Dear Critter Corner: My family and I just adopted a young, energetic dog who loves to play. We want to take him to the dog park but we have never seen him play with another dog. He tries to pull to other dogs on leash but has never met any. What do you recommend we do?
Until you are one-hundred percent certain of how your dog’s temperament is around other dogs you should not go to a dog park and simply drop the leash. Start by working on your dog’s basic obedience. The “recall” and “watch me” commands are the most relevant when dealing with intense stimulus for your dog. Once your dog does it perfectly inside the house, take it outside to the park. I recommend using a long-line leash to allow your dog to safely create distance from you while still being under your control.
For early socialization, start by doing controlled introductions with your friend’s and neighbor’s well socialized dogs. Start in a fenced area, like a backyard. They will understand their own dogs’ temperaments and know what to look for and correct. After guiding them through some controlled play sessions and working on their obedience in public, both you and your dog should have gained the confidence to venture into your first, smaller dog park.
Before entering, talk to anyone already inside about their dog. If both dogs look interested and playful with each other, ask if you may bring yours inside. Make sure to monitor your dog closely, even while chatting with people, and intervene if needed. If you are uncomfortable with how the play session is going between the dogs, or being managed by the owners, remove your dog from the situation and exit the park. Dog parks are a great way to make friends and exercise your dogs, but they’re not for every family and every dog.