What Safety Precautions Should I Take at an Illinois Dog Park?

 Posted on September 03, 2020 in Dog Bite Injuries

In the warm summer months, taking your dog to a dog park can be a fun activity for you and a great way for your dog to socialize and get exercise. However, because Illinois dog parks often allow dogs to run without a leash, there may be a greater risk of dog bite injuries. Before going to the park, you should take safety precautions that can protect you, your dog, and everyone around you.

Preparing For Your Trip to the Dog Park 

Dog park safety can start well before you arrive at the park itself. Here are some things you can do to promote a positive dog park experience:

• Train your dog well: Before you let your dog off-leash at a dog park, make sure that it understands commands including “sit,” “stay,” and “come,” and that it will respond to your commands regardless of the environment. You can also attend dog obedience classes to acclimate your dog to the presence of other dogs.

• Plan trips when the park is not crowded: The more dogs in a dog park, the harder it is to keep track of your own, and the more potential for dogs to feel scared or threatened. If you can visit a dog park at a time when there are fewer dogs and plenty of space, you may reduce the chances of a dog bite occurring.

• Avoid bringing toys: While you may think of a dog park as a great place to play fetch or tug-of-war with your dog’s favorite toy, this can promote aggressive behavior if your dog feels the need to defend its property.

• Pay close attention: While you are at the dog park, keep your focus on your dog the entire time. If you notice that your dog is misbehaving, or that another dog is demonstrating threatening behavior, be prepared to intervene or cut your trip short.

• Limit your time at the dog park: Dogs benefit from short bursts of exercise, but staying at a dog park for too long can wear them out and cause them to react more defensively or aggressively to other dogs. Keeping your trips to an hour or less is often a good rule of thumb.

If you or your dog are attacked by another dog at a dog park, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible and contact an attorney who can help you pursue compensation for your injuries. In many cases, an Illinois dog owner is liable for injuries his or her dog causes, especially if the attack was unprovoked.

Contact an Illinois Dog Bite Attorney Today

It can sometimes be challenging to establish liability for a dog bite occurring at a dog park, but at Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices, we can help you gather evidence and witness testimony to hold another dog’s owner accountable. Contact a DuPage County dog bite lawyer today at 630-552-6860 to request a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.akcpetinsurance.com/blog/dog-park-safety-tips