CWE Dog Parks - St. Louis, Missouri

When dogs play, they don't play dress up or build with blocks. When they play, they play fight and play dominance games so it can be a challenge to tell when that play has gone too far and you should step in. To help you differentiate what play behavior is acceptable and what is likely to lead to problems, here are some helpful tips:

1) Rude Behavior: Just like people, dogs have behaviors that are considered rude and will often lead to trouble when offensive behavior is not tolerated well by the other dog(s). Examples of rude behavior include: mounting, trying to play when a dog is drinking water, excessive licking of the face, and cornering a dog at the gate when it first comes in. If your dog is doing any of these things, it is up to you to make them stop. If they will obey a verbal command, great. If not, you need to physically remove your dog from that situation.

2) Warning Signs of a Dog Fight While fights might seem to come out of nowhere, there are usually warning sings if you know what to look for: Stiff front legs, turning very quickly to not let other dogs sniff them, prolonged eye contact, baring teeth, and raised hackles are the big ones. If you see your dog exhibiting any of these tendencies, it is imperative that you immediately get the dog's attention and discipline for the undesired behavior and redirect it elsewhere. If the behavior persists it is best to take a break from the park that day and go on a walk instead that day.

3) Group Dynamics As the saying goes for people, two's company, three's a crowd. This is true for dog play as well. If more than two dogs are wrestling or chasing one dog, it's far more likely to escalate into an overly aggressive situation. Often times, multiple dogs will gang up on one dog. While it is natural dog behavior to gang up on a dog, a group situation can often turn dangerous. It is best for all dogs and humans to break up groups before this type of behavior becomes destructive. Owners should also stop their dog from barking at other dogs that are playing.

4) Know Your Dog You know your dog better than most people, so use that knowledge and respond accordingly. If your dog doesn't get along with a certain personality type, try to avoid coming to the park at the same time as that personality type and watch things more carefully when it can't be avoided. Set up play times to meet with dogs that your dog plays well with. Also be aware that many dogs behave very differently on a leash than they do off the leash, so please be careful of that as you enter and exit the park.