Or should I ask that of their owners?  It was almost two months ago to the day that me, my dog, Autumn, and my little girl first visited the PAW Park in Oklahoma City.  We’ve been making a stop there part of our routine this summer.  We absolutely love the time we spend there.

It didn’t take me long, though, to realize that with so many of us sharing the same space following some basic rules would be necessary.  Paw Park’s web site lists a set of fair regulations to follow but I would like to emphasize a few of them that I haven’t seen being followed.  I’m not a big rule person, so this is very hard for me to admit.  But, without some simple rules of etiquette, such an enjoyable place could quickly become a nightmare.  I don’t want to see that happen. 

Here are a few things that I’ve observed:

1.  If you bring your dog to the park and he/she regularly becomes aggressive with the other dogs, it is time for you and your pet to leave.  It only takes one aggressive dog (or aggressive owner) to ruin a good evening at the park.  If it appears your dog seeks out conflict they may not ready for the park environment just yet.

2.  When your dog leaves waste in the park, please remove it with a bag and put it in the waste basket provided.  I try to bring an extra bag with me and remove an additional dog’s waste that was left behind by another owner in order to keep the park looking clean. 

3.  Let your dog run, but keep your kids close.  Too often, I have seen young children (alright, mine included) running around the dog park with little supervision.  They’ve been knocked over or trampled by large dogs.  It is not the best environment for children.  I have been leaving my little girl (even though she’s 10) at home and simply finding other time to spend playing with her. 

4.  If your dog has a favorite toy or maybe you recently purchased a nice retrieving dummy, you should leave them at home.  Often times, dogs will play with other dog’s toys and it takes a durable toy to last more than one or two visits.  Expect that if you bring a toy to the park you may not return with it in one piece. 

5.  Finally, bring your own water for your dog to drink.  Don’t assume there will be working facilities at the park or that someone else will share their water with you.  It is very easy for a dog to overheat and a simple dish and container of water will prevent this from happening. 

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