As a lover of all dogs and an owner of a little dog, I read with horror about Poppy, the 20-month-old yorkipoo who met a violent end in the jaws of a large dog in the off-leash portion of Bonnycastle Park this month.
While I understand that some people believe the take-home message from this tragic story should be the creation of small-dog designated areas, perhaps it’s time we rethink the idea of dog parks altogether.
I think dog parks are dumb, sorry.
I say this even as someone who was extremely charmed by the existence of Wiggly Field, the dog park located near Chicago’s iconic Wrigley Field.
I can practically hear people who have only ever had positive experiences in dog parks firing up their email to all-caps yell at me, but hear me out: I just think the concept of the dog park is inherently flawed. Throwing a bunch of different breeds, ages, sizes, temperaments, play styles and levels of training in an often too-small area where they are expected to behave socially? What could possibly go wrong?
Well, a lot can go wrong, it turns out, as we read with poor Poppy. But you don’t have to look far for horror stories out of dog parks. And, tragically, those stories include the preventable deaths of beloved family members.
I do not take my dog to dog parks. Dog parks are a risk — and they are a risk — I am simply not willing to take with him. They require an amount of trust (of other dogs and their owners) I just don’t have.
Because the truth is, you don’t always know how a dog, sweet baby angel though he or she might be, will behave around other dogs. Some dogs like to assert their dominance over other dogs. Some dogs have a higher prey drive. Some are resource guarders. Some are reactive, or have poor recall. Some, like mine, are just grumpy old men now.
Despite the roll call at the vet sounding more like a kindergarten class these days with all the human names, dogs are, ultimately, animals — a point I think we forget. Our expectations of our dogs’ behaviour can be unreasonable, especially of dogs who have received little or no training.
The success of dog parks hinges on vigilant owners who are willing and ready to take responsibility for their dogs. But some dog owners are inattentive and oblivious. If things go sideways in a dog park — and they can, on a dime — how are they going to intervene if they’re on their phones or socializing with other owners and their dog is off leash metres away?
Some owners also don’t know when to intervene. Not everyone is fluent in the body language of their dog — and, crucially, the body language of others.
And some people are in denial about their dogs’ behaviour. Even on walks, I’ve seen “Don’t worry, he’s friendly!” dogs turn into absolute snap shows.
And then there’s all the communicable dog illnesses.
“Socialization” is often touted as the main reason for bringing a pooch to play with other pooches, but many trainers and vets will tell you the dog park isn’t the optimal place for that. To quote trainer Sassafras Lowrey writing in a New York Times article titled “The Dog Park Is Bad, Actually”: “There is nothing natural, however, about dogs that aren’t familiar with one another to be put in large groups and expected to play together.”
You gotta wonder: who is the dog park actually for?
Dog parks are for people. Whenever people make the argument for the dog park as a social good, their case rests on the fact they are community building … yeah, for people. They are a piece of social infrastructure … sure, for people. They are a third place … again, for people.
“My dog loves the dog park,” you might protest. That may be so. But I think it’s probably you who loves the dog park.
I understand dog ownership is hard if you don’t have a yard. But maybe we need to think about alternatives to free-for-all spaces that put a lot of pressure on the behaviour of people and their pets. Dog parks that have professional moderation, perhaps. Small, trainer-led playgroups for dogs of similar ages and breeds. Play dates with friends whose dogs are familiar with yours.
Or just some good ol’ fashioned walks.
jen.zoratti@winnipegfreepress.com
Jen Zoratti
Columnist
Jen Zoratti is a columnist and feature writer working in the Arts & Life department, as well as the author of the weekly newsletter NEXT. A National Newspaper Award finalist for arts and entertainment writing, Jen is a graduate of the Creative Communications program at RRC Polytech and was a music writer before joining the Free Press in 2013. Read more about Jen.
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