This week I saw something that set off my alarm bells — a 4 month-old puppy at a local dog park. As soon as the human guardian took the puppy off leash several big adult dogs bounded up to the pup and surrounded it. The puppy retreated behind the person’s legs. The person pushed it towards the dogs gently and told it to go play. Whenever the puppy ventured onto the field, a big dog charged after it barking, other dogs joined in, and one of them inevitably tackled the pup. Each time, she yelped and scurried back to her person with her tail between her legs only to be told again to go play.

She certainly wasn’t the first person I’ve seen bring a pup to a dog park. I’m sure she meant well and thought she was doing the right thing. She probably thought it was a good way to exercise and socialize the puppy to dogs. Well-placed though those intentions may be, bringing a puppy to a dog park isn’t a good idea.

Vinnie Shows Off Puppy Teeth

Puppies are babies. Before the the age of approximately 16-20 weeks, pups are at the most critical and impressionable time in their lives. Bad scary things that happen to a young puppy have a good chance of traumatizing her for life.

My dog I are frequent fliers at San Francisco’s off-leash parks and beaches. I’m grateful that there are areas in our busy urban environment where my dog can run free and play with other dogs. However, I’m also well aware of the unpleasant things that can happen in dog parks, particularly where young pups are concerned.

Dogs at dogs parks are unknown quantities. Dogs who don’t get along well with other dogs are often brought to dog parks. Many adult dogs are impatient of and intolerant with puppies. Some dogs have a rough play style. Others like to bully and harass dogs. Dogs who visit dog parks may not like it when another canine approaches their toys or humans. A fleeing yelping puppy may trigger a dog’s prey drive; a dog chasing the pup may start to treat her like prey. Dogs who are playing together sometimes tip into fighting. Some dogs tip from playing into fighting easily and often. And some dogs at dog parks don’t come reliably when called.

Add to these factors the fact that all too often, humans don’t watch their dogs as closely as they should in dog parks and don’t intervene in doggy interactions when they should. The result? A puppy could very easily get hurt by an adult dog in any of these scenarios. Aside from the risk of serious physical injuries to a pup, a bad scary incident with an adult dog could leave the dog with a deep long-lasting nasty association with other dogs. Depending on the sensitivity of the pup, she could become fearful or wary of dogs for life.

Puppies don’t have all their defense mechanisms yet. Pups still have puppy teeth, not adult dog teeth. They have puppy jaw and muscle strength, not that of adult dogs. Puppies don’t have the stamina and power of adult dogs. Puppies are still figuring out how to “speak” dog and many puppies do so clumsily.

So what’s a well-meaning puppy guardian to do? Drop-in puppy playgroups and socials monitored by positive trainers give puppies opportunities to frolic with other puppies the same age. Interactions are supervised and controlled in a positive way. There’s a significantly lower chance of puppies getting hurt – physically or otherwise — in this kind of environment. And for an added bonus, playgroups mean plenty of time to practice doggy language and social skills with other pups.

Puppy Play

Besides playgroups, a positive reinforcement puppy class is another chance for supervised puppy play and a head start on manners. Puppy class is a also a great place to to meet other puppy guardians and set up puppy play dates in someone’s yard.

When pups reach the age of six months, providing they’ve been well-socialized during young puppyhood, they’re better equipped for interactions with other dogs. At that age, there’s more of a level playing field and supervised visits to dog parks are safer. Notice I say “safer” as opposed to “safe;” as I mentioned earlier dog parks aren’t risk-free. All dogs at dog parks should be monitored closely by humans to avoid scuffles and injuries.

No matter your dog’s age, doing a little homework ahead of time will go along way to making any visit to an leash-free area a more positive experience for you both. A rock solid recall and a really reliable “leave it” mean dog park outings are safer for your dog and more fun for everyone.

My dog Vinnie is a young Kelpie mix we adopted when he was a wee 4 months old. We’ve never had his DNA tested but I’d bet my last dollar he’s all herding mutt. He’s got the high energy, drive and smarts of a herding dog. And over the summer, he passed his herding instinct test with flying colors.

Vin checks out a dog park

Given his often maniacal energy, getting him plenty of off-leash exercise every day is a top priority at my place. Vin needs lots of room to run and play with other dogs or he makes his own fun in our home, usually in ways we don’t appreciate.

Thanks to Vinnie we’ve explored loads of off-leash spots in San Francisco. Here are his top 5 favorite play areas in no particular order. Four paws up for every one!

1. Fort Funston. Whether you choose to wander the trails and hike the dunes, or head all the way down to the beach, this is an enormous slice of doggy heaven. It’s a wonderful place for humans to visit too. While dogs galore race all about, you can admire gorgeous coastal views, check out weekend hang gliders, scout out sand dollars on the beach or watch for wildlife. I’ve spotted hawks, whales and dolphins here! This place is so big that you can’t see it all in a single visit. Visit often and choose a different route each time. You’ll feel like you escaped the City and your dog will adore you for it. A solid recall is a must as this “park” is unfenced. There are doggy water fountains on the main paved trail and in the parking lot.


Glorious leash-free Ocean Beach

2. Ocean Beach. You may not realize it, but two stretches of Ocean Beach are open to leash-free pooches. They are the area south of Sloat Boulevard and a much larger area north of Stairwell 21. The larger area is Vinnie’s favorite because there’s loads of room to break into a full out gallop. This beach is unfenced so make sure your dog is trained to come to you when you call him. Bring your own water and some for your pup as there are no water fountains.
3. Upper Douglass Dog Park. This park is tucked into the hills overlooking Noe Valley at Douglass and 27th. It’s fenced except for the narrow entrance. Besides a large flat 3-acre grassy field, there are steep rocky outcroppings at one end of the park where nimble and fleet-footed canines scramble up and down. Hike a hidden trail that ascends the rocks in one corner and weaves among the tall trees overlooking the park, and you’ll feel like you’re in a forest, far from the City. Big rocks and tree logs make nice spots to perch while your pooch plays. This park has a dog water fountain. The City and Bay views from just outside the park are lovely.

4. St. Mary’s Dog Park. If your dog is still honing his recall skills, this park’s for him. It’s fully-fenced so you can relax, big enough for chase, fetch and frisbee, but not so big that you won’t be able to find him. You won’t find gravel or hard-packed dirt here. Most of the park is lush grass where dogs love to roll and frolick. Shrubbery and trees create natural hide-and-seek pockets for dogs who are so inclined. This park is located at Murray Avenue & Justin Drive and has a dog water fountain.
5. Stern Grove. Many people don’t realize that Stern Grove’s not just for humans. It’s got a couple of leash-free dog parks. The best and largest is the Pine Lake play area, located off of Crestlake and Vale in San Francisco. At 3.3 acres,it never feels crowded even though it’s heavily-used by dogs in the know. A paved path that loops around the huge grassy expanse provides a nice jogging or walking route and a welcome alternative to standing around while your dog plays. This park’s not enclosed, but it sits in a deep natural valley and is far enough from streets that you needn’t worry about your dog running into traffic. There are two dog water fountains and free parking in the adjoining lot.

If you’ve never visited these parks, get out there now while the days are still on the longer side. Don’t forget to take poop bags. And if there are other “4 paw” SF dog parks your pooch loves, by all means, post a comment and let us know about it.