If you have a dog park nearby you are one lucky owner! There’s no better place to watch your dog have an awesome time getting some exercise and meeting heaps of new friends. In just 30 minutes they’ll be so exhausted it will have been one of the best days.
As there can be lots of different personalities and types of dogs its recommended to wait until six to nine months old before taking your dog for the first time. Puppies can be a bit too playful initially and can’t read older dogs social cues until they reach this age.
Before you head there for the first time it can be a bit daunting. We’re right here with you to let you know the ins and outs of how to prepare and what commands you should practice with your dog to make everything go smoothly!
The Best Commands to Practice
The best place to practice new dog commands is around the yard or in the house right before lunch or dinner where there are minimal distractions around. Using snacks is the perfect reward to let them know they have done well. The first two commands which you will use all the time and are important to master before the dog park are Sit and Stay.The Sit command can be a tough one to teach initially as its usually the first one your dog will learn making it a good challenge. Remember the trick is to keep snacks nearby to reinforce the behaviour so your dog knows they have done well. When you are feeding them ask them to sit before a meal (make sure they stay sitting unless you are finished) and then practice the command more often throughout the day until they become proficient.
Once things are going well progress to trying the command during a walk around the block ensuring you praise them for every correct response, especially when other dogs are nearby which is the easiest time for your dog to get distracted and excited.
The next most important command to master is Wait. This usually follows on for sit and the best way to introduce it is making sure they first sit before their meal and then using the command to wait until you have finished preparing everything which also teaches them patience. Once they are familiar with the command try it during a walk by getting them to pause at each street corner before you cross by taking any slack out of the lead. When you allow the lead to go slack again they know they are able to start walking again. Keep practising it in busier environments where there are more distractions to prepare for what it can be like at a busy dog park. Using these Sit and Wait commands will make your dog much more obedient and easier to control when other dogs are around, especially if the other dog isn’t trained.
Lastly and most importantly to learn is the Here command. Now this word can be whatever you need it to be to call your dog back to you. My personal preference is using the dogs name as then they won’t go towards other owners as they call their dogs. The most important use for this command is in case two dogs start play fighting and you want to call yours back. The best way to start off is using this word when your dog is also heading towards you so they get used to it. Then progress to using it when they are walking to other way, remember to use snacks initially to reinforce any good behaviour.
On your first trip to the dog park try and go when its quiet so there aren’t many distractions while you practice your new commands. Slowly go during busier times so practice them while more dog friends are around as distractions using snacks initially. Eventually you will work up to the point where you wont even need snacks! Your dog will come to love the freedom and exercise, if you need any grooming products for when you get back home we have the perfect pack designed for new dog owners.
Thats it, good luck and remember practice makes perfect. Enjoy the Dog Park!