www.petloverscompanion.com • 703.780.4400 17 to walk away in situations that make them uncomfortable. If they are not able to move away effectively, it can cause altercations between dogs. Behavior: Pay attention to the environment in the park before you take your dog inside. Be aware of other dogs behaving inappropriately or strangely. If you notice anything that seems like it could be a problem, it might be best to avoid the situation, or at least be extra aware while you are there. Also, if your dog’s behavior changes and they are displaying fearful, agitated, or even aggressive behaviors, it might be best to leave the dog park. Security: You want to make sure that all fences are secure and maintained. Also, be sure that all gates are double gated to reduce the chance of any dogs escaping. Small dog areas: If your dog is under 20 lbs. it would be wise to find a park that has a separate small dog area. If your small pup enjoys playing with bigger dogs, that’s great! However, not all big dogs do well with little ones. Keep in mind that some dogs and breeds have a tendency for pray drive. It would be a good idea to visually survey the park for potential issues and ask owners if their dogs will be okay with your little guy present. Not all dog parks are going to meet the needs for every dog or dog owner. If you frequent one specific dog park, and consistently run into problems, it might be time for a change in routine. If you have easy access to multiple dog parks, try out a few of them at different times of the day to find the best one for your dog. It is important that we listen to our dogs. Just because a dog park seems great to us as humans doesn’t mean your dog is always going to feel the same. When you find the right one, you will know it. Agility Tools by Windryder featuring Agility-in-a-bag www.agilitytools.com (540) 545-8851 agilitytools@aol.com Animal Portrait Artist BETS capture your wonderful pet on canvas oil and acrylic starting at $275.00 ���������������������������� 301-908-8317
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