The Ins and Outs of Dog Parks

Recently, I've began visiting the dog park with Mason. I figured it would be a good way for him to get some socialization and exercise at the same time. Plus, bringing their dogs to the park creates social oppurtunities for people. Some people are completely against the idea. They say that normally calm and friendly dogs can start fights when put in a large group, and some owners will say that their dog is nice and plays well with others when nothing can be farther from the truth. So, these people feel that it's much safer to keep their dogs far away from those types of settings. However, there is another group of people, which I happen to agree with, that feels that bringing dogs to the park is fine as long as you are responsible, and as long as all the dogs are being closely supervised. This way, if a fight were to break out, you could break it up before anything serious happened. Here is a list of things that will make the park more enjoyable for both you and your dog.
1. Make sure your dog responds to his or her name. This way, if there is an altercation between others in the area, you can get him or her to come to you before he or she gets involved and possibly injurred.
2. Don't bring any toys with you. For one thing, some dogs can become protective over them, and it's allways good to prevent a fight. For another, you probably wont get them back. So, it's better to just leave them at home.
3. Pick up after your dog. Noone wants to step in or have to clean up after your dog. For a blind person, this could be difficult, which is why I allways have someone with me.
4. Watch your dog, and pay attention to what is going on around you. This way, you can prevent a possible fight between your dog and others at the park.
5. If your dog has any issue with other dogs, leave him or her at home. It makes things a lot easier on you and everyone else.
6. Make sure your dog has all its shots. Even with the best intentions, having a large group of dogs together can spread disease if your dog isn't fully vacsinated.
If all of the tips above are followed, then the park can be enjoyable for both you and your dog.