It’s finally time! That new bundle of loyal devotion you adopted in the spring is fully vaccinated, ready to mingle and enjoy all of Humboldt’s dog-friendly areas. You naturally want to be a good citizen and an awesome pup parent, so you are prepared with poop bags, water and training treats. You have been working with your puppy on leash training in the yard and are all ready to take the show on the road, or more specifically, to the dog park in your neighborhood.
Before you go, let’s discuss some of the inside baseball for new pet parents, or perhaps teach the old dog people some new tips.
Firstly, know your dog and know your zone. Learn about your pooch’s personality and visit the safest and most enjoyable places for both of you whenever possible.
Do they like to swim? Are they a teacup breed? Are they timid around kids, cars, bikes, horses, other dogs or bearded fellas? Do they have leash aggression, or maybe they still have a bit of poor recall? If so, it’s so important to plan outings accordingly. It will save you aggravation and possible veterinary visits, and help keep dog-friendly areas, well, dog-friendly. Commonly, it only takes a handful of complaints to change a neighborhood park from off-leash to leash, so you are helping all the pooches by being thoughtful with your own.
Granted, this is not always fair. And even when you plan and prepare, bad times can be had by you or your pupper. However, the probability of a pet’s personality and preferences being considered when you go on adventures can be much better.
Training your pet is paramount, but even with current protocols, experienced trainers, and dedicated owners, some dogs have less-than-desirable behaviors that become ingrained. In that case, avoiding negative interactions whenever possible is the best outcome.
So, how does this play out? Well, if my dog were a 9-pound teacup poodle intimidated by large breed dogs, I would gravitate toward smaller, fenced dog parks like the Fortuna (100 Dinsmore Drive) or Eureka (2020 Watson Drive) dog parks, or the new Valley West Dog Park (1340 Hallen Drive) in Arcata.
Have a pooch that loves you and the family but not other dogs? That was my experience with one of my first generation of dogs. I did not take him to Hiller Park or Moonstone Beach. I took my crew to the beaches in Manila and Samoa, which were even less crowded in the early 2000s.
My current dog is afraid of children and, although I don’t think it’s very safe to bring a diapered toddler into an off-leash dog park or beach, if there are a bunch when I show up, I go to a different beach or park that day.
And, as we know, horses have the right of way in McKinleyville, so even though I would have never trail ridden my horses through an off-leash dog park or beach when I was a fortunate equestrian in my youth, if someone chooses to, it’s best to leash your dog up until the hoof beats fade down the trail, unless your dog is socialized with horses, or your dog training is top form.
Let go and just go. Try another spot or another day altogether. Many people (likely already in the comments section) will not abide by these common-sense suggestions. Some folks are just entitled. They are no reason to ruin your lovely afternoon. So we leave when the aggressive dog starts causing trouble while their person is very busy on the phone. Because while poor behavior rarely sparks a well-considered debate or compromise, it will ruin the vibe.
The leashed dogs in the off-leash zones are the one awkward, well-intentioned interaction. Again, you do the best you can, but if you have a dog that requires a leash, there are amazing places to visit with other leashed dogs, avoiding potential conflict with dogs that get aggressive when on a leash. And vice versa; if you have a leash-aggressive dog, try to avoid leash-only trails so you aren’t spending most of your walk in conflict, further cementing unwanted behaviors. My dog also has leash aggression, so I don’t take her with me when I walk the Arcata Community Forest. Besides, the sound of the redwood sway makes her jittery, so why would I?
Finally, look up the park or trail before you go for the rules about your pooch; some beaches don’t allow dogs. This usually corresponds to the same beaches where I wouldn’t want my dog to swim. Even when your dog is allowed, be a proper steward of the land, don’t allow them to chase wildlife, pick up after them and maybe other humans, too, if you are inclined to. Stay on the trails if provided and stay focused when your dog enjoys off-leash time. After all, staying present with your pooch will help you to remain in the moment as you experience the grass or the sand. Happy walkies, Humboldt!
Tanya Schrum (she/her) is a registered veterinary technician with more than 30 years of experience, mainly focused on emergency and critical care medicine. Now retired from floor work, she facilitates continuing education for veterinarians worldwide.
This article appears in ‘Come Back Young Again’.