›› Just because you are surrounded by animals doesn’t mean you should act like one. Even in a place as laid back as a dog park, there’s a certain level of civilized behavior required. So if you don’t want your dog park visit to turn into a canine battle royale — or leave you with a little something to scrape off your shoe — good manners are in order.
Here are five tips for good dog park etiquette:
Clean up the poo
The number-one complaint at the dog park is all of the number two. Signs everywhere nicely ask owners to clean up after their pooch. The city has even posted dozens of stands filled with poop bags around the park. Still, some dog owners get so wrapped up in conversation with other dog owners that they miss Pookie leaving a present for an unwary shoe. Worse still are those few awful dog owners who see their hound do the deed and opt not to do the right thing. There’s probably no helping those jerks, but the rest of us can try to be better. And while there should be plenty of bags to use, it can’t hurt to bring a few from home, just to be safe. If you forget, ask another owner. Your commitment to doodie duty will be appreciated.
Make sure your dog can handle it
Some pooches just aren’t ready for prime time. If your dog doesn’t know the basics — especially come, stay, and sit — he shouldn’t be off his leash. Michael Bonham, a park ranger for the city of Aurora, said owners need to have command of their dog before they visit a dog park. Few things are as annoying to other dog owners as an out-of-control pooch. And if you happen to be the owner of a dog that doesn’t respond to your call, you’ll probably find yourself chasing after him to get the leash back on. “Just because it’s there doesn’t mean that every dog is suitable to being in an off-leash setting,” Bonham said. Also, city rules say any dog that visits the park must be at least four months old, so leave the puppy at home.
Share the toys
That sprint your dog makes after the tennis ball is a sure-fire way to tucker him out for the rest of the day. It’s one of the best parts of visiting the dog park — knowing a lengthy ball-toss session will leave Fido exhausted, content and well-behaved when you get home. But if you bring a ball to throw, or any other toy, be prepared to share with the rest of the dogs at the park. You can’t get mad at other dogs — or owners — if some strange dog scoops up your tennis ball or toys and bolts for his owner. It’s like kindergarten — don’t bring a toy if you aren’t prepared to share.
Don’t eat
This really should be a no-brainer, but unfortunately, it isn’t. Some people actually think the dog park is a decent place for a picnic, so they bring some tasty snacks to munch on while their dog scampers about. Aside from the unsavory nature of eating while surrounded by dogs, it’s just a bad idea. While your dog might be perfectly behaved around human food, other dogs might not. And the combination of tempting food and other dogs can trigger some aggressive behavior.
Vaccinate
Butt sniffing and slobber swapping are the death and taxes of dog parks. So, before you open that gate and unsnap the leash, make sure your dog is up-to-date on all vaccines. Otherwise, you can count on your best friend coming home with any number of ailments courtesy of that oh-so-friendly retriever sharing the water dish. Bonham said a good rule of thumb is to make sure your dog has all the medicinal preventions that a reputable kennel would require. That means rabies, bordetella and distemper, at least.
Bark Parks
Aurora Off Leash Dog Park 17500 E. Quincy Ave., Aurora. Water, picnic tables, poop bags, no shade, fenced, separate area for small dogs. 5 acres. No Cost
Bicentennial Park Off Leash Dog Park 13655 E. Alameda Parkway, Aurora. No water, poop bags, trash can, fenced, 1 acre. No Cost
Cherry Creek State Off Leash Dog Park 4201 S. Parker Road, Aurora. No poop bags, shade, not fenced, grass, trails, streams, 125 acres. $9/daily park fee; $2/daily dog park fee. $20 annual dog park pass; $70 annual state park pass
Green Valley Ranch Off Leash Dog Park 4501 Jebel St., Denver. Natural barriers, not fenced, no poop bags, trash cans, 2 acres. No Cost
Stapleton Off Leash Dog Park 2005 Spruce St., Denver. Fenced, shade, water, no poop bags, benches, trash can, 4 acres. No cost
David A. Lorenz Regional Bark Park 4700 E. County Line Road, Centennial. Off leash, fenced, benches, water, poop bags, 4 acres. No Cost
Berkeley Off Leash Dog Park 4801 W. 46th Ave., Denver. Fenced, water, no poop bags, trash can, trees, 2 acres. No Cost
Fuller Off Leash Dog Park 1600 E. 29th Ave., Denver. Fenced, trash can, no water, no shade, no poop bags, 1 acre. No Cost
Jason Street Off Leash Dog Park 678 S. Jason Street, Denver, CO. Fenced, no shade, no water, no poop bags, no trash bin, 2 acres. No cost
Kennedy Off Leash Dog Park E. Hampden and S. Dayton St., Denver. Fenced, Trees, benches, poop bags, no trash bin, no water, 3 acres. No Cost
Lowry Off Leash Dog Park Sports Blvd near Yosemite Way, Denver. Fenced, poop bags, benches, trash bin, no water, no shade, 4 acres. No Cost
Railyard Off Leash Dog Park 1610 Little Raven St., Denver. Fenced, trees, poop bags, water, trash bin, benches, less than 1 acre. No Cost