First time at the dog park? How to safely socialize your dog?

Question

Do you have any advice on how to correctly socialise my poochie at a dog park? What should I do and what I shouldn't do? Please help me because I have horrible anxiety and I don't want to make a mistake before going to the doggy park this Saturday. Thanks a lot! Pet's info: Dog | Maltese | Female | unspayed | 3 years and 9 months old | 4 lbs

Jessica Desrosiers · Accepted Answer

The dog park can be a scary experience at first, and if Bella is under socialized may be a bit overwhelming. Many dog parks do have small dog only areas which may be less stressful for Bella as she is a smaller breed. You can start by simply walking around the park (but not entering it if fenced) just to get Bella used to the sights and smells and other dogs around. If she seems calm or excited, you can then enter the park. Often times dogs will be greeted at once by several others, which may be a little overwhelming, so encouraging Bella to walk around and keep moving can help keep the pile off of her. If she becomes too stressed out, nervous, or begins to snap or growl, leaving the park is best to avoid a fight or more stress. Some dogs really like the park, while others don't have as much fun, so don't feel bad if she doesn't enjoy being there. There are many other things you can do such as long walks, games of fetch, and visiting locations together to encourage acitvity and mental stimulation with less stress.

First time at the dog park? How to safely socialize your dog?

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