Dog Parks - Our Opinion

Dog Park Reality Check

Many people believe that dog parks are a good way to socialize and continue socialization of their Pit Bull. We hear this time and again, “He loves going to visit with his doggie friends at the dog park on the weekend.” And then we hear, “I don’t know what happened… they were playing fine and then all of the sudden the fight broke out. He’s never acted that way before!” – Genetics is what happened! And no matter how hard we try, we can not socialize, train or love genetics out of any dog. We can however manage behaviors and prevent incidents from happening, by educating ourselves and becoming proactive and responsible owners.
Why Pit Bulls Don’t Belong In Dog Parks

One has to know and understand the history of the Pit Bull, and understand that genetics play a large role in the way these dogs react to other dogs as they mature. While early and continual socialization may help your Pit Bull learn to control his reaction towards other dogs (in your presence), it will NOT eliminate his instinct to fight or finish what another dog started.

Like it or not, the APBTs, ASTs and pit mixes come with a built-in fighting heritage. Even as the amount of people breeding for gameness decreases, he is still far better at what he does than other breeds. He also does not always live by the same set of ritualized rules that other breeds live by. The majority of Pit Bulls will, at some point in their lives, exhibit some degree of dog-on-dog aggression. This type of animal aggression is completely separate from human-aggression; a well-socialized Pit Bull is very good-natured with people. Yet, chances are that a "normal" Pit Bull will not share his affection with other animals. We cannot predict when or where it will happen and we can’t love, train or socialize it out of the dog.

Not all Pit Bulls will start a fight, but many of them will not back down from one either. It happens in a split second, and often times dog owners don’t even see or recognize a sign of trouble until it is too late. Regardless of who started the fight, you can bet dollars to doughnuts that your Pit Bull will be blamed. If you’ve ever seen the crazy notions that people get when it comes to breaking up a fight — choking, kicking, beating with bats, lighting flames under the combatants’ tails – you wont want your dog anywhere near that. (http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_6557452) Because of this, it is crucial that your Pit Bull be kept under control and on a leash at all times when out in public. It is also important to be watchful of other dogs in the area when out in public, and to stay away from areas where loose dogs often roam or play. If your Pit Bull is involved in a fight at a dog park, or anywhere for that matter, it gives purpose to breed-specific legislation (BSL) and affects the rights of others to own these amazing dogs. Don't set your dog up to fail.
Should I Take My Puppy to a Dog Park?

In short, the answer to this question is a resounding NO. While some breeds are predisposed to fight more than others, every breed has its bullies. There are too many people that don’t come close to fitting the label of “responsible dog owner”, who don’t keep their dogs under control; some don’t even vaccinate their dogs. If your puppy is attacked by another dog, chances are great that he will become fearful of other dogs and dog aggressive as a result. Also, since there is no one to man dog park gates, there is no way to ensure that every dog in the park is vaccinated and healthy. Wrestling with an unknown dog for even a few minutes could give your dog fleas, ticks, or other external parasites. If a wormy dog poops, and your dog sniffs it, your dog could get worms. And there are more serious health risks, such as the presence of Parvo, Coronavirus, Distemper, etc. Vaccinations will protect your dog to an extent, but they are seldom foolproof.
How Can I Socialize My Pit Bull?

There are many ways to ensure proper socialization for your Pit Bull that are safer and all around better for your dog than taking him to a dog park. Finding other responsible Pit Bull owners in your area, (who understand the risks associated with the breed, and who are able and prepared to help safely break up a dog fight if one does occur), and setting up play dates with a small number of dogs in someone’s backyard is a great way to let your Pit Bull learn to interact with other dogs. Play dates also makes it easier to match your dog with compatible personalities rather than taking a gamble with the many unknown dogs at dog parks.

If you just want to socialize your dog, not give him off-lead play time, pet superstores are usually a good place to do that. The number of dogs present is usually limited to a few and dogs are usually required to be on-leash, so you cut down on the risk of your dog being blindsided by another dog. These places are also usually a good spot to let your dog socialize with children and other humans, and expose them to some different non-dog animals in a controlled environment.

From The Real Pit Bull web site – “Many people feel guilty about depriving their dogs of playtime with other dogs at parks. The truth of the matter is Pit Bulls just aren't a breed that is prone to accepting lots of different dogs. People are by far their number one priority! A dog's perceived need for canine girlfriends or boyfriends is more a human trait projected onto the animal than any real necessity. Our dogs are well-served by lots of human socialization, and early *controlled* exposure to other animals (at shows, obedience classes, puppy k, on-leash parks, trips to the pet store/veterinary office, etc)--this sort of socializing is much more appropriate and beneficial than romps in dog parks. So keep that dog safe, happy, healthy--and ON LEASH!”

** Please read the information on the following pages for tips on how to prevent and break up a dog fight.

Fight Prevention

Breaking Up a Fight