One-and-a-half-year-old Atlas is fully airborne above his older housemate, Apollo (six years old). This beautiful pair of silken windhounds are owned by Vince Hopkins and Elgin Mclaren of Saskatoon, Sask. Photo: Hayley Hais.

January 2023

Dog parks can be an outlet for our pets to have some fun off-leash and to socialize — but they can also be a danger zone.

Dog parks can be fun — but pay attention

Dog parks can be an outlet for our pets to have some fun off-leash and to socialize — but they can also be a danger zone. Some dogs’ behaviours are unpredictable: dogs can be bitten, get in fights or be attacked at off-leash parks. Signs of aggression in dogs include hard staring, snarling, growling, lunging, barking, snapping and biting. Aggression between dogs that are unfamiliar to one another can be due to fear, miscommunication or defensive, possessive or territorial behaviours.

How can you avoid these incidents? Stay alert, pay attention to other dogs, ensure that your dog responds to basic commands and keep a leash on hand.