Are Dog Parks a Good Idea for Service Dogs?
It seems like every time I turn around these days, some one is suggesting that I take my service dog, Whistle, to a dog park. As a person who uses a wheelchair, this is a little intimidating to me. I am nervous about letting Whistle off lead around strange dogs that neither he nor I know.
I am curious; do you take your dog on a regular basis to a dog park? How has that worked for you? We have a new dog park in my community and I have been interested in visiting it but again, I am nervous about letting Whistle off leash on terrain that can be difficult for me to navigate in my wheelchair. I am concerned about Whistle’s safety.
How safe are dog parks? I know there are great socialization benefits of going to a dog park but there are definitely risks also. A dog park is not your yard or a controlled training environment.
The jury is still out for me. I’m not sure if I feel comfortable taking Whistle to a dog park although I do think he would really enjoy it. Are dog parks a good idea for service dogs? Would you recommend them or avoid them? And if you don’t go to a dog park, how do you make sure your service dog gets enough exercise?
I guess I’m just really an over protective human partner but when I think about all the training and care that has gone into Whistle to support him as a service dog, I just don’t know if I can take the risk against the benefits.
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9 Responses to “Are Dog Parks a Good Idea for Service Dogs?”
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I have allowd my SD to play with other dogs at a Dog park without any problems. It is his reward for taking such good care of me.
Thanks for your comment Vernon. Can you tell me more about your dog park experiences? Do you let your SD off leash, how long does your day play at the park, etc.? Have you ever had a negative experience with another dog at the park and how did you handle it?
I’m not a service dog handler but I was a volunteer puppy raiser up until recently when I accepted one of my pups back as a career change. Honestly, I think it would depend on the dog park in regards to your mobility and ability to get around in. I know one in our area would be easier to get into in a wheelchair than another and it would certainly be easier in dry weather versus the mud of course. I have three dogs, all of them are special in one way or another. I have a sheltie that likes to herd other dogs so I have to be careful that the dogs that are there aren’t opposed to being herded. My American Eskimo just likes to walk around sniffing and doesn’t care for being bugged by other dogs if she’s “in the zone” and my Golden Retriever had a very serious fear of other dogs as a pup so we have to be careful about the other dogs with him as well as the fear’s turned into a tough guy act when first encountering another dog. We take our dogs, on average, for 30-45 minutes of play at a time. You would probably want your SD to be off leash as a leash would cause more potential problems with the other dogs than you want to deal with. I’ve never had a negative experience with other dogs at the dog park other than dogs picking on my sister’s female golden retriever who is in kidney failure (not that you would know by looking at her!). If your dog is healthy and easy going you should be fine, I would just be ready to leave if a dog you’re not comfortable with is there and be sure to have amazing treats handy for any time he checks in with you! If you do decide to go I’m eager to hear about how it goes for you!
I try to take keeoe to the dog park often as I see it as a reward for all he does for me. We usually stay around 2hrs or so and I have never had any negative experiences. Keetoe is also vacinated for the dog influenca which is advisable when your partner is around other dogs. I allow him to rip and run with the other dogs free from his harness
I don’t take my dog to the local dog park because it smells bad (lots of people don’t scoop their dog’s poop), but I’ve taken him to other dog parks in other states that are better maintained. We travel a lot. I don’t take him alone when we are out of town and going to other dog parks. We always go with a co-worker or friend (or sometimes, hire someone to accompany us) so if something happens, I’ve got someone who can help. So far, nothing has happened..
I also work where they let me let him run free during lunch and breaks, and he has 30 acres of land pretty much to himself so he doesn’t need a dog park for runs as much as other service dogs would.
My son has a service dog. When he was very young, we took our dog to a dog park.
The other dogs intimidated our dog and our dog was scared.
I used to have a phone number that was nearly the same as a veterinarians phone number.
One guy called me and said, “my dog was at a dog park and a dog bit my dog in the face”.
He said his dogs face was bleeding all over the place.
I told him I was not a vet and that he had a wrong number.
Quite a few people called me with problems. After hearing these things, I no longer took my dog to a dog park.
Some dog parks are dirty and some have water dishes for dogs. You should never allow your dog to drink from these dishes. They can carry disease.
I have had people tell me that there dog is friendly; then a minute later, their dog is growling, etc.
I wouldn’t risk the danger of a service dog getting injured from other dogs.
I’m what you call a seasoned service dog user, Milo is my fifth dog. We have traveled all over America. I understand the reluctance some service dog users express about taking service dogs to off leash dog parks. Believe me, it’s worth every effort you make! It is so much easier to work with your service dog when he had some time to romp around and socialize, remember, when they were puppies they were being socialized around other strange dogs without any problem. I see so many older service dogs that look so sad and lonely, some even develop a mild case of dog aggression because they have not been socialized around other dogs. There are many parks that are now accessible for wheelchair users, some have walkways all around and we even have one where you can “walk” around for hrs.it’s all fenced in. It’s great for recall training or teaching your dog to go only a certain distance before coming back. Look guys, take it from a seasoned user, I have done it both ways and I would never do without again. Take a human friend for the first few times, you’ll have a lot of fun and make some great friends in the process.
Marcie, It depends on the dog park and your dog. Morgan has visited many dog parks in Washington state and Portland, OR and here in New Mexico. My new service dog, Austin is from Support Dogs of St. Louis . This organization retains ownership of the dog , and advises you to NOT take your service dog to a dog park. Austin is not Morgan. I exercise them by taking them both to the dog “court” in Park Plazas. It’s an old enclosed tennis court, where they can socialize with other dogs and chase tennis balls and each other, though Austin is a teenager and Morgan the old gramps. I also take them one at a time on the big loop in Park Plazas in my power chair. I call this my daily power walk. I think you are wise in asking this question. One dog park in Santa Fe is not accessible, and dirty . The newer one out by the Humane Society is accessible as long as there is no mud. I have taken Morgan there to meet with a friend. If you do decide to take Whistle take a friend along just to be safe. Myy long winded thoughts…
Thanks for your comment Vernon. Can you tell me more about your dog park experiences? Do you let your SD off leash, how long does your day play at the park, etc.? Have you ever had a negative experience with another dog at the park and how did you handle it?