The (Unwritten) Dog Park Rules We All Wish You Would Follow

As someone that enjoys going to the local dog park almost as much as my dog, there are quite a few written and unwritten rules that we wish other patrons would follow. We glare, whisper, and comment, but people do not seem to understand our frustrations. These rules are common sense--well we think so at least, but I guess to everyone else, they are not.

1. Do not bring human/dog food into the park.
I can understand forgetting and bringing a few dog treats into the park, but to the people that bring entire picnics into the park, they are asking for trouble. Most (if not all) dogs are motivated by food and are not below stealing food from an unsuspecting visitor. THIS IS A DOG PARK, not a family park where you can have a picnic.

2. Keep your children right next to you or at home
Most puppies and some older dogs do not understand how to interact with small children. They often see them as other puppies due to their size and will try to wrestle with them. This does not mean that the puppy is aggressive, it means the puppy is a puppy. Dogs will run and chase each other and if your young child is in the way, they will not necessarily notice and you kid might get run over. There is a reason that dogs must be leashed in a children's park--for safety reasons. This exact reasons is why there are dog parks. If your child is not tall enough to push a dog off of them or able to understand dog behavior, they are too young to be even six feet from their parents in a dog park. Remember, THIS IS A DOG PARK, not a children's park. Keep the kids off of the dog's play toys.

3. Do not bring anything with you that you would be afraid that would get destroyed
Dogs that are playing are not attentive. They run and play--often running into people or their items. THIS IS A DOG PARK, this is a place where they do not have to worry about ruining furniture.

4. Do not bring toys that you would not want to share with other dogs
Dogs steal and share toys. THIS IS A DOG PARK. There are a lot of dogs and they all want to play with the same toy. You can't expect the dogs not to be interested in the new looking toy.

5. Not all "Aggressive Breeds" are actually aggressive
Stop assuming "aggressive breeds" are actually aggressive, it depends on how they were raised.

6. Watch your dog!
You never know when your dog might get into trouble or decide to leave a large present in the middle of the field. Your dog is your responsibility. It might be a dog park, but the dog still needs to be supervised.

7. Pick up after your dog
This is self-explanatory.

But It Tasted So Good: Socks are For Feet Not For Eating

The weekend after Thornwald got back from his puppy sitter, he started acting lethargic and uninterested. At first, I thought he was just tired, but he started to walk with his head down, and by Tuesday, he started vomiting. This morning, I brought him to the vet and they did a x-ray and saw a sock (or a sock-like object) in his colon.

 

He is currently staying at the vet while they try to remove the sock. Hopefully, they will not have to resort to surgery. If he starts to feel better by the weekend, I have a few activities planned (light of course) for him. I just hope he starts to feel better soon!

Pet Smart vs Petco vs That Pet Place vs Pet Supplies Plus

As much as I'd like to individually compare items at each store, that is not what this post is about. I will be comparing the setup, product selection, and atmosphere's of each pet store. These are the four pet stores that are closest to me, but I will review any new stores that I visit outside of Lancaster, PA. 

Pet Smart

I've been to a lot of Pet Smarts and I have always liked the atmosphere. I'm pretty sure that's why I always return! The employees at my local Pet Smart remember Waldo and I are always helpful. They have a large selection of everything I could possibly need. I've found dog aspirin to waterless shampoo! Their selection on most items is impressive and I love that they have a Martha Stewart line. I usually get Waldo's food at Pet Smart because of the location and how we are treated in the store. Every Pet Smart I have been to has been similar. 

Petco

The atmosphere of Petco isn't as open and the layout isn't as easy to maneuver, but it isn't difficult. I've found a lot of unique products at Petco, especially toys. They have more pop culture-based toys and organic food than Pet Smart. Their pet accessory section is actually larger than Pet Smart at most stores and I've seen some cute and functional clothing or protective wear for animals. They also have a 5% back towards another purchase which would be great if the nearest store wasn't 20 minutes away. It might just be me, but I like straight aisles better than aisles around a hub. That's probably why I prefer Pet Smart over Pet Co. 

That Pet Place

This place is massive. The aquarium that is attached (part of That Fish Place) is also a store. As for the fish part of the store, I wasn't very impressed. It seemed very dingy and bland. It didn't seem like the setup was purposeful and the aisles were messy. The pet store was better, but not as well organized as other pet stores. The toy selection was great, but it didn't seem much better than any other store that I've seen. There were a few unique products that I haven't seen and a large selection of dog food, but there the rest of the sections seemed bare. As for the other animals, the store had more than most. I saw more bird and fish supplies than any other store, but for dogs, there wasn't anything that special. 

Pet Supplies Plus

I had never heard of this store even though it is a chain store. The store closest to me is quite small, but they have a large selection of food and toys. The only other section that seemed full was the health and bath section. There were very few choices in accessories, crates, bowls, travel, etc. Since Waldo travels with me almost everywhere, I usually stop in those sections so I was disappointed. 

Out of these four stores, I have to stick with Pet Smart. The atmosphere and location are two major points that influenced my decision, but it also has larger sections than two of the other stores. There are some perks to the other stores, but unless my first choices fall through, I probably won't be making the trip out there.