A: Yes!

A: Dogs that threaten, bully, or intimidate dogs or people are not allowed in the park. Dogs with a bite history (a bite to a dog or person that broke skin) are not allowed. See the Park Rules section to learn more.

A: Unfamiliar dogs, particularly those giving off a sexual scent, attract a lot of attention from other dogs. In an off-leash setting intact males and females in heat are a magnet for other dogs and can quickly become overwhelmed by the other dogs in the park. As arousal level increases in all the dogs present the risk of a fight also increases.

A: The 4-month age limit has been established to minimize the risk of disease, physical injury, and emotional trauma. Please see a professional trainer for puppy classes that involve puppy socialization for dogs 2-6 months old. It's important that your puppy have lots of great experiences with other dogs and learns good social skills BEFORE you bring him to an off leash park.

A: Regardless of which dog started the scuffle a quiet break is appropriate to lower the arousal level of each dog. If the incident was small you can re-enter the park after a quiet walk around the block to give your dog the opportunity to end the play session on a good note.

A: Mixing leashed and unleashed dogs often leads to trouble because the leashed dog either experiences frustration or is quickly overwhelmed by the other dogs. All dogs within the park need to be off leash. If you have concerns about off-leash play contact a trainer about supervised playgroups so you can learn more about your dog's social skills before coming to the park.

A: In the event of a fight you may need to quickly leash your dog so you can leave the park without further incident.

A: In older dogs a nice greeting followed by moving through the park to investigate things together is great socialization time. In young dogs play involves bouncy movements, often side to side, that is punctuated by short rests. Wrestling matches and games of chase that go on too long raise arousal levels and can escalate into scuffles. Monitor your dog's play and interrupt every now and then to lower your dog's arousal level to keep the play session friendly. Don't allow your dog to overwhelm another dog (excessive jumping on, pinning down, chasing). If you aren't sure how the other dog feels, call your dog to you and see if the other dog comes over to get your dog's attention or uses that opportunity to escape.