The Dog Park - The Things I Don't Like

Fosse SO excited to be headed to The Dog Park

Actually, it is not The Dog Park I don't like. My discomfort with the dog park comes from the irritating behavior of humans. I understand dog parks are not just for dogs. They are community building, giving a wonderful place and open space for people with similar interests to gather. I wish that I experienced that communal feeling at the dog park, but I haven't yet. I've learned that sharing interests doesn't mean you share values.

There is one thing I don't like about a dog park that doesn't involve people. It's the communal water. Even when I bring our own water, other dogs drink from it. I've never met anyone else concerned about the communicable illnesses passed through sharing water. Some illnesses can be vaccinated against, but some cannot. I don't vaccinate my dogs against everything in the world, and I know not everyone at the dog park does either. Some of the illnesses spread by sharing water are Leptospirosis, Canine Parvovirus, Canine Influenza, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, Giardia and Coccidia. Those are just some.

Source: "Dogs Social Lives and Disease Risks," by the American Veterinary Medical Association

When we commit to a dog park visit, I envision a wonderful visit with attentive owners and politely socialized, fun dogs. I envision Luna and Foster relaxed and happy like we are when we walk in the woods. I envision dogs walking and running in harmony. Humans, Dogs and Mother Nature. Sadly, other people cloud our vision.

It often starts with the kind of person I call The Unobserver at the entrance gate. Most dog parks have a two-gate entry process. The Unobserver lets his dog bark incessantly at the second gate as you try to enter with your dogs. If The Unobserver happens to look over, he will tell you his dogs are "being friendly," or that "They're alright. Just come in," as if he owns the place and is inviting you into his home. This really bugs me and I feel like saying, "Get up off that picnic table bench and get your dog out of my dog's face," but I don't. I use my foot and my vision to move the rude dogs out of our way and we happily walk to the open space. The Unobserver also allows her dog to harass other dogs and poop all over with no correction or clean-up because she is busy talking to people instead of paying attention to her dog.

Then there's The Know-It-All. The Know-It-All brings an air horn to break up potential fights from her perch on top of a picnic table instead of walking around with her dog. The Know-It-All uses her air horn indiscriminately to make herself appear in control of the dog park. She's not. She just makes everyone feel kind of annoyed - dogs included.

There's also The Annoyer. This person either calls her dog 15 times in a row from 2 feet away or 20 feet away, and the dog never responds, yet she keeps calling him. "Max! Max! Max! Max! Max!" Uucchh. This is usually the same person who will tell you, "Oh, don't throw that ball. Max will run after it and you'll never get it back." So you are expected to have no fun with your dogs because The Annoyer can't manage or influence her dog.

The Clueless person will bring his unsocial dog to the dog park because he was told taking his unsocial dog to the dog park would be good for his dog. Without any guidance or direction, Clueless and his dog can't have a rewarding socializing experience at the dog park, and they diminish your experience too.

The Hoverer will never see her dog's rude behavior as rude, and if you or your dog try to correct her dog, or at least stop her dog from irritating you, she'll blame your dog. It's The Hoverer's fault. Completely. At least she's somewhat watching her dog.

The worst is The Leaver. He leaves his dog at the dog park. Alone. Yes. He drops his dog off at the dog park, and leaves. Inexcusable.

Foster loves the dog park. Luna and I do not. But we go, and I must be able to deflect the negative energies there because Foster always wants to go back, and Luna's tail wags as she searches the grounds for dandelions, even in the snow. It appears I'll do anything for my dogs' happiness.

Tired from some time at The Dog Park