Dog Park: A dog park is simply a fenced area that people can
bring their (well-behaved) dogs to so they can have a little off-leash time to run around and visit
with other dogs and people. Many dog parks are part of the public park system, funded by taxpayer
dollars and usually with no screening or oversight. Other dog parks, such as this one, are privately
owned and supported by user fees and usually there is screening to help ensure that only healthy,
non-aggressive dogs use the park. Peppy Paws Pooch Park does both to try and make your dog-park
experience an especially happy one.
After a visit to a dog park, people normally find that their pup
is calmer and has less propensity towards destructive habits. Most of the behavior issues with
dogs stem from a lack of exercise ~both physical and mental~ and happy interaction with other
dogs and people. Without sufficient exercise, many dogs "get ants in their pants" and the pent up
energy manifests itself in chewed up household items (dogs beyond the puppy chewing stage) and
other undesireable and sometimes very odd behavior.
Without practice in social situations with other dogs and people, dogs
can sometimes react poorly, often because they are somewhat fearful in the new situation. However, it is
important to ensure that your dog's new experiences are pleasant. If the experiences are bad, they merely
serve to reinforce the dog's fears, and the dog becomes that much more difficult to socialize. That's why
we try to screen out dogs who aren't balanced and who are likely to cause problems at the park; so that
your dog is able to relax and have a good time playing and exploring and exercising. As they gain
positive experience, they become more adept at coping with new situations and dogs, reacting in ways
that diffuse situations rather than escalate them. Of course, the extra experience that you gain in
being around other dogs and seeing how they interact helps you, as the owner, to better understand
the situation and act accordingly.
Of course, most (all) dogs can get carried away depending on the
situation, so we ask the owners to be a leader for their dog and keep a close watch on the activities,
monitoring new dog greetings, stopping inappropriate behavior, and intervening periodically as needed
to keep things on an even keel. In that way, the park remains a happy place for all!
