Dog Bath Time in a Hurry? Fun and Fast when You Double Team them on an Assembly Line

by Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved 

(c) photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2010
Start with Lots of Loving
to Set the Tone of Family Fun

Just back from the dog park, and we've got a house full of dirty dogs. Let's get them all clean in a jiffy. With two bath buddies double teaming your pack, you can have everyone clean and fresh in no time. Here's how we do it at my house, thanks this time to Toni and Nikki.


We start by warming up a shallow kiddie pool in the sunshine, good for soaking dirty feet:

(c) photo copyright Carrie Boyko, 2010

Suds Me up Really Good, Toni!

Take care around eyes to keep suds out. I hold the pup's head upright as I gently rinse his face, then wipe with a clean cloth to get water out of his eyes. 

Also, don't forget those ears; they'll want to be able to hear you when you call them to dinner.

(c) photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2010

Don't Miss the Dirtiest Places!

(c) photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2010 

Dry Me Off Good; I Get Cold

Xena Sports her 'Newfie Look'

When one pup is clean, shuttle him off to your helper who will dry and massage him, making the whole experience a little bit more fun.

Don't Forget to admire the beautiful girls even if they are senior citizens. Trust me, I know about this stuff far better than I'd like.

That massage afterwards makes it all worthwhile, not that Tanner needs any coercion to enter the water. He'd stay in a tub or pool 24/7 if I'd let him.

I've tried to explain the prune problem to him, but he's not buying it. Water is fun. That's all he cares about.

(c) photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2010

Nothing Better than a

 Good Massage after a Bath
Well, maybe a few things:

Food is definitely a nice reward for a good job. Go ahead Xena; take it! And praise is always accepted with pleasure....

(c) photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2010

Dinner, Please! I Earned it.

Tanner is our cheerleader at bath time. He hangs out alongside the tub/kiddie pool while each of his pack mates takes a turn.

Sometimes I wonder whether he is providing moral support, or wishing it was his turn. Either way, he sure does enjoy the water.

(c) photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2010

Good Job, Tanner!

Tanner is our cheerleader at bath time. He hangs out alongside the tub/kiddie pool while each of his pack mates takes a turn.

Sometimes I wonder whether he is providing moral support, or wishing it was his turn. Either way, he sure does enjoy the water.

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© copyright Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved

Your Daily Dog Laugh

Does your dog do this...bark or howl when a dog on TV does?  There's nothing better for a good laugh and some family fun than watching Fido watch TV. Check this out:



credit http://www.thedogfiles.com/2009/09/08/the-howling-dalmatian/

This is a cool site for dog education and fun too. They have a Facebook page and post frequently, so if you're interested, you can check them out there. Enjoy!

BTW, just in case your missed my commercial for our upcoming new feature, ASK THE VET, I'd like to encourage you to check out the post at the link, and get those questions rolling. We'd love to know what you want to Ask the Vet.

It's Vacation Time for Me...

You guessed it. Summer is here and so is my whole family. Three kids are all home with special friends and we've got lots of plans for family fun. Don't worry, dog play will certainly find its time in our schedule, along with plenty of water fun.

Perhaps some time off will provide needed inspiration for how to build in some site improvements that I've been pondering for a while. Meanwhile, you can check out All Things Dog Blog on its very own Facebook site, where I'm sure I'll be adding little blips of what's going on while I take a much needed respite. If you prefer Twitter, you can catch me at Twitter.com/Learnin2Bgreen.

When will I resume posting? Soon! Your best strategy for not missing anything is to subscribe in the upper right corner of the blog. It's free, and you'll receive only a confirmation email for now. Once you confirm, you'll receive my posts via email when I begin posting again.

Finally, during my vacation, you can catch up on your reading by visiting my archives in the sidebar. You can go all the way back to post #1 and check out anything you may have missed along the way. I hope you get a chance to enjoy this catch up time too. See ya soon!

Rescues Available

Daisy, the Best Puppy in the World

Her foster mom describes her as an angel. She'll go fast, so don't waste any time. Look at that face and tell me you don't want to love her.

Moving on to a couple of Chow Chow mixes:

The economy is hitting everyone hard these days, and pups are not immune. Many families are giving up their dogs for adoption, when job loss or pay cuts make it impossible for them to feed their pets. Central Florida Animal Pantry is trying to help with this problem, by collecting and distributing pet food and other essentials to families in need. Bravo for this wonderful group.






Speaking of homeless dogs, these adorable chow-mix dogs were found by the roadside near Fort Christmas, apparently abandoned. Fortunately, they are healthy and happily being cared for by a helpful dog lover. They are available for adoption immediately, having had a health check by a vet. Both dogs are male, and both are up to date on vaccinations. They are both friendly and doing well.


If you, or someone you know is interested in meeting these pups for a possible adoption, you may email me at Letsadoptadogpark@gmail.com and I'll be happy to put you in touch with their foster parents.

Today I saw a wonderful quote that went something like this: If every dog had a home, every home would have a dog. What's better than that?

Over my door, I have a sign that says: Home is where you dog is. I guess you could say that's my motto. I hope to hear from you. These darling dogs are looking for a loving family to have some fun with. Wouldn't you love to play with them?

There's more:

Dee Dee

This is Dee Dee, a 13 pound Sheltie that is looking for a performance oriented home. If you'd like to train her for agility, she is READY! Energetic and a great age to start, she'd be a perfect agility dog. I hope to hear from you.

Save Your Pool Filter from Death by Dog Fur

© photo copyright 2009 Alan Boyko

Even Oliver would Miss his Occasional Swims

I have a friend whose husband has put his foot down to their dog swimming in their pool. His concern is certainly not unwarranted, but nevertheless, there is a cure. Dog fur needn't be the death of your pool filter, nor the end of your family's fun times swimming with your dog.

Try my cure: Whether you have a cartridge filter or a DE filter, you have a small skimmer basket near your pool filter. This catches all the goodies that come through the pipes, like dog fur, pine needles, leaves and the like. Sand and dirt particles are meant to escape this basket through the small holes, then lodging in your filter. Dog fur probably was not a consideration when pool filters were designed. While some will pass through to the filter without my little trick, this sneaky pet solution will solve all your furry worries....and save your filter.

© photo copyright 2009 Carrie Boyko

Pool Fetch is Tanner's Favorite Game

When I forget to use this nifty cure, it is rather a pain to clean out the basket. Wet fur presses into all the cracks and crevices, making it tough to remove. When my pool repairman told me about this solution, it seemed so simple, yet brilliant. Simply take a knee sock pantyhose and place the toe end into the small skimmer basket. Roll the opening over the top of the basket and viola', you have a Super Duper Dog Fur Collector. I change it out about every week or so.



Do you think I could market this idea? Hmm?

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2008

Tanner Enjoys Pool Floats and Fetch Toys

Backpacks aren't Just for Students and Hikers...

Tanner Transports 4 Bottles

of Water in his Backpack

Every time I walk Tanner with his backpack on, I get an assortment of comments, stares, questions or laughs. Clearly, everyone does not watch the Dog Whisperer.

So, what exactly is the purpose of a backpack on a dog? The simple answer would be to carry something, but that answer does not even begin to address the underlying reason. That's what this post is all about.

If you own a large or active breed of dog, you already know how challenging it can be to drain his energy. Sometimes even a long walk does not do the trick. This is when you have to get more creative. Adding a job can help to wear out Fido more quickly, while keeping him focused on his task at hand--a mental job, as well.

Adding a mental challenge to your dog's job of walking with you, helps him to concentrate and work harder, both physically and mentally. The end result is a calmer, more relaxed dog at the end of the exercise session.

While there are plenty of other ways to drain excess energy, not the least of which are running, biking, swimming, obstacle courses, and fetch, walking with his leader/pet parent is the most bonding of these activities. Adding an additional job to the walk makes it that much more challenging and bonding for your dog, and you will both benefit.

Backpacks are widely available at most dog supply stores now, so shop around and find one you feel fits your dog well and seems relatively comfortable to him, even as he will appear confused by this new contraption. Be sure to ignore this and keep this "fitting" all business.

Now that Tanner is a seasoned backpacker, here are some tips I can share from what we have learned together:

• Start by walking with the backpack empty, so your dog can adjust to the idea of wearing something more than a collar or harness.
• After proper fitting, tuck in any extra lengths of strapping, leash him up and head out as if nothing is different. The idea is to exude confidence about this walk, just as if it were any other day. Don't make a big fuss. Your dog needs to absorb confident energy from you, so act self-assured and allow him to adjust to his new job without a lot of attention.
• By the end of a long walk, your dog will have gotten used to being a packhorse and will be ready for lesson #2.
• This is when the game gets interesting. Adding weight is what will give your dog a greater physical workout, along with a tougher mental challenge. This combination will assure a calmer pup when the walk is done. Start with something small on each side, perhaps a bag of rice or an ice pack in the summer. He will be asking himself why this new "jacket" is swaying suddenly.
• Tanner took 2-3 walks before he got proficient at swaying with the natural movement of the weights in the backpack. When he finally realized that he could compensate for the swinging of the weight, his whole demeanor changed. He became more relaxed and appeared confident and proud that he was doing a job. Until this occurs, don't add any additional weight.
• Once your dog is walking like a pro, you can add up to 10% of his weight (1/2 on each side) to the backpack, increasing gradually. Judge the amount based on your dog's bone structure and energy level. Just like cub scouts on a hike, dogs will be calmer and more focused on their job when carrying a load that seems to take on its own movement if the dog does not stay in rhythm. Have you ever tried to run with a backpack on? It bounces all over the place, making you very uncomfortable. You'll see him figuring this all out as the mental processes work through this new challenge.
• When you reach your goal, your dog will wait patiently while you "dress" him (that's a great command to teach for leashing, harnessing, etc.) and walk beside you with a more focused and determined attitude. His view of you as the pack leader/pet parent will be changing as you walk. This is a very good thing.
• Now Tanner carries our cold water bottles when he wears the backpack. Water bottles do sway quite noticeably, but Tanner has adjusted to their movement by limiting his own upper body movement. He stays focused and steady as he follows my lead.

Tanner Concentrates on His Walks

Better with a Backpack to Carry

Having any problems with this? I'll field questions if you'd like to write to me. You can reach me at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com. Happy hiking!

If you're in search of a backpack for your dog, check out this and Amazon's other offerings for an assortment of various styles. Consider whether you might want to have Fido carry a picnic lunch or other delicate package when you select the style. Most have soft pouches, but some do feature shaped saddlebags for carrying more delicate items. Good luck!

Monday I'm still on dog exercise activities. Besides swimming, my favorite way to exercise the dogs in the summer is biking, and I'll be sharing my tips on this fun and fit activity--for both of you. Hope to see you then.

Big Dogs Like to Be Held Too

Tanner is rather an odd duck...er...dog. Unlike most big dogs, he loves to be held like many smaller ones. Or maybe it is simply that most humans don't hold their big dogs. That's probably it.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Tanner and I Play in the Pool on a Cold Day

Tanner even enjoys being held like a toddler, as in the next two photos. Toni is his best buddy for holding like this. I'm not sure who enjoys it more, Tanner or Toni.

© photo copyright 2007 Carrie Boyko

Toni Holds Tanner

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2008

Tanner and Toni

Love to Snuggle Like This

My Profile Picture

Tanner and I Show Off Our Mutual Trust

I'd love to share your photos of big dogs being held. Or little dogs on your laps. Any photos that you would like to share are welcome. Send them to LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com. I'm looking forward to having a Readers' Photo Post, but I'll need your help. Send those pictures in, so I can show off your furry friends.

Molly is Here to Help Introduce Her Favorite Charity

Tanner's Friend Molly Enjoys Her Pool

Most people I know complain about the amount of email they get each day. I have to admit something. I get excited about reading mine. Reading my email lately has become my favorite part of the day, second only to checking my posts each morning. Why? I'll give you an example.

Today I received a nice note from one of Tanner's doggie daycare friends, Molly, a chocolate lab. They met at Bow Wow Resort, and have become good buddies. Molly's mom sent the two photos in this post. Molly loves her pool as much as Tanner. Maybe we should get them together for a swimming play date.

Even more exciting, Molly's mom wanted to tell me about AnimalPantry.org in our area which helps provide pet food and other items (leashes, collars, etc.) to families in need. The goal is to help the family keep their dog during tough economic times, rather than having to give up their dog to feed their family. Great concept, huh?!!!

I've requested an interview with the people who started the project, and will bring you more information in an upcoming post. This is just a heads up from Molly and me. Clean out your drawers and pet food closets. Anything you have that isn't needed will be useful to the pantry. They have many drop off locations in the area, and I'll bring you a list of these soon. For now, just collect your pet items that are no longer needed and I'll get back to you with where to drop them off.

Molly Enjoys Swimming

with Two Balls at a Time

Hint: Even extra tennis balls or Frisbees (don't we all have extra ones in the garage?) would be welcome. There are probably lots of dogs who would love to play fetch, if they only had a ball or Frisbee. Wouldn't it make you feel good to give a family a great dog toy. There's nothing like a ball to make a dog AND the kids happy.


Oliver and I ( he climbed right into the doggie drawer!) cleaned out our stuff and came up with a collar (Xena grew out of it), a leash (used, but still useful), tug toys (I make them, so they're free. Check out my post of this at the link and the photo below), 2 funky shaped Kong toys, a couple of balls, a store-bought tug toy that didn't go over big with my guys, a dog training DVD, and a bottle of bitter apple spray. Not bad for starters. It feels good to help another dog. Hope you can too. Check back for pickup locations, or see their site at the link above.



Me and my pack wish you and yours a happy Memorial Day. We'll be out at our local dog park, playing fetch, Frisbee and doing a little pile collecting. Hope to see you there!

If you are new to dog parks, check out my 3-part series on visiting the dog park at Central Florida Green Guide. The links to each post are at the bottom of the blog. Just scroll down. You can't miss them.

Lap Dogs--Ya Gotta Love 'Em, or Maybe Not: What Do You Think?

There are dog experts out there who say dogs don't belong on our laps. Some believe this is a dominant place for a dog to be, and that they should ALWAYS be on the floor. I understand their position on this. However, as you can see from these photos, my dogs aren't exactly aware of the Dog Whisperer's rules.

That's not to say that I don't have rules, boundaries and limitations. I do. But the red couch in my family room is for everyone, unless I ask them to move. They know I'm the boss, and they don't argue the point. They just move and all is well.

To tell you the truth, snuggling with a dog is rather soothing to me. Sometimes, when I have a headache, or something heavy to think about, a puppy on my lap or lying beside me is like therapy.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Can we retain our position as pack leaders, while still allowing the occasional pup on the lap? We certainly do it with our cats. What do you think? Take my quick poll that follows and let me know how you feel about this topic. I'd love to know. Thanks for your input.

Let's Go Dog Parking!

Doctor's Dog Park Draws a Crowd

of Regulars Every Weekend

Tanner and his Friends

Enjoy a Game of Frisbee

So far Tanner can only catch a Frisbee when it is thrown TO him, but hopefully, we'll get there. I'd love to be able to throw it and watch him steamroll toward a big catch. It's fun to see others who can do that. Any tips?

Ginny and Her Housemates

Recently Enjoyed a Swim at the Lake

Thanks to Nancy for submitting Ginny's furry family photo. You might also enjoy Nancy's blog, Wayworm, as she is an avid dog lover also. I'd love to receive your dog park photos and include them here. You can send them to me at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com.

Dog Park Greetings

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

This Brittany Spaniel Puppy

Is Having His First Dog Park Visit

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Hi! I'm Handsome

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Hey, You Up There!

You're Too Big for the Bench.

Oliver is Always Right in the Middle

of the Excitement

Every weekend is another adventure at the dog park. My pack comes home and sleeps half the day afterwards. There is nothing like working a party to wear out my gang.

If you are a dog park enthusiast, I'd like to invite you to visit Adopt a Dog Park, where you can learn how to help keep our dog parks clean and healthy during this difficult budget-crunching time for our local parks departments.

I collect dog park photos and have displayed many on Care 2 Adopt a Dog Park, where you can also start a discussion with other dog park lovers. We'd love to see your dog park photos, and you can share them there by creating your own photo album. Hope to see you soon.

Late Breaking News: My latest post has just been published on Central Florida Green Guide. I hope you'll find time to stop in and check out Green Family Fun: Let's Visit the Dog Park.

National Clean Dog Park Awareness Day

The first annual National Clean Dog Park Awareness Day brought out lots of canines and their families to my local dog park on March 22. Several of us walked the park and cleaned up left-behind piles and other trash. We left the park looking great, and as clean and safe as possible.

My 12 year old girl, Xena, enjoyed her day at the park too. By keeping the park clean, I know I am doing what I can to provide her with a healthy place to play. You may think that at age 12 she can't be very playful. Wrong! She can put on quite a wrestling match and tag game with Tanner, her trusted playmate.

All sizes and kinds were on hand today to celebrate. To learn what you can do to help care for your local dog park, visit Adopt a Dog Park. You can also join our discussion forum and share your own dog park photos by joining Care 2 Adopt a Dog Park. It's free. There you will find photo albums of my dogs, my dog park photos, and my dogs' doggie daycare photos. You could say all of my favorite dogs are there. Well, almost. I still need to get photos of my dogs' agility buddies. That will come next.

If you would like to adopt your dog park, you can email me at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com. I'll look forward to hearing from you. Our dogs are counting on us.

Disciplining Your Dog Through Feeding

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Oliver, Xena and Tanner Await

Permission to Eat

Today's post is a requested topic, and one that can be a very good disciplinary tool. What your dog learns from waiting permission to eat is more than it would appear. The myriad lessons include:

• You own the food, the dish, the home
• You are in charge
• You decide when the food is shared
• You choose the place a dog eats
• You establish behavior rules for eating among the pack
• You discipline members of the pack who do not behave properly
• You reward members who are the calmest and most patient
• The dog learns to trust that you WILL feed him eventually, if he exhibits good manners
• You decide who is given permission to eat first, second, etc. based on behavior
• You are a calm and patient teacher for your pack

And all of this leads to the ultimate lesson:

YOU ARE THE PACK LEADER

This must always be your goal, in order to maintain the peaceful, happy home you desire.
People who have seen my dogs being fed have often asked how I taught them to wait patiently, eat only when given permission and eat only their own food, without aggression. I'm no Dog Whisperer, but I guess I am a visual learner. I have all the Dog Whisperer DVDs that are out, and have read Cesar Millan's books. Although my dogs all went through advanced training with traditional methods (sit, stay, down, come, off, drop it, take it, etc.), I have found that combining Cesar's energy techniques with the more traditional methods has made for a good blend. Here's how I taught my pack to eat with good manners:

1. The dogs each learned the sit-stay or down-stay command at an early age and have continued to practice this every day at mealtimes.
2. Adding the Leave It command, when your dog is in a Sit-Stay or Down-Stay is as easy as placing your hand over the food bowl (or other item) for a second or two (at first) and then removing your hand when the dog is holding his stay. This is his reward--food for Stay.
3. At each meal this is practiced until you can gradually build up to 10 seconds, and then the hand is no longer needed over the bowl. Maintain a confident stance facing your dog, engaging his eye contact with yours while he performs Leave it. Build up his time gradually.
4. Any change in body language or a move toward the food is your signal to move forward toward the dog reminding him firmly, yet calmly, to Leave It.
5. Soon, with continued practice, including with treats or favorite toys periodically throughout the day, your dog will not need much more than loose supervision. I once forgot about Tanner waiting permission to eat and found him nearly a half hour later, sitting in a puddle of drool. Poor fella! He is soooo good at Leave It!
6. If you have one well-trained dog and bring a puppy or other new dog into the house, try training him within view of the other dog. It is always good to have an example to follow, as long as the example is a good one. Oliver quickly picked up good meal time manners from his older house mates, merely by following their lead.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Permission Granted

Bringing your pack together to eat:

1. When each of your dogs has a solid understanding of the skills above, you can bring 2 of the calmest, most patient ones together to eat near one another.
2. This is again a time for heightened supervision, as their mere presence may change the dynamics.
3. Your confident stance facing the dogs will help them to understand that you continue to lead this exercise and they are expected to perform as usual. Keep up any hand signals that you normally use, to give further input on the expected behavior.
4. Be sure to reward your dogs for good performance with a simple word of praise or a pat on the head. Keep the praise calm to continue this energy throughout the next step of getting everyone outside for their post-meal "business."

I'll leave you on that note with a simple commercial for Friday's post. I'll be tackling boredom busters for dogs who spend several hours a day in their crates, or simply at home alone. Join me for a few ideas, and feel free to comment with yours. I would love to hear from you at the comment link below, or just email me at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com.

And one final note. Today, at Organic Journey Online, I am presenting a great idea, borrowed from Carmen at Agility class. She makes recycled tug toys with her old clothes, and they are wonderful. With Carmen's permission, I made some and wrote about them there. Feel free to follow the link and check it out. Free Tug Toys!

Discipline + Mental Exercise = Calmer Dog

Dogs need mental exercise, just like we humans do. They can learn new tricks, practice obedience, play challenging games or run agility courses, and it exercises their minds. Just like us, this will aid in draining their excess energy which creates a calmer, more enjoyable dog and companion.

Here's a few learning activities to try with your dog, and you'll see. He'll calm down better with a daily mental workout. Have you got some games you'd like to share with us. I'll post your ideas, if you'll send me a comment in the link below. It's really easy. Just click the link and a box will pop up for you to type your comments in. Go for it!

Exercising Your Dog on a Rainy Day

There's nothing more torturous than a house full of pups who are itching to get some playtime in. Thank goodness we now have large, climate-controlled dog superstores that allow us to walk around with our dogs inside. More than a few times I have used my local Petsmart for that very purpose. They probably thought I was lost, circling the store so many times, but it did serve its purpose to let the dogs get some OUT time.

Since then I've rediscovered the laser pointer, a great playtime tool. Pick a spot where there is plenty of distance for your dog to run back and forth. Then get his attention on the red dot and start moving it slowly. Most dogs will try to pounce on it. At this point you've got his attention and you can start moving it fast across the floor and even over objects that you don't mind the dog going over. It's a great tool for not only physical, but also mental exercise. Just don't let him catch and "hold" the dot or he may lose interest.

When you get tired of playing this game, try putting the light in the dog's toy basket, and hopefully he'll get interested in another toy. Sometimes that works for Oliver.

Other indoor games such as hide and seek are fun to play with your dog. Put them in a stay. Hide and then call them. How long does it take for them to sniff you out? If it's a long wait, you might try holding a smelly treat: cheese or something with a flavorful smell will usually do the trick. I have a copy of the book shown below. It has tons of great ideas for indoor games:

There's also the proactive approach. Check the local weather report each day. If rain is forecast for the whole day tomorrow, you might want to get a head start and give the gang some extra exercise today. Tough times take tough measures. It does work, though, from my experience.

Your last resort is to use the walk time for training indoors. An intense training session will tire out your dog's mind, which has the same effect on his body by bedtime. You can practice Sit-Stays, Down-Stays, Come, Leave It, Take It, Drop It, and lots of other commands--all inside--and keep it fresh by using different treats and toys for each exercise. Just keep the exercises short and spread them throughout the day. Even dogs get tired with too much stimulation, and then they loose focus.

Today is Woofing Wednesday at my other blog, Organic Journey Online. My post there was inspired by a young lady who has done much to help the homeless dogs in our area. Hope you'll check it out and see my Woofing Wednesday dog photo, while you're there.

What works for your dog? I'd love to hear from you. Leave me a comment at the link below this post.

Guidelines for First Time Dog Park Visits

Dog Park Visits are Great Times to

Play with "The Gang"

Dog Parks have become all the rage throughout the United States. Particularly for those of us in urban or suburban areas where there are precious few places a dog can get a good romp off-leash. It's good for them to be able to socialize with other dogs and run unencumbered by restraints--fences, walls, leashes; they need to be free to run occasionally.

The reality is that this freedom comes with a risk and a price. Even dog parks have fences, placed to protect their visitors from running into the street or disappearing altogether. The difference is that the park is a larger area for running, and the opportunity to socialize with other dogs is available. This is a necessary component to their lifestyle, as dogs in the wild are historically social pack animals.

When I arrive at the dog park, my dogs now know where we are going, well before we pull into the parking lot. Their excitement is palpable, with their heavier breathing, whining to get out of the car, and growing activity level in the back of the car. When I get out, I wait until everyone is calmly waiting in the car. Sometimes it takes a few minutes, but it is safer this way and they get the message: "You don't get to go to the park until you calm down."

When I open the door to leash everyone up, I have 3 eager faces looking out. The calmest dog is leashed and allowed to hop out first. That's his reward for controlling his excitement. And so it goes with the other two.

Tanner and Me at the West Orange Dog Park 

Walking to the gate should be an exercise of discipline. If it takes 30 minutes to get to the gate, they will remember that next time and manage their excitement better. When your dog(s) shows signs of excitement, have him sit until he calms down. Then proceed. Using this procedure will soon teach your pup that he doesn't get to go inside until he can exhibit proper manners. You should be leading him inside, not the other way around. If Fido is pulling you, you're letting him be in charge. That attitude will eventually trickle into everything else that involves your dog. You don't want that. So make sure he knows you are in charge.



At the gate, have your dog sit and calm himself, before entering. If your dog has never been to a dog park, keep the leash on for a while and gauge his readiness for friendly behavior. Your dog should be willing to allow others to sniff his backside. This is a friendly hello, which should be accepted with no concern. Likewise, your dog should be interested in exchanging hellos with others. One of my dog park acquaintances calls this "exchanging business cards"! Another calls it "shaking hands". You get the point. It is the good doggie manners way to greet and be greeted.

When Fido is accepting hellos and giving them without any signs of anxiety, fear or agression, you can consider removing the leash. Stay close and watch his body language. It is your job to stop any escalation of aggressive or dominant behavior BEFORE it gets out of hand. This means correcting your dog, and in more significant cases, can mean your dog needs to submit. Down, lay, stay...until you give permission. Permission is granted when your dog's body language and behavior is completely relaxed and he is paying no attention to other dogs around him. Then he is ready to get up and practice some more. Some dogs need lots of this practice before they are ready to shake hands with others nicely.

Most dogs have few, if any, problems with social interaction of this basic sort. It is usually the anxious, fearful, or shy dogs that may exhibit trouble with socialization. Often leadership is lacking and this brings on the problems. 

A few tips on what NOT to bring to a dog park, for all you first timers:

1. Never bring food into the dog park. You could create problems, as other dogs will smell it on you.
2. Bring in toys at your own risk. Some dogs may steal your toy, others may destroy it.
3. Keep in mind that the dog park is also for socialization. Encourage this activity and use the toys for those days when the park is meagerly populated.
4. Poop bags and water for your dog may be needed if you are not visiting a park that provides these. It is essential that you keep an eye on your pups and pick up after them immediately. This will keep everyone cleaner and healthier.
5. Leave your stilletos at home. Dress for the occasion. Many dogs like to jump up and put their paws on visitors, so plan on getting a few paw print hellos.
6. Handbags, beverages and other things you need to hold or keep track of may become problematic. If you set them down, they're likely to get picked up by a playful pup who sees them as fair game.

Finally, What do you take to the dog park with you? Not much, but there are a few aids that can make the first trip go smoother.

• If your dog is large and you need help getting him in and out of the car, a ramp is helpful.
• Boots couldn't hurt, as you might step in something a bit messy, if you don't keep an eye out. My favorite dog park boots are on sale at Amazon right now, so I've included them in the link below. They clean up really easy and are amazingly comfortable.
• If you have more than one dog, a leash coupler makes things a bit easier. You'll only have one handle to deal with for every two dogs. I have 3 dogs, so I'm speaking from experience.
• If you go at a time when there aren't likely to be many visitors, like daytime during the week, you might want to bring a ball, Frisbee or "chucker" ( a ball throwing tool for those of us who throw like girls).
• Make sure there is a towel in the car for cleaning up dirty paws.
• If you're going to an off-leash area that doesn't have dog park amenities like poop bags and water fountains, then consider this in your preparation.

I hope these tips will help you venture into the world of dog park fun. It is good for your dog and you'll enjoy the people you meet there. I'll be back soon with info on how to locate a dog park near you.

Dog Park Fun is Good for Everyone

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Tanner is Greeted at the Dog Park

There simply is nothing better than a good off-leash run at the dog park. For my guys, any dog park will do, just as long as they can be leash-free for a good run.

Each of my 3 has their own social agenda. Tanner is the social butterfly, who knows how to work a party. He makes his 3 or 4 victory laps when we go in, and then settles into a routine of getting around to greeting each and every dog in the park. This group of senior citizens in the photo above were eager to meet the youngster who wouldn't stop running circles around them.

Xena, my 12-year-old retriever mix, could have had a retirement conversation with this bunch, but she was actually quite playful this weekend, and chose to invite Tanner to a wrestling game. They had a good roll in the grass and she was done, except for meeting a few new friends. After that, it was simply a matter of following me around, as I picked up piles around the park. I enjoyed seeing my usual dog park friends, who seem to often visit at the same time as we do--weekend morning dog park romps make for great weekend afternoon naps--for me and the dogs! It was good, also, to bounce an idea about Adopt a Dog Park off on Midas's mom, Sally.


My pack's youngest member, Oliver, a 1 year old Papillon, who heads up this blog, did his usual beagle imitation--nose to the ground. He searched and sniffed nearly every square inch of the park, looking for goodies and anyone who would rub his belly. He found many takers.


So, now you have met my canine family, and you know their favorite activity. It is now your turn to share. I'd love to get your pictures and hear your stories. You can send anything and everything to LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com.

Thanks to those of you who have already visited. I was pleasantly surprised to see my visitor count at over 50, when I just launched this blog a few days ago. I haven't even announced it yet. I think I'll spruce it up a bit before I take it public. This is a good start. I hope you'll continue to come along for the ride.