In theory, dog parks sound great! Who doesn’t like seeing their dog playing happily with other dogs and getting exercise? Unfortunately, as good as it sounds, the potential for a good experience outweighs the great risk of dog parks.
Risks of Dog Parks Worth Considering
#1 – Risk from an aggressive or poorly behaved dog: Sooner or later, most friendly dogs who go to a dog park will be attacked, bullied, or cornered by another dog, and this experience can affect them for the rest of their lives, especially if they are young. Dogs who have such experiences tend to have anxiety leash reactivity and can develop aggressive or antisocial behavior themselves.
#2 – Risk of disease and parasites: The other risk with dog parks is disease. Given how busy and active dog parks tend to be, there will be a high concentration of potential diseases (distemper, parvo, kennel cough) and parasites (worms, giardia, fleas). While vaccinations and treatments can prevent problems, we simply consider disease risk as another excellent reason to avoid dog parks.
You Can Still Socialize Your Puppy
If you want your dog to have healthy and safe playtime with other dogs, arrange to meet friends with well-socialized and friendly dogs. Start a playgroup and meet in an open space or park not reserved for a dog park.
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