The Dharma of Dog Parks

Our thirteen-month-old lab, Bodhi, might be the best pup we’ve ever had. He’s full of love and energy … sometimes too much love and energy. Our dog greets everyone as though he or she is his long-lost friend. While Bodhi’s adoration for others is adorable, his jumping on top of them isn’t.

We’ve had many dogs, but none of them were jumpers, except for Bella. But she’s only eleven pounds. Maybe Bodhi jumps because Bella jumps. Still, his behavior is not acceptable … especially since we’re all getting older, and I don’t want his whole-hearted “hellos” to topple over our friends.

Our vet tech suggested we start taking Bodhi to dog parks, claiming the interaction with multiple pups and people will help regulate his nervous system, perhaps prompting him to stop jumping.

“Why not,” I thought, hoping this could be the cure I’m searching for.

And so, my husband and I began taking Bodhi and Bella to our nearby dog park. Two weeks into this experiment, I’m not so sure he’s jumping less. But our visits have enlightened me. I never understood how much we can learn from dogs. In fact, I’d wager to say that if society followed “dogs’ rules,” we’d live in a much happier world.

What if we adopted “dog park guidelines?” I suppose life would be simpler if we adhered to their ways:

1.        Greet everyone with love. Even before we arrive at the gated area, several dogs line the fence, already engaging Bodhi. (Envision Norm entering Cheers.) Sure, sometimes there’s a bark, but it’s all playful, enticing him to join the fun. And once we’re inside, dogs seem to come from nowhere—sniffing, nuzzling, then romping with one another … and of course, a bit of humping. It’s one of the warmest welcome I’ve ever witnessed. And what’s even more endearing is that size, color, and breed do not matter. Sure, small dogs may gravitate toward one another. But no one is ignored due to how they look. People could learn a lot from our pups in this department. If only we could embrace those different from us with love and compassion.

2.        Share. Even though some of the owners bring balls, ALL the dogs get to play fetch. Usually, they take turns retrieving the balls, sometimes stealing the ball from one another. But so far, I haven’t seen any harsh takeaways or aggressive behavior. They’re just having fun. It’s as though dogs know there are enough “ball throws” for everyone. While it’s natural for some to dominate, every dog seems to get a turn at some point. If only we realized that there is enough for everyone.

3.        Clean up after your dog. Plastic bags are readily available, and so are trash cans. Everyone takes care of what needs to be picked up. It’s really a simple rule. No drama. Just clean up your dog’s mess. Imagine if we all followed the same ethos. How different our environment would look.!

4.        Honor your off days. Sometimes, we don’t get our beauty rest or are just not our kind, loving selves. The only time I’ve ever seen a dog be somewhat hostile, the owner was on top of it and gracefully removed her dog. This pup just needed some time away from the canine chaos. I’m sure we’ll see him again, and I bet he’ll be perfectly fine. We all need time-outs. It doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong, but it does signal we need space away from others.

5.        Check to make sure your friends are alright. They may not want company. But then again, they might. Dogs seem to be masters at including everyone. And if one doesn’t want to socialize, a quick growl is all that’s needed to let the others know they want to be left alone. Dogs seem to “get it.” So often, people miss cues as to when another wants solitude vs. when they crave affection.

6.        Know when it’s time to rest or go home. Dogs have no problem taking a break when they need to. They’ll just plop down, exhausted, and recoup. But sometimes they, like us, don’t want to leave the party. So far, the owners are aware of their dog’s behavior, realizing when to call it a day. I wish humans knew how to regulate themselves, honoring rest and sleep.

These lessons from the dog park remind me to pay more attention to Bodhi, Bella, and their new friends. Our dogs embody more than love and energy … these furry creatures also possess a great deal of wisdom. If only we’d stop and observe these beautiful beings more closely … I bet we’d find some of the answers our world so desperately needs.