The first thing to do to make your visit to the dog park a good one is to have a calm and positive attitude. Some dogs at the dog park are going to be crazy, unattended, stressed and ill-behaved, but if you are stressed, your dog will feel that and your visit won't be as much fun as it could be.
In my opinion, the dog park should not be your dog's sole exercise in a day. The dog park should be a reward after your structured walk or after obedience or agility class. The dog park should be a place where your dog can be a dog by running and roaming and using his nose. The canine companionship and potential for improved social skills can be a wonderful reward for your dog and for you as well. You should both arrive calm, exit the car and enter the park calm, and leave feeling both relaxed and rejuvenated.
Be observant and attentive, but realize that not all dogs like to "play" or interact with others. Some dogs prefer introducing themselves to all the people, or to walk the perimeter, or to roll in the grass. If the visit is supposed to be for your dogs, then let your dogs make the choices that make them happy. Foster says hello to all the people in the middle on the picnic tables and then trots around the perimeter. He also chases after tennis balls, sniffs other dogs, and allows them to sniff him. He play bows and runs at top speed. He experiences it all. Luna walks around, hunts for dandelions and finds a person or a dog or two interesting. Her dog park experience is about enjoying the grass, the outdoors and the adventure of it all. Two dogs raised in the same environment have different needs and I try to provide for them both.
I hope your visit to The Dog Park is wonderful!
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