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Home
> Out of the Cage! > March/April
2006 > Behavior & Training: Dog Run Etiquette
Behavior & Training
Dog Run Etiquette
by Sharon Mear, Trainer and Behaviorist, Training
Cats and Dogs
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Good etiquette at the dog run
helps ensure dogs and their people enjoy their visit. |
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Dog runs are the playgrounds for our canine companions
— places both for socialization and exercise. But like any
playground there must be rules and regulations in order to maintain
a safe environment.
Following are some suggestions to help you, your
dog, and your fellow dog run users have a safe and enjoyable experience
at the dog run:
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Unleash
your dog within the safety gates, before releasing your dog
into the run. A leashed dog can excite problem
dogs into aggression. Dogs can also be more aggressive when
leashed because they feel a loss of control. |
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Do not use
prong and spiked collars or choke chains in the run.
The ring ends can become caught on other objects as well as
other dogs' collars. Let your dog wear his/her regular collar
with ID and license while in the run. |
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Do not bring
rawhides and toys to the run. Some dogs are
so crazy about rawhides and toys (especially squeaky toys)
that they will fight over them. |
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Always keep
an eye on your dog. Make sure your dog is
always within your view and under control. Be especially aware
of your dog when children are near. |
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Remain conscious
of the environment. Using headphones in the
run, for example, is not a good idea. |
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Do not bring
aggressive dogs to the run. At the first sign
of aggression from your dog, remove him/her from the run.
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Be aware
of dogs entering the run. If a dog comes in
that appears aggressive, you might consider leaving, especially
if you have a small dog or a dog who is not good at defending
him/herself. |
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Do not let
your dog harass other dogs. If your dog consistently
harasses other dogs or people by intimidating, mounting, or
annoying them, correct that behavior immediately or take your
dog out of the run. |
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If your dog
is in heat, do not bring her to the dog run. (Yet
one more good reason to spay your dog!) Male dogs can sense
females in heat through pheromones. These are airborne chemical
attractants that are liberated from the female when she is
cycling. They travel through the air for great distances. |
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If your dog
is sick, do not bring him/her to the run. It's
not fair to the other dogs to expose them to your dog's illness.
Shared water bowls pose a particular threat of transmission
of some illnesses. |
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Do not allow
your dog to bark incessantly. Some barking
is fine, expected, and normal. However, incessant barking
can be annoying to those around you. Find creative ways to
discourage barking by changing your dog's focus towards something
more fun, like a game of chase or other interaction with you.
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Always clean
up after your dog. As when walking your dog
on the street or in a park, carry poop bags or paper towels
with you at all times — and use them! |
For more dog run tips: Lynn Pacifico, President
of the Dog Owners Action Committee (lynnpax@earthlink.net)
and Sharon Mear, Behaviorist and Trainer of Training Cats and Dogs
(www.trainingcatsandogs.com)
are providing a poster filled with tips, in a format for downloading.
If you would like to post one in your dog run, please go to www.NYCdog.org.
(At this printing, the NYCDog.com site is currently being updated.
Please check back later.)
 Sharon
Mear, behavior counselor, trainer, and owner of New York-based
Training
Cats and Dogs, provides training and behavioral counseling for
dogs and cats and the people who love them. Sharon is a regular
participant and counselor at the "Ask the Trainer" table
at Mayor's Alliance/Maddie's Pet Adoption Festivals. One of her
own adopted felines, Mr. "Cheeks" Gillespie, chose Sharon
as his own after observing her for years from a perch outside her
bedroom window! Sharon was featured in the October
2004 issue of Out of the Cage!
If you have a behavior or training
question or topic you'd like to see addressed in this newsletter,
please e-mail it to us at info@AnimalAllianceNYC.org.
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