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FAQ's
I was at the park the other day and one of
other dogs kept bothering my dog. The dog's owner saw what was going
on but did nothing. What should I do if this happens again?
There is a wide range in dog play styles: some dogs play rough, growling and
snapping as they play; some include humping behavior in their repertoire; some
dogs, especially energetic puppies between 6 and 12 months of age, don't seem
to know when to stop. One of the things dogs learn at a dog park is that different
dogs play differently. Sometimes owners who are not used to these different play
styles mistake play aggression for true aggression. If the other dog is showing
true aggression toward your dog remove your dog from the area and notify park
staff of the situation. Aggressive dogs (dogs who attack other dogs with the
intent to harm them) are not welcome at Shaggy Pines. If the other dog is simply
playing in a style that your dog is uncomfortable with, you have several options:
(1) move your dog to another park of the park, (2) give your dog a chance to
see if he can figure out how to handle the situation himself.
Do I need to worry about my dog getting
fleas at the park?
Shaggy Pines management does not expect to have a problem with fleas at the
park. The park covers a large area (14 acres) and much of it is in the sun
- these conditions are not conducive to flea reproduction. We do strongly recommend
using flea and heartworm preventatives as part of your pets health maintenance
program.
Do I need to worry about my dog getting
a disease at the park?
When someone signs a membership application one of the rules they are agreeing
to is to not bring their dog to the park if it is sick. Another rule they are
agreeing to follow is to keep their dog up-to-date on its shots. Proof of the
following vaccinations are required to join Shaggy Pines:
- Rabies
- Bordetella
- Distemper
- negative fecal exam
Maintaining these vaccinations will help insure a healthy park environment.
At what age can a puppy be brought to the
park?
We leave that decision up to you and your vet, because there are two ways to
view this. It is very important for puppies to be socialized around other people
and other dogs during their first few months of life - so you want your pup
to get as much exposure to strange, new things as possible, but at the same
time, it takes time for a puppy to build up immunity to diseases such as parvo
and distemper, and some vets recommend that you wait a month or two after the
pup has received all its shots before letting it be around a lot of other dogs.
Shaggy Pines has no minimum age restrictions for puppies - we simply recommend
that you follow your vet's advice, whatever that may be.
***After consulting with
several vets on this topic we now require all puppies to have had
thier first two rounds of the 3 part distemper series before entering
the park.***
My kids love dogs - why can't children
under 10 visit the park?
We'd love to be able to safely let children visit the park, but unfortunately
children are at greater risk of being injured at a dog park than are older
children and adults. A small child is more likely to be at a dog's face level,
and more likely to be bitten in the face if a bite occurs. Young children often
run instead of walk, and scream instead of talk - these actions can cause some
dogs to get overly excited. Young children sometimes have not learned that
not all dogs like to be petted. Groups of large fast-running dogs can easily
knock a small child down. While we at Shaggy Pines firmly believe that kids
need to learn proper behavior with dogs, we feel that doing so in an area with
so many large dogs is not in the child's best interest.
Can I bring non-member people with me to
the park? Is there a charge?
Member people can bring any number of non-member people with them to the park
at any time; there is no charge. These non-member people are considered your
guests, and you are responsible for their behavior while they are in the park.
Make sure they understand and follow all park rules.
Can I bring non-member dogs with me to
the park? Is there a charge?
You may bring to the park non-member dogs along with your members dogs any
time it is staffed (everyday 10a.m-6 p.m.). You will be expected to enter the
park through the building and pay the day rates for the non-member dogs ($8.00)
please remember to bring all required proof of vaccinations for the non-member
dog. The non-member dog will also need to be temperament tested, as a member
benefit you will not be charged for this screening.
I will be gone for a few days and my friend
will be taking care of my dog. Can I give my friend my key card/fob
and allow her to bring my dog to the park?
Yes, you can do this, but please make sure your friend understands that the
only dog she can bring to the park is your member dog (she can't bring her
non-member dog). Make sure she knows all park rules and agrees to follow them.
Make sure she understands that she should not give out your key card/fob to
anyone, or let anyone in the park. Make sure she understands and signs the
guest liability waiver located in the clubhouse. Even though you will not be
there with your friend, she will be considered your guest and you will be responsible
for her behavior while in the park.
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