How to Use Dog Parks to Treat Dog Aggression

USA Dog Behavior Podcast

One of the most common mistakes I see is when owners bring their aggressive dogs to dog parks as a way to "socialize" them. Not only can this be triggering for reactive dogs - making things worse, but it can also put other humans and dogs in an unsafe situation.
In this episode, I’ll explain how you can make the most of dog parks to alleviate your dog’s fear of other dogs or humans (fear is the root cause of their aggression). If you practice the exercise I discuss in this episode just two times a week for 20 minutes, you can expect to see improvement in your dog.
I discuss the importance of properly managing the threshold distance for your dog in order to make progress with your dog’s aggression in this episode. I also cover how to integrate tools and treat delivery techniques into this behavior modification exercise.
Be sure to watch for next week’s episode where I’ll be focusing on everything you need to know about managing your dog’s aggression around other people.
Key Takeaways:
[2:45] Why Your Reactive Dog Should Avoid Going Into Dog Parks
[4:35] Why This Exercise Can Be More Effective Than Daily Walks
[7:50] What Kind of Dog Park Is Best for These Exercises
[9:15] How to Conduct This Exercise at Dog Parks
[14:00] Maximizing Tools to Maintain Threshold Distance
[17:10] How to Track and Evaluate Your Dog’s Progress
[21:50] How Long Should You Practice This Set of Exercises
[22:50] Achieving the Ultimate Goal of These Exercises
[23:25] What to Expect for the Next Episode
About Scott Sheaffer
Scott Sheaffer, CCBC-KA, CDBC, CPDT-KA, is a certified dog behavior consultant who has worked with thousands of dog owners and their aggressive dogs. Scott specializes in the assessment and treatment of fear, anxiety, aggression, and phobias in dogs six months and older.

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Disclaimer
If you have a dog who is aggressive and dangerous to humans, it is important that you immediately consult directly with an experienced and certified canine behavior consultant who specializes in dog aggression to humans. Take proper measures to ensure that your dog is never in a position to injure anyone. The information presented in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is neither intended nor implied to replace the need for the direct involvement of an experienced and certified canine behavior consultant who specializes in dog aggression to humans. Scott Sheaffer, the Grumpy Dogs podcast and USA Dog Behavior, LLC, are not liable for any incidents or outcomes resulting from following the advice given in this podcast.