Central Florida Green Guide

 Tanner and I Visit West Orange Dog Park

• Absolutely no food inside the park
• Don’t visit a dog park until your puppy is done with all his puppy vaccinations—usually 4-5 months of age.
• Keep an eye on your dog and clean up after him promptly. Healthy, green parks don’t happen by accident. I grab a poop bag as soon as I go in, so I’m ready for the inevitable.
• No aggressive dogs. If you encounter any aggressive outbursts, this isn’t the time for a visit.
• Watch out for the safety of small children and the elderly around larger or more active dogs. They are best off on a bench or against the fence, where they will be less likely to be bumped into.
• On your first visit, keep your dog on a leash while he greets a few other dogs. Be sure he is ready before releasing him to play freely. Check his body language for signs of dominance or high alert such as tail straight up, ears forward and neck ruffled. If this occurs, sit your dog quietly in a corner and allow him to absorb the scene from afar for a bit, before trying again.
• If your dog finds one dog to be particularly difficult to greet, engage its owner to help the dogs create a friendly greeting. Straddling your dog, one of you must first allow its dog to sniff the other’s backside. Then switch places. If all goes well, the dogs may then greet each other face to face. This approach helps many dogs learn the proper greeting as a canine playmate.
• Remove leashes before allowing vigorous play.
• Don’t allow your dog to “hump” or dominate any other dogs or people. Correct your dog and praise him when he interacts appropriately.
• In the interest of a healthy dog and family, watch what your dog rolls in. Make sure you have a towel and hand cleaner back at the car.
• If your dog has a disagreement with another dog, grab his hips and pull him back before the problem escalates into a fight. Don’t try to grab his collar. Act quickly and calmly. Your dog will get the message that this behavior is not acceptable, and that YOU are in charge. It doesn’t matter which dog started the disagreement.  Simply sit or down your dog, and allow him to cool off for a few minutes separately from the group. When he appears completely relaxed, you can decide if it is safe to proceed with playtime.
• Check out the hidden areas of the park for anything of concern.
• Locate the pet water fountain and introduce him to it.
• Watch and learn from the body language of the other dogs. Be aware of any dogs that are behaving aggressively, and take evasive action if needed. Sometimes it is simply best to go home and take a walk with your dog. There will be those days when one dog sets off the whole group. If this happens—and it is rare–it is time to go home. All of these tips should provide valuable lessons for your child as she learns more about mother nature. Dogs are excellent teachers, when guided by a take-charge human leader.
• Finally, try to end your visit on a high note. Depart at a time of your choosing, when all is going smoothly. You’ll want Fido to look forward to his next visit when you return.

Visiting the Dog Park is a Way to Meet New Friends

Visiting the dog park is a wonderful way for children to learn about animal behavior, while allowing your dog to burn of some of his pent up energy and improve his socialization skills. If you find these activities to be too challenging, I would encourage you to consult a professional dog trainer for advice and assistance.

I hope you’ll join me next month when I’ll return to talk a little about picking the right park for your first visit, and the cleanliness of our area dog parks. Teaching your child to “give back” through community service can be as easy as a walk in the park. A few minutes of your visit can help keep our parks green and clean for everyone to enjoy. 

Toni and Oliver (He's Peeking Out of Her Purse) Keeping it Green