Cincinnati Living

Well-socialized, well-behaved dogs gain great benefits from trips to the dog park. They work on pack skills, learn to deal with other dogs in a strange space, and reinforce off-leash skills. What is a dog park, though, and what dogs should go?

A dog park is an official off-leash area designed for dogs. They are fenced in, to keep the dogs contained. In some cities they may be only a few hundred square feet, but in mid-sized cities and suburbs they can be much larger. Dog parks have grass, gravel, or sometimes just dirt for dogs to run and roll on. Agility training equipment like a teeter-totter or jumps are in place at many off-leash sites, like playgrounds for dogs.

Much like children’s playgrounds, dog parks require certain behavior for everyone’s safety and enjoyment. Fur-kids that won’t come when called, requiring their people to chase them all over are probably not ready for a day at the park. Dogs that react violently to strangers might need more time meeting strangers in a controlled environment before being tossed into the chaos that is a dog park. Animals with dog aggression should never go to the off-leash park. For well-trained, healthy dogs, though, the chance to run and play with new friends is a great opportunity.