Dog playground - examples and care

Author: Peter Berry
Date Of Creation: 18 February 2021
Update Date: 16 December 2024
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A study released in early 2020 by the University of Helsinki, Finland, shows that there is an increasing number of dogs with anxiety. Tests were carried out on more than 13,700 dogs in the country and the result was that 72.5% of pets had stress-related disorders[1].

Among the main reasons for this, according to the study, are the behavior of the guardians themselves - who transmit the day-to-day stress to their pets - and also the excessive noise in cities.

The best way to combat stress in your dog is through exercise and leisure. And that's why in this PeritoAnimal article we will talk about dog playground - examples and care, a good option for leisure and socializing for your best friend. We will also tell you what you should pay attention to before taking your dog to such a park and also other tips for healthy practices for your pet! Good reading!


Dog playground

Playgrounds for dogs are becoming more and more fashionable. In addition to open-air spaces, some malls across the country are creating dog parks so our furry friends can have fun. The main objective is to promote the socialization of the pet and, of course, encourage him to exercise and expend energy.

In Europe and the United States, it is very common to find small demarcated areas within large parks exclusively for the fun of dogs. In some of them, there is even the separation for puppies and another for adults through bars, which has become increasingly common in large cities here in Brazil as well.

The first dog playground in the United States appeared in 1979 in California[2]. Since then and with a lot of creativity, different parks have emerged.

O dog playground it is nothing more than a shared park designed for dog play. They are usually public spaces and without restrictions for breed or size, the important thing is that the animals are healthy and know how to deal with the company of other pets. Also, you need to pay attention to the safety of toys to make sure they do not offer any risk to your dog.


Usually, these parks are delimited by railings and have only one entrance gate, to prevent escapes from other possible points. But many people are also setting up playgrounds even in the house yard. Let's see some photos with different examples?

elaborated projects

There are some well thought-out ideas, from a pool for dogs, to wooden platforms that unite different equipment.

Adaptations

Some playgrounds can be made with well-known objects such as tires or baskets. The goal, remember, is to provide fun for the dog.

large areas

When assembling a dog playground, the ideal is to put each equipment with a minimum distance between them so the dog has enough room to run.


Health

Exercising in spaces like this is important to ensure your furry friend's health.

Interaction

Interaction between dogs is one of the goals of playgrounds.

Necessary Care in a Dog Playground

Exercising is good not only for you, but also for your dog. And our furry friends demand different health care, food, hygiene and physical activity according to your stage of life. While an older animal needs to compensate for the loss of muscle mass and reduced metabolism, a puppy needs to ensure optimal body development and strengthen its immune system to reach adulthood in good health.

However, before taking your puppy for exercise and outdoor walks, it is essential that you are all right with the vaccination schedule and consult a veterinarian about the pet's health status to ensure it is in shape.

If everything is fine, your dog will be happy and ready to discover a new world with you. But you must think of a slow and gradual physical preparation. Therefore, it is best to start with gentle, low-impact activities, such as short walks interspersed with rest periods.

But the playground for dogs it is not just a space for exercising, but mainly for socializing with other animals. And it is just in this aspect that specialists reinforce that some care must be taken.

According to the president of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers of the United States, Nick Hof, in an interview with the New York Times [2]the dog playground is not a safe place for furry ones under 1 year of age. In these first 12 months of life, the puppy is more sensitive to the experiences and living with so many older animals can be harmful to him and can affect his insecurity. After all, in theory adult puppies have gone through all of their formative socialization experiences, so it is ideal to encourage your puppy's interaction with other puppies. You may be interested in the article what to teach a puppy in the first year.

In addition to worrying about puppies, there are other items that require your attention before taking your dog to a dog playground:

1. Vaccination

remember that your dog must be vaccinated and with the updated vaccine calendar. This is important both for your own protection and to avoid infecting other animals. If he is not immunized, he can either transmit or contract disease.

2. Collar

THE identification collar it's fundamental. Be sure to put an up-to-date contact of yours.
Interacting with other dogs requires extra attention to worms and parasites. Only take your dog to a playground if he has all his medications up to date, such as ticks and fleas.

3. bitch in heat

Another problematic situation that is best avoided is taking your bitch when in heat. This can cause a lot of discomfort and even fights, so the playground is not an option for these times.

4. Integration

If your dog is not very adept at social interaction with other animals and can pose some danger to other dogs, you already know. It is better to avoid these crowds and try to encourage social interaction little by little.

5. Eyes on the pet!

Getting distracted on a dog playground is very common. Usually the tutors are talking to each other while the pets have fun. But it's good to be aware of everything they're doing and be prepared to act quickly if necessary. Avoid fiddling with your cell phone.

6. Water

Do not forget bring water for your dog, after so much effort and a lot of energy wasted, he will certainly want to cool off and needs to stay hydrated

How to make a dog playground

Whether or not you have time to take your dog to a dog playground or he's not that sociable, how about taking the park to your backyard? There are simple things that can be done and many materials you already have can be reused.

Many public playgrounds may not have toys capable of encouraging mental stimulation and adequate socialization. And in most of our cities this option doesn't even exist. While your dog may be perfectly happy playing in your backyard, turning a part of it into a mini dog park can provide a lot of fun not only for him, but for you in comfort and safety.

Building Your Own Dog Playground

There are a number of things you should consider when it comes to building a dog playground in your backyard:

1. Location

First of all, the localization. Consider the total space and layout of your yard. You probably don't want the play area to include your flower gardens or the patio where you barbecue. At the same time, it should be in a place where you can keep an eye on the dog if you let him out on his own. After evaluating all of this, you'll probably find that the best option is to set up the playground in a side yard, which is accessible but separate from the outdoor family living area.

2. Space

It's a good idea to think about the space from your dog's point of view, that is, there must be plenty of room for him to run, jump and play. Obstacles and equipment should not be placed too close together. Consider whether there is anything in space that might be dangerous for your dog, such as poisonous plants or something like an off-limits spot where he might be tempted to dig.

3. Fun and comfort

Remember that the playground must be fun, safe and comfortable for your dog. With that in mind, here are some things you might want to include:

  • A doghouse or a shaded area where he can escape obstacles.
  • An outdoor dog bed for rest.
  • A water feature to squirt around and cool down.
  • Dishes of food and water, and a mat, platform or small patio on which to place them.
  • Comfortable walking paths. It's good to use materials that are comfortable for your dog's paws, such as smooth stones, bricks or concrete.
  • A toilet and a cleaning station. Consider using artificial grass here for easy cleaning and to protect your lawn from even retaining bacteria.
  • An obstacle course or agility course.
  • A proper dig site, like a sandbox.

what should be avoided

When building a dog playground, knowing what to leave out is just as important as what to put inside. Here's a list of things that could spoil the fun in this space:

  • If you are used to spraying your garden with pesticides, so the playground should be placed well away from the garden.
  • Toxic plants or flowers. See here in this article a list of plants poisonous for dogs. Make sure none of them grow within the confines of your dog's play space.
  • cactuses thorns or any plants that have thorns or needles.
  • Sharp edges, hot surfaces or objects that may pose a risk of asphyxia.
  • Also, make sure the fence around your park is in good condition, with no splinters, broken pieces, or cracks that it can escape through. Avoid the clutter of the area with too many obstacles or toys. Especially in small spaces, less is more.

How to motivate the dog to play

The games and social interactions are fundamental for the dog's well-being and happiness, for this reason, motivating him to play should be one of his main priorities in his daily life. Plus, it's an excellent way to improve your relationship.

In general, outside the home, the dog is in a much more diverse environment, rich in smells, people and stimuli. On the street we have a wide variety of options to motivate your puppy to play and exercise with you.

Thus, it is possible to take him to the park and use any toy to motivate him (balls, bones, teethers,...) as well as objects from the natural environment (sticks and branches). There are times when dogs don't seem to be interested in conventional toys, so you can look for one that makes noise to get your attention.

Give one tour in places he doesn't know it is also a good option to stimulate him. Exploring new environments can be a very interesting attraction.

The dogs are very fond of human companionship, especially those who take care of them and protect them. So to motivate them you can also play chasing them, he will certainly find it fun.

And if you want to find out about indoor activities, watch the video on how to play with your dog at home:

Activities for older dogs

As with us humans, when a dog begins its old age stage its physiology changes. he becomes slower and less active, which is a consequence of the deterioration that tissues suffer and also your nervous system. But all these characteristics of old age do not prevent you from playing with it.

There are a number of activities for older dogs that you can and should do with your furry friend, how to do it. massage. In addition to being a delight and very relaxing, the massage reinforces the union between tutor and dog, as he feels loved, safe and comfortable.

Another thing you should do is take it to outdoor tours. If he cannot walk long distances, it is possible to take him by car, bicycle or public transport to parks, woods or even to the beach. Remember that contact with nature and the sun are extremely beneficial for him.

Playing and walking around every day is still necessary and if possible, take him for a swim, a great activity to strengthen your muscles. It's good to avoid places that have a lot of current so that he doesn't need to apply excessive force in the swim.

Environmental enrichment for dogs

You may have heard of the term "environmental enrichment" for animals. Know that the practice of environmental enrichment for dogs is also extremely common and is, basically, a way to enrich the environment that surrounds the animal. That is, a series of measures aimed at improve the animal's quality of life in captivity and that allow them to better express their natural behaviors and that the psychologically stimulate.

In addition to being a great way to prevent behavioral problems, environmental enrichment for dogs can also be an excellent treatment for problems related to anxiety and stress. There are five types of environmental enrichment:

  • Cognitive Environmental Enrichment
  • Social environmental enrichment
  • Sensory environmental enrichment
  • Physical environmental enrichment
  • Environmental food enrichment

And within these five types, there are simple actions that can be performed to stimulate the furry, such as games and games, training, spreading food around the house so that he eats more slowly, walks with the dog and the agility circuit, which has gained more and more followers.

Agility Circuit

Agility is a very fun and complete sport, suitable for all types of dogs. over 18 months old. In it, a guide (tutor) leads the dog through a pre-established course, while overcoming various obstacles following an order and time. Finally, judges determine the winning dog based on its skill and dexterity.

The sport, which has more and more fans around the world, develops the dog's intelligence, obedience, agility and concentration, in addition to strengthening its muscles. For starters, it is necessary that the dog already know the basic obedience commands.

Agility circuits have a great variety of obstacles randomly placed on the terrain where the competition takes place. The number and variety of obstacles is what determines the degree of difficulty and speed to which the dog will be subjected. There is a defined time margin to complete the entire set route in a certain order.

Before you can enroll your dog in competitions to start agility, you must start properly to achieve the basic level. It is important that this process take place gradually without forcing the puppy or physically exploiting him.




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