Danger Zone: Navigating Your Neighborhood Dog Park After The School Holidays

The school holidays are finally over and it is always nice to return to the familiarity of the daily routine after a long, fun break. Things can get very hectic for the past few weeks - with you, your family, and your beloved pet trying to get back into the swing of things - and it is important to remember that when you return to your local dog park, things may not be as you left them.

Let's face it: visitors often cause accidental damage, even after they leave. The neighborhood dog park, that happy place that was once packed with familiar faces and friendly wagging tails, may have become a strange environment to both you and your dog during the holidays with lots of visiting people and their canine friends. The out of town visitors to the dog park may well have turned everything upside down, according to your pet at least. The park will be full of new, different, and sometimes, unpleasant smells. It is recommended that you keep your pet on leash when you initially return to the pet-friendly areas until you have had a chance to check out the altered surroundings.

Before you enter the park, take the time to walk along the perimeter of the fence, to make sure that none of the dogs that have previously visited the area have dug holes through which your pet could escape. Check along any potential obstacles for hidden dangers as well. Make sure that the holiday visitors did not leave their own dog toys behind in the play area, and dispose of anything that doesn't belong, especially those that could potentially harm your dog. This will not only make the park safe for you and your pet but for others who use it as well.

It is very important that you keep an eye on your dog for the first few times back at the pet-friendly area. See to it that she is behaving normally while she is there. After the excitement of the holidays, some dogs may find the return to their old park boring and even awkward, while others may be overly excited to see their old friends again. We suggest taking the time to comfort and reinforce your dog's confidence for the first few times that you return to the park, now that the holidays have passed and you're back to your old routine.

For more expert advice on how to manage your pet when in a dog park or pets allowed accommodation, visit http://www.takeyourpet.com.au -- your one-stop shop for pet-friendly advice. Subscribe to the newsletter for the chance to win a FREE pet-friendly holiday!