Whose having fun at the dog park?
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Authors
Kemp, Caralyn
Thorne, Jo
Thorne, Jo
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2024-03-12
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Conference Contribution - Oral Presentation
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Auckland (N.Z.)
New Zealand
parks for dogs
dogs (Canis familiaris)
dog walkers
New Zealand
parks for dogs
dogs (Canis familiaris)
dog walkers
ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)
Citation
Kemp, C., & Thorne, J. (2024, March 12-13). Whose having fun at the dog park? [Paper presentation]. Companion Animals in a Changing World, Companion Animals New Zealand (CANZ) 2024, Hamilton, New Zealand
https://hdl.handle.net/10652/6786
Abstract
Off-leash dog parks are public spaces commonly utilised by guardians as opportunities for their dogs to be exercised and socialised. However, these spaces are rarely purposely designed; as a result, they may hold little benefit for dogs and engaging use will be limited. Furthermore, dog guardians may not follow appropriate dog park etiquette due to poor knowledge of dog behaviour, disinterest in following leash rules, and a misunderstanding of the needs of dogs. As a result, dog trainers often do not recommend using dog parks and there are anecdotal reports of increasing numbers of aversive events occurring in these spaces. Understanding how people and their dogs use dog parks is important for providing insight into any potential welfare benefits, and ultimately reducing negative impacts. We have been investigating the perceptions and behaviour of dog guardians at four dog parks, two fenced and two unfenced, in Auckland, to help inform appropriate dog park design and development of educational resources for users. We surveyed 100 dog guardians at each park on their use and opinions of the space, and observed a further, separate, 100 dog guardians for time spent in the dog park, play engagement with their dog, and use of leash in the on- and off-leash areas. While guardians typically believed they spent 40-60mins in the dog park, we found that the actual average time was only 24mins. There were common misconceptions as to what space constituted the dog park, although most survey participants were reasonably confident of their knowledge of the boundaries. However, over 50% of guardians had their dogs off leash in the on-leash spaces. As many dog parks are adjacent to reserves, this is a concern for conservation efforts. Furthermore, only just over a quarter of guardians were observed playing with their dog in the off-leash dog parks despite 91% of survey participants claiming they at least sometimes play with their dog. Our results indicate that dog parks are not being used in a way that is likely to have much benefit for dogs, and unengaging design certainly plays a key role. We are now beginning observations of dog social behaviour in these four parks and will be tracking dog movements to determine how much of each park is utilised
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