Monday, May 25, 2009
Fetching behavior
Nona Nelson | The Roanoke Times
Sadie, the boxer, and Scooter, the Jack Russell terrier, play together on the opening day of the Roanoke Dog Park inside Highland Park. Dogs' play can look rough because dogs interact with their mouths and their teeth.
Nona Nelson, The Happy Wag
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The first time we took our 1-year-old puppy, Stormy, to a dog park, it reminded me of when I sent my now-adult daughter off to kindergarten.
Would Stormy like the park? Will he make friends? Will he be a good boy?
Unlike my daughter, who pretty much hated school from that first day on, Stormy did very well. He had a blast, made lots of pals and had no trouble at all.
And that's the experience most dogs will have at the new Roanoke Dog Park, a 1-acre, fenced, off-leash playground that opened last week in Highland Park on the city's southwest side.
The park will be full of new faces to meet and new butts to sniff. It may also be a little intimidating for first-timers.
Before you go, Mary Mara, the animal behaviorist at the Roanoke Valley SPCA, suggests your dog have some basic obedience skills mastered.
"They should come when called and listen to commands," she said.
Getting acquainted with the posted park rules, understanding how dogs play and being considerate of other guests will help you and your pooch have an enjoyable romp in the park.
Pick up the poop
Nothing can ruin my day faster than stepping in a steaming pile of dog poop.
Vickie McCormick, a member of the dog park steering committee -- and pet mom to Rudy -- said she hopes everyone will be diligent when it comes to scooping the poop.
"Cleaning up after your dog is part and parcel of responsible pet ownership," McCormick said.
The city has installed two Mutt Mitt stations in the park, so you can stuff a couple of bags in your pocket on your way in and always be ready for dooty duty.
Disposing of your dog's deposits is not only polite, it's also the law. In a tough economy, do you really want a ticket for uncollected poop that could cost you up to $250?
Separate by size
The park features a separate area especially for pocket-sized pooches. Mara said the dog park is one place where segregation is probably a good thing.
"Bigger dogs don't realize they could squash the little dogs," she said. "And little dogs often have a Napoleon complex and think they are 10 feet tall."
Dog trainer Katie Halsted, owner of Six Wags Dog Park in Salem, said if your small dog is having a dispute with another pooch of any size, you want your little guy to walk away.
"Don't pick up a little dog," she said. "That will only make the other dogs jump all over you."
Who let the dogs out?
You always want to be aware of the other dogs, especially when entering and leaving.
The park has a double-gate system that should prevent dogs from dodging out toward the street. If you see an unleashed dog at the outer gate, don't open it until the animal is properly leashed.
"Be conscientious of the gate," McCormick said. "Don't take your dog off leash until you get through the second gate."
Keep young pups at home
It's only natural to want to take a puppy bursting with playful energy out to a park where the little guy can play until he drops. And Mara said that playing with other dogs is a great way for pups to master important social skills.
However, she said, puppies younger than 4 months have not had all their vaccinations and veterinarians suggest they wait until their immunizations are complete. For their health and safety, puppies should wait until their final vaccinations before having play dates in the park.
Keep it moving
The behavior and the mood of the owners will influence the dogs. While you are in the park, don't just stand around, Halsted said.
Walking at a leisurely pace will encourage your dog to run and play. Stationary people can heighten the anxiety level and create protective, territorial dogs.
"A clump of people in an elevator feel uncomfortable," Halsted said. "No different with dogs. They get nervous standing around in a small space."
Rough and tumble
Most dogs will love playing and making new friends at the dog park. But most pet parents' biggest fear is that their dog may get into a scuffle with another park guest.
Halsted said first-time visitors may want to check out the park initially without their dog so they will know what to expect.
"Dog play is rough," Halsted said. But what can look like a fight to uninitiated pet parents, she said, may be just a friendly tussle to the pooches.
Halsted said owners need to watch their dogs' body language, be willing to step in, and remain calm.
She said to pay attention to how your dog greets other pooches. Notice if your dog becomes rigid or tense around another dog. Quick growls and snaps are perfectly normal ways dogs let one another know to back off, but excessive snarling may be a sign of trouble.
Scratches and nips happen while dogs play; it's gone too far if one dog latches on to another dog. If tension escalates, Halsted said, you need to calmly end the encounter.
"Don't freak out and don't grab collars," she said. "Grab legs or tails, separate the dogs. And everyone needs to walk away."
If your pooch hasn't played with other dogs since he left his littermates, he may need time to adjust to running with the pack.
"If they are not used to being around other dogs, their dog language is off," Halsted said. It could take several visits to a dog park for your pooch to remember how to communicate the canine way.
For highly unsocialized dogs, the park may not be an ideal situation.
"You've got to know your dog and be a responsible pet owner," McCormick said. "If you know your dog doesn't do well in social settings, don't stress them out by bringing them to the park."
