Cedar Bark Park is one of the coolest public dog parks here in Austin. Not just for it's large swimming area, shaded awnings, dog playground equipment, or bathing stations but also because it is one of the best overall designed dog parks around town. Check out my quick tips to help you have a great time with your canine companion.

The spacious swimming area is located in the large dog section of the Bark Park. If you have a small dog, your designated play yard won't have access to this swimming area but you are not restricted from it either. Just be extra cautious and keep a lookout for dogs that might mistake your dog for a bunny. Even if your dog does not enjoy the water feature of the park your pup may still become dirty. The park does provide nice wash areas to clean up your dog after a rumble in the park. In both cases having a towel handy when you get back to your car will be nice. 

In my experience the dogs always seem nice and the people kept a close eye on their pups. The tough part about public dog parks is that not everybody is going to be aware when their dog is not being appropriate. Take time before going in to look around the park for any unwanted behavior from dogs or people. If you see a dog being too aggressive or a lot of owners connected to their phones instead of their canine companion then feel free to just take a walk around the Veterans Park instead. You might also find that dogs in one section in the park are playing better than another section. 

This park goes a long way to provide some waste management options for you in order to clean up your dog's mess. They have both bag stations and scoopers. Sadly I saw a lot of poop on the ground every time I have been there because owners decided not to take the responsibility to clean it up. Bring some bags with you if you are unfamiliar or do not like to use pooper scoopers just in case the park has run out of bags. One time I could not find any bags but I went ahead and used the scooper instead. 

It is always wise to make sure to check with your vet that your pup is up to date on vaccines because people may bring their sick dog with kennel cough or some other illness to the park. If your dog has an injury or is favoring anything going to the dog park might not be the right choice of exercise for your dog. This park has a lot of spacious areas for dogs to run around and play and this high activity may lead to your dog further injuring themselves if you are not careful. 

Like we have talked about before make sure that you are connected with your canine companion. It is always good to have your dog come to you and check in regularly. If they are off playing with other dogs, then make sure to maintain eye contact with them. A big mistake dog owners make at dog parks is only calling their dog to them when it is time to go home. At this point you will become the fun police and your dog may begin to ignore you when you call them. Ignoring you can become dangerous if a fight breaks out in the park between the dogs. Try to collect your dog about every five to ten minutes at the park to maintain a solid connection and avoid any dangerous situations.

Cedar Park Bark Park is an amazing public dog park and I hope these 5 Quick Tips help you have a great time with your canine companion. Let me know in the comments below if you have any suggestions of parks or dog friendly spots I should check out around Austin. 

From Pack Dog to Family Member,
Trevor Smith
"Life seems brighter with four paws at your side"
#besomebody

   I walk into a room full of puppies with people excited for their first day at doggie school! They are all anticipating what they were going to learn and discover more about with their new canine companion. Sadly, this does not always happen, at times I see people looking down at their dog with a face full of confusion wondering what to do next. We do not go out to get a puppy or a new dog thinking we are buying a bunch of furry "problems" to bring home. When I recently adopted a puppy the feelings inside my heart were of joy about my new friend! This had me thinking about how our dogs feel about us when we come home every day. 

   When I come home from a busy day of work it is nice to see my dog excited to see me with his big wagging tail. This daily interaction really opens up a lot of insight as to where my relationship stands with my dog. A lot of times, I think, we are very one sided in what we define as "happiness" in the the context of our relationship with our dog. We think that as long as they do the right behaviors when we come home that our relationship is good. Think about all the people who comes through your door and the feelings you have about each relationship. Some arrivals bring feelings of happiness, joy, others might bring forth no emotion at all. How do you feel when someone comes through the door that you have learned to fear or stay away from? Now, how do your dog feel when they see you come home? 

   What element of life can change this perspective? Though this question could be answered in many different ways, I keep coming back to one element TIME. That forever very valuable, uncontrollable, unattainable, limited resource of our daily lives. When asked for more time for anything in life it always feels like there is not enough. Where does your dog fit into this equation? How can I give more time to build a relationship with my dog when my life is already so full of events and activities? The answer to that question is when you bring your dog into your family it becomes a part of your life. If your dog does not become a part of your daily events and activities then they will be sitting on the sidelines of your life. How can you train your dog to become part of your daily life? What behaviors do they need to learn to be a part of your daily activities and events? 

   Take a piece of paper and pen and list out all the activities you do in a given week. Now next to each activity check off if that is something your canine companion could do with you. Now, given that your dog can not go to the grocery store, why can they not go to some of the other activities in your life? If your dog is not allowed to go to the gym, could you take your dog on a nice jog at a park? Sometimes you will have to be creative and get out of your comfort zone when doing this activity. 

   When the family dog sits on the sideline with no direction, it is the major catalyst to our dog's developing "problem" behaviors. Amazing moments and opportunities await when you decide to start living a life with your dog. I believe that in finding a goal and purpose in your dog can truly expand not only a dog's life but yours as well. What could you do today to make this difference? By doing this how will your dog look at you the next time your come through your front door? That is modern dog training...that is the Doggie Dojo Way.

From Pack Dog to Family Member,
Trevor Smith
"Life seems brighter with four paws at your side"
#besomebody