May 15, 2015

5 Reasons Why you should go to the Dog Park { for dog parents }

The other night, as Gunner and I made our daily trip to the dog park, I had a thought.

Thank God for the Dog Park.



There are so many reasons WHY I love the dog park, or the "bark park" as we call it.  Going to the park has benefited us so greatly and has become so ingrained in our lives that I felt the need to share. I also felt the need to explain why we go, and why you and your pup should go too!

I encourage you to get online and find your nearest off-leash dog park. Luckily these days many cities have multiple parks and even beach dog parks  (like you Lauren!) available for "off-leash" time with your best friend. So do a little research and find one that will work for you. Because after reading this you will want to go!

You should go to the Dog Park...

To exercise your dog. The most obvious reason right? We all benefit from activity as part of a healthy lifestyle and our dogs are no different.  They need to run and play and get all that cooped up energy out. My dog is home alone all day while I'm at work - he needs lots of physical stimulation after snoozing all day in order for him to sleep at night and to maintain his sleek figure. Plus, it makes him really, ridiculously happy. So much so that as soon as I walk in the door he's spinning circles with excitement because he knows what comes next - dog park time!

To get out of the house. This might seem like a strange one, but to me there's something comforting about a destination that isn't going to cost me anything, isn't stressful or obligatory, and that I enjoy. I don't do well staying at home. I crave an activity and a destination. The dog park lends itself well. There are no hours, no fees, no expectations (other than cleaning up after your friend) and I can get out of the house and go do something. It's better than just sitting on the couch - or worse, cleaning the house. If anything it's a great procrastination tactic.

"Stop stalling to take pictures mom we're going to the PARK!"

To socialize your dog. It has always been important to us to socialize Gunner from a young age. We didn't want him to be a nuisance to others if we brought him places and we wanted him to get along with all other kinds of dogs. We've had him at Home Depot, a bar, friends' houses, and of course the dog park. It is a great place to expose your pup to other dogs in a non-threatening environment. Off leash is best so that they don't feel restricted and scared. While I can't claim Gunner is the perfect social butterfly (he's too ball obsessed/possessive) I do know he would be a lot worse off if we hadn't socialized him starting right after we finished his puppy shots. The more we socialize him with other dogs the more open he is to them - like some of his "friends" he sees every day at the park. They can have the ball....just not the new kids on the block.


To socialize yourself. I know what you are thinking - I talk to people all day long, why do I want to go talk more at the dog park? Well for me, in the evenings, usually the only person I talk to is Gunner. While he's a great listener, it isn't exactly as rewarding as talking to another person. In fact, the social aspect is probably my favorite part of the dog park (aside from how much Gunner loves going). I see the same people there almost every day. I see my "dog park crew" more than I see most of my friends. We exchange Christmas cards. We are a support system for dog questions and issues. And really, we are friends. I expect to see those smiling faces and their furry counterparts every day the same way I expect to see my co-workers. These guys love their dogs enough to come every day, the same as I do. They are my people....

Where else could Gunner show off his Halloween costume to all his friends?

To be a part of a community. This goes along with the above reason. The park has become my community. We all take turns bringing water, filling the bag station, and beautifying the park. There's even talk of raising funds for a water fountain! I know it seems silly, but I feel more connected to my neighborhood and my city by actively visiting the dog parks. I learn about things going on from my "crew," I see the facilities and changes that go on, and I meet people I wouldn't otherwise meet. That is what is great about being a part of something - even if it's just the dog park!



What do you think? Will you and your dog be sniffing out your local park soon? With nicer weather here now is the time!

Oh and if all that did sway you. Watch THIS (for your laugh quotient of the day)


Happy Friday!


TTFN,
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14 comments:

  1. YES! to the last three. I lived across the street from an dog park until two weeks ago and used to go daily. Now I exercise her tons but there's always a different type of exhaustion after I take her to a dog park now. They need that social time and not just exercise time.

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  2. YES! to the last three. I lived across the street from an dog park until two weeks ago and used to go daily. Now I exercise her tons but there's always a different type of exhaustion after I take her to a dog park now. They need that social time and not just exercise time.

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  3. So true! When we were living in Maryland we had a dog park 5 minutes away and it was the greatest! Kacee loved it and I loved it (I was home alone all day long... I needed some interaction with other human beings) Since moving back to utah my husband and I have been dying for a dog park, there are literally zero within 45 minutes from us :( We keep advocating for one and hopefully someday we will get it!

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  4. I used to love taking Tig and then Ginger to the dog park, but as he has gotten older he doesn't seem to like having other dogs he doesn't know around. He and Ginger are a little pair that just seem to want to hang out with each other. Which is super funny since I would have never met Gabriel (and by extension Ginger and Tank) if Tigger hadn't desperately craved hanging out with other dogs!

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  5. All of these reasons are so true!!! I wish there was a dog park close to our house to take my dogs. I know they would have a blast!

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  6. YES! I wish we could go to the dog park, but for some reason my typically mild-tempered Boston Terrier turns into a terrorist when we go to the park. She wants to eat every dog she meets there. So strange.

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  7. I totally had something clever to say, then I read Jaelan's comment + started laughing so hard that I forgot. ANYWAYS we, allegedly, have a dog park somewhere in the city where you can have puppies + also order beers. we haven't found it yet, so we typically just decide where we're going to walk for dinner based on whether or not Bears are allowed (it's really fun to ask people that who don't know that the dog's name is Little Bear...)

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    1. My dog's name is Bear too! I'm going to ask that one day and see what they say haha. But, then again, we don't really have bears in Houston.

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  8. We take Bear and Zoey every other week or so, but it’s definitely something I want to do more often! Zoey used to be really afraid of going to the park, but she has warmed up to it now. She still gets scared when dogs or humans approach her, but she loves to swim and fetch sticks. Bear loves approaching other dogs and people, and sometimes I have to keep an eye on him because he’ll walk away with other families! I found out he has a love for poodles. But Bear loves to play catch. He never stops. The only downsides to the dog park – 1) we always leave with dogs that smell like dead fish and 2) sometimes Bear gets an upset stomach. I guess he picks up some bacteria.

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  9. I'm not sure how I'm JUST now seeing this but I love it! If I don't take my two mad men dogs a few times a week they would drive me insane!

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  10. No lie, I read this just for pictures of Gunner. I don't really have a dog park close, so when I have a dog, it's all about that fenced in yard. Plus, we always have adopted older dogs that didn't want to play, so I'm sure I'll follow suit. They look at me like, "You're going to pick up that toy you threw 5 feet and bring it to me, right??"

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  11. Awwwwwwwww SOOO ADORABLE <3 <3 I agree with Angelica a little bit, so sorry. My poor little puppy is back home with the family in the States (I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM IN 6 months!!!!) and they live in the country so tons of run around space. But Gunner is super dee duper adorable. xx

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  12. I so wish my town had an off leash dog park :( The next closest town, 20 minutes away, is fundraising to create one and as soon as its ready I'll be taking Krickit all the time. She has sooo much energy and needs to burn it off. Luckily we have a valley basically in our backyard where she can go run right now but I always worry about her taking off since there are coyotes and other scary things down there

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  13. I so wish my town had an off leash dog park :( The next closest town, 20 minutes away, is fundraising to create one and as soon as its ready I'll be taking Krickit all the time. She has sooo much energy and needs to burn it off. Luckily we have a valley basically in our backyard where she can go run right now but I always worry about her taking off since there are coyotes and other scary things down there

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