Dog Parks - Great Place for Social Skills

By
Heather
Published: January 5, 2009Posted in: Around Town, Service DogTags: , ,
Dog Parks - Great Place for Social Skills

When we are not heading out of town for the weekend, Munchkin loves to go to the dog beach and dog parks. These have been a great place for Munchkin to work on his social skills and the dogs never care that he has autism. We have been to a few dog beaches and a bunch of dog parks across the state of Florida.

This is a great place for him to work on social skills. We started with him asking permission to pet, then the dog’s name, then breed, age and favorite activity. He also gets asked question about his dog and shares everything about Chewy. He has now started having conversations with the dogs and will talk some to the owners.

Every park and beach is a little different, but the same considerations apply. Before we go we always cover the same rules. These are simple rules that if they are not followed we leave immediately for safety. It took a few trips to get the rules down, but now we are regulars at the park.

Tips and Tricks

  • Do not hang out around the gate. This is where dogs need their space to say hi
  • If you bring a dog, remove the leash immediately when entering the park
  • Do not run or yell
  • Always ask before you pet a dog
  • If a dog is jumping, turn your back
  • Start going at a slow time when few dog are there

Have you been to the dog park or beach? If so, please share your experience and insight.
Have any questions, please ask and and we will be glad to answer them.

Heather@autismonthego.com

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About the Author

Heather is mother to a 10 year old son with autism. They live in the Southwest Florida area and travel around the state on numerous adventures.