Safety Tips in Durham's Dog Parks

Dog parks can be a great resource for off-leash exercise for your canine companion, but there’s always risk in bringing unfamiliar dogs together. Following the rules of the dog park will go a long way to avoiding any incidents, but you can also keep these things in mind to help keep your dog safe at the dog park...

Avoid Crowded Times

As a group of dogs gets bigger, it gets more likely that there will be missed social cues or escalations leading to aggressive behavior. It’s best to avoid high traffic times at the dog park altogether.

If you visit Piney Wood Dog Park, you may have another option! If you’re uncomfortable with the dogs in the main areas, consider moving to the program area. This space is free to use for people registered with the dog parks and can be a great alternative during busy times!

Keep an Eye Out

Always be actively watching your dog at the dog park. Keep an eye out for signs of stress such as:

• Whining or whimpering
• Holding their ears back
• Trying to hide

Intervene if you notice any aggressive behavior such as:

• Excessive mounting
• Pinning
• Showing teeth
• Raised hackles
• Staring directly at another dog

If you notice early warning signs, it may be enough to redirect your dog’s attention, but if you are unable to do so, you should remove your dog from the situation. Once a dog starts acting aggressively, they must be removed from the dog park. If you are having trouble with aggressive behavior at the dog park, please contact the Durham Police Department at 919-560-4600 in case of a non-emergency, or 911 in case of emergency.

Responding to Bites

Dog bites are required by law to be reported to Durham County Animal Services Division. If you or your dog are involved in a biting incident, contact Animal Services at 919-560-0630 to report the incident. Once you’ve reported to Animal Services, please also report the incident to DPR either by phone at 919-560-4355 or email at DurhamDogPark@DurhamNC.gov.

We hope that you and your dog can enjoy a stress-free time at the dog park!

And remember, all Durham Dog Parks require yearly registration prior to use, which includes providing verification of updated vaccinations. For more information about requirements and instructions for registration, visit our website.