back & observe the dogs & owners before I go in. If I have any doubts whatsoever, we meet other dogs or work obedience outside the fence, using them as a distraction. I always go when there are only 1 or two other dogs inside, & never go in when there are more than 3 or if there is another dog who displays jerky behavior. If a dog/owner approaches to come in & I see there may be a problem, I take my dog out first. The stakes are too high to not follow our gut instincts. Trainer & Owner of 3yr intact male Rottweiler (Rescue)

Lets not forget the human jerks at these parks. AN owner kicked my dog when it was doing normal play with another dog. ALso humans are also not paying attention to their dogs. I stopped over 20 years ago. Dogs also do not need other dogs to be happy.

I took our puppy to obedience class (at least 25 yrs ago)and they encouraged us to let our dogs run inside a fenced area outside the training facility before class. The second week I took our puppy into the exercise area. An older dog immediately went after my dog snarling, barking and nipping. I couldn’t even identify the owner because nobody was paying attention so I caught my dog and took him out to walk up and down the driveway area until we could both calm down. That experience changed him (and me) and he copied that behavior the next time he played with our neighbor’s dog. It took us a long time to modify that behavior on our own. I lost trust in the professional trainers (because I was lead to believe their exercise area would be safe) and still don’t trust dog parks.

Thanks for helping educate me on this topic.

so glad you cut out the celebrity dog trainer thing ;) hope, you will someday return to the one on one dog training sessions vids.

I think people use dog parks as a substitute for a few things. 1) Teaching recall off leash. An enclosed dog park reduces the risk of a dog running away and not coming back when called. Forget that. Spend time teaching and training the recall. 2) Walking in a structured way with your dog. People don't understand the importance and value of doing the migratory behaviors that a dog naturally needs, that involve walking, exploring and encountering new smells and people/dogs. Do them WITH your dog and your relationship will improve. 3) Exercise and engagement. I kind of merged these two into one, because, well, 3 is the magic number. But exercise and engagement are both critical for your dog's health both physical and mental/emotional. And people, both should involve YOU. Not a disorganized group of unknown dogs and people who are paying no attention whatsoever. Exercise WITH your dog and engage your dog. Get out on a trail somewhere and walk, talk, play, do urban agility, train. Do the things that will enhance your relationship with your dog, and things will go so, so much better.

Keep on preaching Tom!👏👏👏👏👏.... Decades ago my Senior Balanced Golden Retriever was attacked on the back of his next by a pit bull type in a on leash area of a huge park. Took two of us to get that 🤬💩 off my huge Golden, luckily I have been educated by many great trainers how to get a dog off, used that technique, and the person that was with me got a good kick in so the Pit type dog wouldn't redirect onto me. My Golden warned me seconds before. Owners did nothing, but sputter "NOT Again". Just watched from a distance. I don't take any of my dogs to a park because for that reason. But, my dogs don't need to go as there are so many ways to train, proper socialization and many jobs the dogs can do at home. A destructive dog at home is a bored dog. I now have Cane Corso's the gentleness of my previous huge Golden, but people actually believe a Corso when they protect me, as too many ignored my Goldens protective nature. My Corso's will protect me as they understand my disabled body needs protection from harm, won't leave my side. I have found that my Red & Formentino Corso's with their tails don't get the respect that my previous Black/Red Brindle Corso with docked tail recieved. No body got in his/my way, he never left my side. It's really disturbing IMO. I have had to put my protection harness on Corso's in public with "in training" to get everyone to respect of my space from all these 🤬.

Good alternatives to the dog park exist too! Plan a regular backyard or park hangout with your friends and their dogs whose temperaments you know and trust. Go to the local sports field, often they are fenced in and allow people to take their off leash dogs when not being used for games. Find a reputable dog daycare with staff who know dog behaviour & can keep play groups positive, and bring your dog periodically. Some trainers also do group walks with dogs and owners together, with specific goals like neutrality.

WHERES MISS PEACHES

Hate these videos. Been training and going to dog parks for a few decades. The park is never the problem. All dog parks ran by the county or city are sprayed and regulated.