Why You’ll Never Catch Us at a Dog Park

Okay, let’s talk about it: dog parks. We know they’re supposed to be fun, social spaces for your pup to run and live their best off-leash life. And I really wish we could love them. But the Sit Pretty Pup crew steers clear. Not because we’re antisocial (We love a good pup meet-up!), but because dog parks are kinda the wild west of dog parenting.

The Whys

So let’s chat about why you won’t see us at a dog park—no judgment if you go, just some real talk from one dog family to another.

1. Germ City, Population: Dogs

Dog parks are basically the communal water cooler for canine disease and parasites. From kennel cough to giardia—those germs spread fast. 

Even if your dog’s on preventatives, it’s just a constant game of exposure roulette.

2. What Even Is That on the Ground?

You know who doesn’t have opposable thumbs or a perfect grasp of, “Don’t eat that?” Yeah, dogs.

At dog parks, it’s not unusual to find trash, food scraps, or entire mystery meals on the ground. The onions that fell off of someone’s burger could mean a trip to the animal ER. There’s just no way to control what people bring in or accidentally leave behind.

3. And Then There’s the…Deliberate Stuff. 

Okay, this one’s a little dark, but it’s real: there have been documented cases of people leaving harmful objects in dog parks on purpose. We’re talking things like nails hidden inside tennis balls, glass in hot dogs, even poisoned treats.

We hate even saying it out loud, but it’s part of the reason we’re so cautious. 

4. Dog Fights Aren’t Just on the News

Here’s the thing: not every dog should be off-leash with other dogs. And not every owner knows that.

At dog parks, it only takes one poorly supervised, untrained or under-socialized dog to create a seriously scary situation. Dog fights happen quickly, and it’s not always possible to break them up safely.

Even if your dog is sweet and social, you just don’t know with whom you’re walking into the fenced-in ring.

5. Vibe Check: Failed

We don’t know about you, but we’ve had more than a few awkward moments at dog parks. There’s always someone who’s scrolling their phone instead of watching their dog, or a dog that’s being way too intense and no one’s intervening. Or a dog parent who suddenly thinks she’s the Cesar Millan of the Midwest and starts correcting your dog inappropriately.

We’re all about community, but not the kind that comes with unsolicited training and unsupervised dogs with bad manners. 

So What Do We Do Instead?

We’re all about intentional, safe, happy play. That might mean:

• Meeting up with friends’ dogs we know get along with ours, have structure and training and pawrents, who pay attention. 

• Going for pack walks. 

• Visiting dog-friendly trails

• Hanging out in our own backyard. 

• 
  

At the end of the day, we want our pups to live their best lives, and that means keeping them safe and happy. For us, that just doesn’t include the unpredictability of dog parks. No shame if you go (Truly!); just a little insight into why we don’t.