South Park and other dog parks in the region are most heavily used on weekends and after work hours as dog owners clamor for park settings, preferably fenced, where their dogs can run free -- safely and legally.
Although many dog owners have passionately petitioned elected officials for such off-leash dog parks, communities often resist the idea and many suburban municipal parks have signs stating, "No Dogs Allowed" -- even if they are on a leash.
But experience shows that if officials build it, dogs and their owners will come -- sometimes from great distances.
Dog owners, however, have a friend in Allegheny County, which allows dogs to be walked on leashes in all nine of its parks and operates leash-free dog areas in four parks: North, South, Hartwood and White Oak.
Dog parks are not for every dog, but some owners are slow to recognize that. The least popular dog in any park is the dog that behaves aggressively toward others. Some parks have signs that say aggressive dogs must be removed immediately, but usually no official is on site to enforce the rule.
Before taking a dog to a leash-free area for the first time, see how the dog behaves around small groups of dogs in your neighborhood, said Kathy Reck, behavior coordinator at Animal Friends in Ohio Township.
Here are some other etiquette rules:
• Always pick up feces and place it in proper receptacles.
• Make sure your dog is up to date on inoculations. Although no one is usually at a park to check shot records, a mix of dogs is a recipe for spreading infectious diseases.
• Puppies younger than 4 months old are banned at many dog parks. Many breeders, trainers and veterinarians believe young puppies should not be taken to dog parks or events with large numbers of dogs because puppies are at high risk of contracting infectious diseases even if they are up to date on shots.
• Dogs "in heat" should never be brought to a dog park because the female dog could cause male dogs to fight.
• In warm and hot weather, make sure dogs do not become overheated. Dogs can quickly die from heat exhaustion or dehydration. Call your dog back to you for periodic breaks and make sure he drinks water. If the park does not have water, bring water for your dog.
Wording, content and information taken from the sites below:
ARTICLE: No leash? No problem: Parks where dogs can run free set tails a-wagging
ARTICLE: Dos and don'ts for dog park dates
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