Customer Reviews

Visiting the Dog Park: Having Fun, Staying Safe

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you finally have a dog park coming near you and you want to
take your dog(s) to the park for some off leash fun, get this
book to prepare beforehand. Cheryl covers what to look for in a
good dog park - rules, park etiquette (yours and your dog),
openings, landscaping and clean-up.

Cheryl also covers different personality types in dogs and
which dog may want to stay home rather than go to the park.

There's also a very cool section of scenarios to see if you can
tell what is going on in different dog interactions. Don't
worry if you don't get them all right, it takes practice
reading dog body language.

There's a whole chapter that acts as a checklist for those who
enjoy making sure they have all the details to prepare for a
good experience with their dog. What to wear - you and your
dog. How to arrive and enter as well as exit the park. What to
do while in the park.

Cheryl also covers health issues that may come up from visiting
a dog park. The various illnesses that can come from shared
water bowls, airborne illnesses, and poop-borne illnesses.
These aren't meant to scare you from going!

The last chapter has suggested resources for training behaviors
as well as how to learn canine body language. There is a lot of
resources for dog park rules, how to find one, and how to get
one setup in your area.

When I got this book, I wasn't expecting much - - still, I wanted to see what it had to say, because for me, a trip to the dog park can be just as fun as stressful. - - I have a very small poodle, and always worry about his safety. - - Within moments of getting it, I have to say, I realized that I picked a good book... especially when I got to the chapter that includes training tips to prepare your dog for a trip to the dog park. (- - I've put a lot of time and effort into training my dog, but the book presents some really useful ideas I had never thought of myself...) As an added bonus, the book is full of ideas that simply don't seem to be "floating around the net" (This is a shortcoming of buying books these days... I hate it when I buy a book and find out I could have gotten the same information off of WIKIPEDIA!)

Well written, the book is substantive, yet short of "fluff" and has an excellent further reading session. I also like the layout of the book - - its very straightforward and well done... not a lot of goofy graphics, fillers and "white space" - - you open the book, you read the 127 pages comfortably ... and if you've got a highlight pen, can walk away with lot's and lot's of stuff to think about as you get ready for your next trip.

Topics include: suggestions of who should and shouldn't use a dog park; dog park design and safety, rules and etiquette; training issues; understanding canine temperament body language; conflict resolution and health issues. All in all, as a person who likes dog parks, I really feel that the book lives up to the claims on the back cover which promises ways of having fun and staying safe at a dog park... and offers to teach practical skills to reach this goal... Based on this fact, and the fact that the book will definitely be a KEEPER that I'll come back to for many years to come, I give it a full five stars... and hope you'll decide to get it and enjoy it too !

I am in the process of organizing a group to have a Free Run Dog Park built in Anderson County SC. I have excellent planning documents from Barkingham park in Florida and some additional input. I purchased this book as a guide to writing rules & recommendations for potential users. It will serve that purpose well, but it is an even better source of ideas for the layout and planning of our own park. As part of our project we intend to donate several copies of the book to our county library and post that information with the rules.

Anyone can post an Amazon review. And I've never commented before. But I feel it is unfair to mark the book down just because your home country doesn't have dog parks. Then don't post a review. Obviously, even she found the book helpful, so it shouldn't be damaged by her review.
Thank you.

this book is a useful reference for both the general public and for councils/communities establishing dog parks and for those that are already established.

very well written and researched - the dog park ettique guidelines and the body language sections are essential reading in my opinion. I feel too many dog people go to these parks in total ignorance as to proper ettique and K9 body language.
I highly recommened this book to all.