How many times have you called out to someone in the park “Don’t worry, he is friendly!” while the other owner is trying to keep your dog away?

How much control do you have over your dog?
Can you get your dog to stop in mid-flight and sit or lie down?
Can you get your dog to run past another dog and tell your dog to ignore it?

This is what every owner should be able to do with his or her dog.  This is what the words ‘under control’ mean in all the Council literature.

Always clean up your dog’s poop in the dog park.

Things that you should take with you into the dog park are a poop bag, a leash and water.  If you take treats keep them well hidden from other dogs.

Make sure your dog is not playing or loitering around the entrance or exit to the dog park.  Dogs and owners should be allowed to enter and exit without being swamped by boisterous dogs.

If you see a dog on a leash this tells you that:

• the dog is maybe fearful and is being introduced into the park slowly
• the owner is just not too sure of this dog park and is checking things out with his/her dog on a lead to start with
• or any other number of reasons

Whatever the reason make sure your dog never ventures near this dog unless the owner agrees

Stay connected to your dog, call him back occasionally for a pat or a hug.  Be prepared to stop any inappropriate play.