For Capitol Hill canines, a romp in the dog park may be their only chance to run off leash. “It’s the best way for me to tire out my dog!” owners tell me. However, as a professional dog trainer, I routinely receive calls from people concerned about their pet’s behavior at the dog park. “He used to play well, but now he seems to be getting into more spats,” is a common complaint. Owners also often express frustration that their pet listens to them at home but not at the dog park. A visit to the dog park is a relaxing and enjoyable escape from daily routines for many dogs and their owners, but not all dog park visits end peacefully. From aggression, fearful behavior, to simply refusing to come when called, dog park behavioral problems are common.

Each dog, like each owner, is unique. While a visit to the dog park may be a wonderful energy outlet and socialization opportunity for one dog, it may cause or exacerbate a behavioral problem for another. Generally, dogs that do well at the dog park are spayed or neutered, patient, playful, respectful of other dogs’ warning signs and are not easily provoked to behave aggressively.

Even if your dog is a social butterfly, you should become familiar with its body language, play style and indications of stress. Some indications of stress include rapid panting, pacing, whining, wide eyes (whites showing), attempting to hide or overt aggressive behavior. Be vigilant, and directly watch your dog at all times. Give your dog short breaks, and be ready to take it home before it becomes over-tired. An occasional growl is normal in canine interactions, but escalating growling, snapping and snarling are indications that the dog needs to be removed quickly. Crowded conditions lead to confrontations, so it is best to visit the park during non-peak times and when other dogs you know your dog plays well with will be present. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the park rules before you go.

Good canine playmates typically have similar play styles, ages and sizes. For example, herding breeds like to run around each other and often play chasing games, while retrievers often play by wrestling. A herding breed may lose patience with a retriever’s hard-contact play style. Similarly, bully breeds’ and terriers’ rough play can overwhelm more reserved dogs. Owners of toy breeds or dogs with delicate builds need to be extra careful and may need to select dog parks that have designated times or areas for small dogs. Age is another factor to keep in mind. Puppies younger than 4 months have not had all their immunizations and should not be taken to dog parks. Socialization is very important for young puppies, but a more controlled environment, such as a puppy class, is a safer venue. Adolescent dogs (dogs between the ages of 6 months and 2 ½ years, approximately) can benefit from exercise and socialization opportunities at a dog park. However, some adolescent dogs may test other dogs’ limits by mounting or exhibiting bully behavior. In a dog park this problem can be difficult to control and often escalates. Some dogs become less tolerant with other dogs when they mature in spite of their owner’s best efforts to provide socialization opportunities.

Training your dog to come when called can help prevent problems in a dog park as well. Situations that often trigger problems – such as a cluster of dogs at the entrance, a group of dogs chasing one dog, or very hard wrestling play that is escalating in intensity – can be interrupted if the dog is sufficiently trained. Of course, it takes extensive practice to be able to quickly call your dog away from these types of situations. Contemporary training methods that emphasize rewards are effective and humane ways to teach a dog to respond reliably. Dogs do not generalize training skills to new situations easily. Because Capitol Hill canines spend most of their time indoors or on city sidewalks, teaching your dog to respond to you when he is off-leash in the grassy, open space of a dog park may take time.

Unfortunately, there is no safe way to interrupt a dog fight without risking a bite, so the best bet is to prevent a fight. Dogs that have previously shown aggression to people or dogs that have a history of injuring other dogs should never be taken to a dog park. Additionally, dog park visits are inappropriate for dogs that are under-socialized or are easily triggered to fight. Aggressive behavior problems get worse when the dog has the opportunity to repeat the behavior, and this can easily occur in a dog park. Dogs that are fearful and shy often become more fearful or even escalate to showing aggression if they cannot escape the situation. A dog park is an environment that is impossible to control, and it is not the appropriate setting to solve dog behavior problems.

One of the benefits to raising a dog on Capitol Hill is that the dog usually learns to tolerate the many dogs and people encountered daily. However, a dog park environment requires more than tolerance of a brief encounter. Many dogs do best interacting with dogs that they have grown to know over time. Play dates coordinated in a fenced backyard with a few familiar dogs can be ideal. Some dogs may benefit from time in a well-run dog daycare where staff provides close supervision to ensure that dogs are matched for each other and provides break time in crates or a quiet area to prevent overstimulation. A few dogs do best skipping dog-play entirely and being exercised and played with by their owners. While dog parks provide a valuable exercise and play opportunity for many dogs, it is important to be aware that they are not the right venue for all dogs.