Dogs are meant to be pack animals so, if you are Pet Parent to a single canine, how do you achieve socialization for your pooch? Setting play dates with other dog owners is a great idea but sometimes it's nice to be able to jump in your vehicle and set off to a public venue in order to get some much needed exercise and play time.

Not everyone is sure how to approach a dog park though and may be unsure if there are guidelines and/or unwritten codes of conduct. During a recent visit to D'Arcy's A.R.C., an animal shelter here in Winnipeg, I noticed a great little brochure that offered some suggestions on how to Dog Park. After I finished my day of volunteering, I pocketed the brochure entitled "Pet-iquette, A Guide to Dog Park Etiquette and Safety" and received permission from the D'Arcy's A.R.C. team to build an insightful and helpful article based on their publication. (thanks guys!)

Some "must haves" of dog parking are:

• ALL dogs present at the dog park must be up to date in vaccinations and be licensed. (remember to have the tags on your dog please)
• Pups under the age of 4 months, sick and/or recovering dogs and, dogs in heat should not be brought to the dog park.
• It is expected that you provide care and control over your dog for the entirety of your dog park visit, most notably if you are off leash.
• The dog park is not a place where you unclip your dog and proceed to ignore them until it's time to leave. It is important to monitor your dog at all times. You need to step in:
  • when you see bullying taking place, for example, mounting is a form of dominance and should be stopped immediately.
  • if hackles are up, teeth are bared, ears are flat and/or excessive growling is present.
  • if your pooch is jumping up on and/or overcrowding humans.
  • if there is excessive barking and/or excessive marking of territory.
• Watch your pup around any children that are present, some dogs are not sure how to act around little ones, keep your eyes open to these interactions.
• You MUST clean up after your dog, removal of dog waste is your job so please remember to bring a supply of poop bags.
• Ask owners for help with their dog if they require a correction for unwanted behaviour, do not take this task on yourself.
• Bringing treats to the dog park is not advised, it can cause a swarming of dogs around you and other unwanted behaviour.
• Be aware of the leash / off leash boundaries at parks and act accordingly. Some people are not comfortable in off leash areas so please be mindful and respectful of where your off leash pooch is in relation to park zones.

So, what if the worst happens and your dog is attacked or attacks another dog? Dog fights happen and, it's the main reason why guardians should be monitoring the play at all times. Once they start, a dog fight is loud, scary and, can escalate in ferocity and numbers quite quickly. There are techniques available to help with breaking up dog fights, we're including a video here for you to review. 

IF there are injuries, the owner should absolutely step up with an offer to assist with Vet bills. Being involved in Rescue, our Pack has seen many worst case scenarios evolve. We most definitely want dogs and their owners to have the best time possible at off leash venues and, we hope that the tips and tricks provided by D'Arcy's A.R.C. and the Pack will assist in a safe and happy dog park experience.

If you are one of the many who tend to let a work out regimen fall to the wayside due to an extremely busy life (or any of a thousand reasons), The Pack Project has some simple ideas on how to incorporate some simple fitness moves into your day. Our Pack knows what it's like to arrive home after a long day at work and have all best intentions go out the window  as we focus on Fido.

As a pet parent, it's likely that any time you set aside to do some physical training is also time spent with your cat and/or dog. It's also likely that any routine is unapologetically interrupted by fur babies which can be either amusing or frustrating or both!!! You might find as you read on that you are already doing some of these exercises, so please take some credit for the work you are already doing with regards to your fitness goals!

 The Walk n' Stretch: When you are out walking your dog, there will be plenty of stops along the way where aside from staring at your dog, there isn't a lot going on. Why not make the most of these moments by doing a quick calf or ham string stretch? Alternate legs throughout the walk and, throw in some arm stretches for good measure!

• Caution: do not become so absorbed in your stretches that your pooch takes advantage of the opportunity to drag you down the sidewalk with arms flailing trying to keep up

Pooper Scooping Squats: (not as gross as it sounds) OK, maybe it is gross, you be the judge! Poop scooping is a part of having animals, whether it's indoors or out so you might as well make it work for you. Try to make the most of the bend and scoop action by being mindful of your body posture. Or, maybe you just want to hold your breath, get in and get out as quickly as possible, your decision!

Dog In / Cat Out: This move is not for the beginner or uncoordinated! Scenario, you have dog at the door, he is tap dancing to be let out for a pee. Suddenly, your indoor cat stealths in and attempts to shadow the dog into the yard. Nice try kitty kat but, us multiple pet / multi species pet parents know how to handle this situation without batting an eye!

• With one hand on the door, prepare to open it for the dog
• Place the opposite foot gently in front of kitty's chest
• Now simultaneously open the door with your hand, extending the arm all the way out and leaning forward while simultaneously sweeping the cat gently back and away from the doorway with your foot, be prepared for a jail break attempt by the cat
• Next, ensure the dog has moved far away from the door so you can close it quickly before the cat outwits you and dashes past as you balance precariously on one foot
• Repeat often as your dog's favorite game to play is the inside/outside game
• Bonus points awarded for switching arms/legs each time your dog needs to be let in/out
  

The Cat on Lap: To begin, have a cat curl up on your lap at the exact moment you intend to get up to do something. Because he is so adorable and purring in his sleep, you make every effort not to wake him. Consequently you are now pinned in position. When enough time has passed that it feels like your bladder is going to explode, you will have mastered this intense and challenging pose. Getting up without waking the cat and falling on your face due to utter numbness in your limbs is worth extra points and a "nice one".

Meditate & Gravitate: Similar to Cat on Lap, this exercise takes supreme focus and mind control. First, take a pose as if about to meditate. You may actually meditate if you choose! Prepare to enjoy a few moments of silence and reflection. You will note that as you reach a level of complete relaxation that any pet you have in your home will find it necessary to invade your personal space. Your options:

• gently fend them off while attempting to maintain your meditation pose, bonus points for eyes staying closed
• allow them to circle you and, take contemplative note of the ridiculous amount of investigation being done through sniffing and/or poking with noses and paws even though you all live together and all you're doing is sitting on the floor so why can't you guys give me minute, huh? (oops, that isn't very yoga like, back to calm....)
• combine your meditation pose with the invasive flopping of dogs and/or cats on your crossed legs and otherwise hanging off your body (guys! honestly!)
• completely give up and do something productive because your legs are still tingly from Cat on Lap and the dog's wet nose is bingo dabbing your face into a sopping mess

Downward Facing Dog:  An actual yoga pose that is both extremely relaxing and good for the entire body. For those not into yoga, it's like posing your body into an inverted V with your hands and feet planted firmly on the floor, about shoulder width apart. This move is HUGELY popular with companion animals and they will, one and all, feel drawn to stare at you from every possible angle, lay underneath you (preventing you from collapsing from the strain) and, otherwise attempt to knock you off balance (but you have to keep your balance because the cat is stretched out under your downward facing dog so good luck)

• Bonus points for being able to hold your camera and snap a shot through your legs of your dog who is standing behind you wondering just what exactly is going on here human? but! careful not to crack up laughing because you are now LITERALLY downward facing dog and it's pretty hilarious when you think about it (lol) BUT still be careful because the cat is UNDER your downward facing dog while you are downward facing your dog! phew! that's enough working out for now!