Professional Dog Trainer says Keep Puppies Away from Dog Parks

Dog parks seem like a great idea, but they’re actually not. They’re standard amenities in developing city and urban neighborhoods across the U.S. but canine behavior experts aren’t so sure they’re the best thing for dogs. Nik Hof is a certified professional dog trainer and says that people get the term “socializing” wrong when talking about dogs. He says it’s really about “the process of exposing young puppies under 20 weeks to new experiences” and is not just dogs interacting with other dogs. He adds that a dog park is “not a safe place to socialize a puppy under six to 12 months old,” and that it’s better to attend puppy classes so they get to meet age-appropriate playmates. The other thing is you have to trust that every other dog owner in the park is monitoring their dog, and is a good judge about whether their dog should be in the park or not– which is a lot of trust to put in a stranger. Just beware, because the bad behaviors of other dogs can rub off on yours, and fights and scuffles can start between dogs easily. Other concerns: dog parks can be germy, and dogs can get injured in dog parks due to fighting or other issues. The experts say that ultimately, your dog wants to spend time with you, so spend your time in a meaningful way. Here’s the complete story from the NY TIMES.