• ever bring a dog that is under 4 months of age
• take sensitive dogs to an enclosed dog park where there are more than 2 dogs per every 20 square yards of space
• take your dog to a dog park if s/he is uncomfortable --  take your dog to a place that s/he enjoys
• bring or use treats and toys when other dogs are nearby
• allow dogs to form loose packs
• allow a dog to bully another
• ever let your dog off-leash in an un-fenced dog park if he/she is not responsive to your verbal commands
• worry if some dogs don’t play with other dogs in a dog park
• bring intact males or females in estrus to a dog park
• spend your time talking on a cell phone - you must supervise your dog at all times and be able to give your dog your full attention

Do

• consult your veterinarian about your dog’s overall health before going to a dog park
• make sure your dog is up-to-date on his/her vaccinations
• observe the dogs in the dog park to see if there are any potential health or behavior problems
• clean up after your dog
• supervise dogs when they are playing and interrupt any rough play
• be willing to leave a dog park if you feel that your dog is either being a
  bully, the play is getting too rough or your dog is just not having fun
• check to be sure there aren’t a large number of intact males at the park
• make sure your young dog is not being bullied or learning bad manners from the other dogs
• be cautious about taking advice from other park patrons who are not dog professionals
• check to see if there is a knowledgeable human on staff to supervise the park – most parks will not have this, but if there is someone, it is a bonus