Karen Martinez

 

Let’s Run to the Dog Run

 

For those of us lucky enough to live near a dog run, we know that it provides one of the very few places in the city where your dog is allowed safely off the leash in an enclosed area. In order to keep dog runs safe and importantly, fun for your dog, we should keep the following in mind:

 

Rules, Rules, Rules!

 

Follow the "rules of the run" - if there is rule against toys in the run, leave the balls and sticks home. This is a common rule in runs because there is an increased risk of dog fights over balls and toys. There is no way of knowing if a stranger's dog will “resource guard” (become possessive of a ball or toy) or if a dog will become overly excited, which also poses a risk of a fight.

 

Dogs should be neutered - another popular rule, and for obvious reasons. Un-neutered male dogs can be aggressive, and a female in heat will cause fights, not to mention unwanted pregnancies.

 

Taking Full Advantage of the Dog Run

 

This may sound silly, but…let your dog run in the dog run! Some owners freak out when their dog takes off and energetically romps with other dogs. Owners should realize that their dogs need to get their "ya-yas" out and work off all that excess energy, especially those pups that have been cooped up in an apartment all day while mom and dad were at work.

 

But here's the thing: learn to read your dog's body language as well as those around her, in case some of that energy becomes negative. If you know what to look for, you'll be able to anticipate a potential altercation. Signs that a fight could break out go beyond just growling at each other; they could also include showing teeth with the lips curled up, one dog looking at another with a “hard stare” (staring is considered to be a threat or a challenge to dogs), rigid body stance, etc. There are excellent books available on the subject of canine body language, and I highly recommend dog owners to seek them out.

 

Allow your dog to be a dog in the dog run - sounds obvious, right? Well, dogs will bark to communicate with other dogs of course, as well as to express their excitement. Let them. I can't tell you how many times I've seen owners get angry with and shush their dogs for barking! If you have a problem with your dog barking at home or at other inconvenient places, then the dog run is exactly the place to let him bark his head off! Some other owners may get annoyed, but that's too bad. What are you going to expect to hear at a dog run? A lot of folks get uncomfortable, irritated, or embarrassed when their dog is barking, but their dog is communicating; often with you. Again, learn to read your dog’s body language to understand why and how your dog is barking. Two or so sharp barks is a usual greeting (“Hi!”). Incessant barking that increases in pitch can indicate agitation, aggression, or stress. Slower, continuous barking at a lower pitch can be defensive, and prolonged barking with pauses between each bark means the dog is looking for companionship.

Most of the time, they’ll be vocalizing happy excitement - when they do, let them. I once had a woman yell at my dog to shut up (as if) because he was happily barking. Since he knows that it's perfectly acceptable to bark in the dog run, he ignored her. Good boy.

 

Confusing and/or Inappropriate Scolding

 

Time and time again, I've seen owners scold their dogs for playing. Once again, here's where it's so important to know the signs of play and the signs of fear, stress, or aggression. Dogs, especially young ones, will play rough - mouthing, pushing, even growling (in play). It takes a certain amount of knowledge to know when or if you need to intervene. Certainly end the play session if one of the dogs is humping the other, as this could become a fight; or if one of the dogs begins showing intolerance of the other (walking away, snapping, avoiding the other dog, growling that sounds like a warning, showing teeth). At this point, you should remove your dog (it doesn't matter if he's the aggressor or the one that needs protecting). Remove him from the area or the dog run itself, if need be - without punishing him. If you do, he won't know why he's being punished after the fact - if the incident was in the past, even by a minute, the correction won't make sense to him. It's very difficult to correct an unwanted behavior in such a stimulating environment such as the dog run, and it's not likely that your dog will respond to your command unless you've actively had the dog trained by a professional.

 

Common Sense

 

Don't bring food to the dog run. I love it when people saunter in with their breakfast sandwiches and then get annoyed when a pack of dogs jump up on them for a taste. Duh.

 

Food also means dog treats. Although treats are good to have on hand to reinforce good behavior when taking your dog outside, it's too risky to bring them with you when you're going into an area full of treat-hungry dogs.  

 

Etiquette

 

Respect the dog run rules and each other. Unfortunately, accidents and altercations will happen, and although dogs are considered only property under the eyes of the law, it doesn't mean that injuries should be taken lightly. If your dog bites another, ask the owner if the dog is okay. Be prepared and willing to exchange information and pay for any injury-related treatment provided by their veterinarian. The other party should provide you with the vet's receipt for payment/reimbursement.

 

If your dog is injured, make sure get the information you need. It's not likely that you'll have pen and paper at hand, but you can get a cell number. Have the owner call you right there so have their number and they have yours. Some people carry business cards - ask.

 

Stay calm and keep the exchange civil. Fighting among each other (like your dogs just did) won't solve anything.

 

It's Been Fun…

 

Finally, it's important to recognize when your dog has had enough play. Many people get involved in conversations with each other or with their ever-present cell phones and don't notice that their pup is overheated, dehydrated, tired, or possibly out of patience with the other dogs still trying to engage her in play. Pay attention.

 

One of the best things we can do for our dogs is to provide exercise, socialization with others (human and canine), and play time – so let’s run to the dog run!

 

Author’s email: GenRexDogTraining@gmail.com

Last Updated: Friday, November 27, 2009

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