Final Project: Dog Parks
Amazon Park, located in Eugene, OR, encompasses nearly 100 acres filled with running trails, soccer fields, and play structures. These amenities are designed to entertain humans in nature. In fact, there are many signs throughout the park saying, “Keep Dogs on Leash.” As well, animals are forbidden in certain areas like the children’s play structure. With all these restrictions it appears that canine owners would not feel welcome bringing their dogs to Amazon Park, but this is not the case. Luckily for the canine species Amazon Park has a caged off dog park that provides animals and their owners a safe and welcoming place to play off leash. Due to a large number of dog owners in the United States places like Amazon Dog Park need to exist. The American Pet Products Association performs an annual survey on the number of dog owners in the United States, in order to measure the pet product industry. According to the 2011 survey the APPA found that, “…39% of all households have at least one dog. There are an estimated 75 million canine companions in the United States” (APPA, 2011). Due to this high number of canines living in the United States there must be safe and welcoming places for them to play. Therefore, the demand for dog specific environments is pertinent especially in urban cities and communities.
In order to fully understand the need for dog specific environments it is important to understand the development of dogs as a species and as pets. The dog is a member of the biological family, Canidae and is specifically called canis familiaris, which is the only member to be fully domesticated. (Serpell, p. 19) Dogs have developed from creatures living in the wild to domesticated companions. James Serpell’s analysis The Domestic Dog studies the development of wolves into dogs. In his study he states, “… dogs may have originated as scavengers, and been domesticated for use as food and fiber, or put to work…unlike other domesticated animals, dogs also make excellent companions” (Serpell, p. 21). Serpell discusses how the origin of dogs is convoluted because it dates so far back in history and it is difficult to understand their origin precisely. Although, from his research he finds that dogs easily transitioned from the wild into domestic companions. He continues to show the transformation of dogs from their uncivilized wolves relatives. Serpell accounts that the domestication process took time, he states: “… it is believed eventually wolves started to live with families and slowly become domesticated because pups born in families become more submissive and less able to survive on their own” (Serpell, p. 22). The domestication process took time, but due to dogs’ quick maturity rate they were able to adapt easier. And unlike humans, dogs’ brains mature completely within the first 7 to 8 weeks of their lives. This fact shows how different humans and dogs think. Also, dogs’ bodies mature within the first year they are alive. So although we have become so close to this species we have to remember the qualities that make them different in order to understand their personal needs.
In relation to the Great Chain of Being, which is a visual metaphor of hierarchy ranking all forms of life, dogs are far inferior to humans. The Great Chain of Being places humans beneath spiritual forms like God and angels, but well above animals and natural resources. This place of dominance has affected the human to animal relationships greatly. Since humans are thought to be superior to animals as a whole the interactions with them directly reflect the human dominance. Even though The Great Chain of Being groups all animals or beasts together, many pet owners find dogs to be superior to most animals. For instance, dogs are typically domesticated creatures that as more than animals, but family members too. Therefore humans look at canines as more relatable than perhaps a raccoon or pigeon because these are seen in society as pests and not so much pets. The Great Chain of Being shows how human’s perspectives are based off direct experience. Since dogs are domesticated creatures and easily fit into a dog owner’s lifestyle they are dominant over pests, but still not equal to humans.
One of the special things about canines and their ancestors is that they are pack animals. Through the evolution of dogs they have always roamed in groups and have the need to socialize with other members of their species. By domesticating the dog we took away their ability to socialize with other dogs along with reducing the amount physical activity they have. The main factor in dogs’ lives that changed when domesticated is the amount they socialize with other canines and being able to run free. The ASPCA has said that many behavioral problems in dogs has come from lack of exercise because most dogs live in suburbs with little space outside available to them to be free. This where dog parks can help!
Dog parks offer great benefits for both humans and their dog companions because they are dog-specific spaces that place few restrictions on the animals. Dog parks allow for humans and dogs to socialize with their peers, they promote healthy lifestyles for both owner and animal, and they also strengthen the human-pet bond. Dogs enjoy socializing, exercising, and playing with other animals in designated settings, and owners can relate these interactions to those we have in our own lives. The first dog park was founded in 1979 in a suburb of California as a place where dogs could be off leash and have some freedom. Currently there are dog parks in every state except Alaska. At dog parks there are amenities such as benches, kiddy pools for the dogs or located on a pond, fences, poop bags, water fountains for dogs and humans, and shaded sections. When observing dog parks in the Eugene community it became obvious that dog owners interact with their animal in a multitude of ways. Some owners are more demanding than others, which directly parallels to the animal’s demeanor in a social setting. One owner who visits Amazon Dog Park often, Madeline, is a laidback dog owner and she enjoys dog parks because they not only allow for her to relax, but they satisfy her beloved Charlie. When asked her thoughts on letting Charlie off his leash she stated, “I am very trusting with Charlie because he has been coming to this park for awhile. He knows the routine, but he also knows that I’m right here if he gets scared of some of the bigger, more intense dogs.” Madeline is a perfect example of why dog parks are good forums to gain trust with a pet while allowing them to fulfill their social desires.
The media depicts dogs in many different fashions. Many advertisements use dogs to add a friendly look to a brand. Also, dogs are used to show traditional family values in many “All-American” advertisements. Since advertisements have one purpose, which is to sell products and services, dogs are used to make an ad more appealing. Yet, besides dogs’ roles in advertisements, a new fad in media entertainment has been seen through reality television. Dogs are now featured in many television shows on networks like Animal Planet or National Geographic Network. For instance, Animal Planet has started a trendy web series called Dog Park. This reality show highlights the lives of five dog owners who all attend the same dog park together. This is an interesting topic for a reality show because it does not show the benefits of dog parks, but in fact the drawbacks. They highlight dogfights, poor park conditions, and even dog owner’s personal drama. This representation of dog parks in the media is a poor way to reflect the many benefits of these parks and it is unfortunate that they are not shown in a better light. The media as a whole takes advantages of the interaction between dogs and humans. Advertisers and all other forms of media exploit this close bond that many owners feel towards canines. It is important for dog owners to not fall into the trap of exploiting their own animals in the same manner as seen on reality shows or in advertisements.
Through our research of the species of dogs and also attending dog parks, my feelings towards the relationship humans have with their dogs have changes. I think of myself as an animal lover and have always wanted animals to have great lives. Through this research and our class discussions, I have realized that my actions have hindered the lives of my own pets. Now that I have the knowledge of dogs’ ancestors and how they matured through the years I have realized how important it is to give your dog time to interact with other dogs. Many people in our research felt that their dogs shouldn’t go to dogs parks because they don’t get along with other dogs. Despite their concerns, I believe if dogs do not play well together it is because they didn’t have enough dog on dog interaction when they were young. Many pet owners do not fully understand the needs of their animals in relation to how much exercise and socialization they need. I also believe that peoples’ views differ on dogs depending on their own direct experiences with them. I personally have had a lot of direct experiences with dogs, while a friend who has not feels a very different way about them than I do. I feel that because I have had many personal relationships with my own dog and others that I have a certain view of dogs that people who have not had a relationship with one has. With my own relationship with my dog, I have realized how much I force him to hang out with me, which decreases his opportunities to interact with other dogs. Dog parks are a great way for owners to get their dogs to have the social time they need with their species and the physical exercise they need. I believe that pet owners need to be more aware of the needs of their dogs so that owners can cater to the wants of their pets better. After this research I am going to change how I interact with my dog when we are around other dogs. I am going to give him space to socialize without me distracting him; I have realized how important it is for him to have that time.
Like Dana, after researching this topic of dog parks my thoughts and perspectives of dog and owner relationships have changed dramatically. Even though, I do not have a dog of my own I have witnessed many dog and owner relationships throughout my life. As researching for our project I learned the development of dogs from the beginning of time and realized how their origins foreshadow their actions today. I now realize that domesticated dogs are accepted into homes and treated as if they are family members, but should also be respected because they are a different species of animals and have different needs. Although, this shows the love and respect owners have for their animals it is important for humans to realize the necessity of direct dog on dog interaction. That is why dog parks are very important additions to a dog’s daily regimen. These times where dogs can interact with each other among human owners allows them to be in a more natural environment. Prior to this project I had only witnessed dog parks at Amazon Park and by Autzen Stadium, but only walked by and never fully engaged or interacted with dogs and their humans. Now that I have seen all the interactions among dogs and humans I realize the minimal freedom dogs have in homes. Since most dogs live in urban environments they rarely have the ability to be social with their peers. I find this difficult to understand because as humans it is necessary to have social interaction in the outside world to feel whole and the same goes for dogs. We are such social creatures and without peer-to-peer interaction it is hard to feel fulfilled. I hope that dog owners realize how our social interactions are very similar to their dogs. I am so happy that we researched dog parks because they are an underrated part of our culture and community. Dog parks can truly unite a community of people because of their pets. The loving relationship of owner and canine can translate into a friendly relationship among other humans. After this project I truly believe that a canine and human relationship needs to have direct contact in order for us humans to understand the needs of a dog. Without getting to know a dog on a personal level it would be difficult for us to understand or sympathize with them. It is necessary for humans to understand their dogs because then they can understand what they truly need in order to be happy. This is why I think dog parks are a great environment for dogs and humans because they are welcoming and allow for direct social interaction.
The analysis we performed for our final project allowed us to see how effective dog parks are for not just the canine, but the owner too. These parks allow for dogs to be in a laidback and natural environment, giving them the opportunity to forego the many rules and restrictions they have at home. For humans alike, they can enjoy their dog’s freedom while being in nature. Both of these are major benefits for the human to pet relationship. The bond between a dog and its owner is strengthened through playtime and a dog park is the perfect setting. Unfortunately in society many dogs are confined to urban environments and these dog specific parks create a unique place for canines to relax. Through research and personal experience we conclude that dog parks are vital for all urban communities. These parks allow for social interactions among dogs while bonding the owner and dog relationship.
Bibliography
1. Serpell, James. The Domestic Dog: Its Evolution, Behaviour, and Interactions with People.
Cambridge, England: Cambridge UP, 1999. Print.
This book outlines the history of dogs and how they became domestic. It aims to eliminate stereotypes on the animal while describing the dog’s natural behaviors and what they mean. The dog is the only animal in its group of carnivores to be fully domesticated. Because of specially qualities that dogs have humans have been able to fully domesticate them and this book explains why that was possible. Because the dog has been fully domesticated many people view the animal and more human than animal. This book eliminates the idea that because we have been able to domesticate this animal it does not mean that the animal enjoys a human way of life.
2. Allen, Laurel. “Dog Parks: Benefits and Liabilities.” Site. University of Pennsylvania, 29 May
2007. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
This article describes the history and purpose of dog parks. Dog parks started as a place to allow you pet to be off leash and run free. Now dog parts are found in every state but Alaska. Towns are becoming required to have a dog park so that dogs have a place to release energy. This article also brings up faults that many dog parks have included environmental and health issues. The article gives advice on how to create a save and fun dog part for you and your dog.
3. Fogle, Bruce. The Dog’s Mind: Understanding Your Dog’s Behaviors. New York: Howell
Bookhouse, 1990. Print.
In this book the author describes the meaning behind the behaviors of dogs and how they differ for different breeds. We breed different species to fill a role such as a sheep herder or a lab dog, therefore the personalities and demeanor of these type of dogs will differ just like that of different humans. He explains why owners view dogs as more part of the family then cats. In many ways dogs are very similar to us and therefore we think of them as part of our families and almost human. Dogs live in packs, enjoy contact, and like to interact with peers much like humans but we are very different. This book helps explains those differences and describe the meaning of our dog’s behavior.
4. Julie Urbanik, Mary Morgan, A tale of tails: The place of dog parks in the urban imaginary,
Geoforum, Volume 44, January 2013, Pages 292-302, ISSN 0016-7185, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2012.08.001. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016718512001765) Keywords: Animal geography; Dog parks; Dogs; Pets; Urban geography; Urban planning
Found in Urbanik and Morgan’s article, A tale of tails: The place of dog parks in the urban imaginary, they discuss the importance of dog parks in urban environments. Discovering that 35% of American households own canines as pets the need for designated dog parks is evident. Throughout the article the man focus is, “…to explore how constructions of human–dog relations are becoming intertwined with changing urban cultures and uses of urban spaces.” Using Kansas City, Missouri as the home of their case study they study how a large urban city clashes with their government in the effort of receiving more funding for dog parks. The study analyzes how dogs change due to their geographical location. Also, they think of dogs as a marginalized group when in comparisons to humans. The study then continues to tell their findings in Kansas City, MO and how that relates to a group of data sets.
5. Hyung-Sook Lee, Mardelle Shepley, Chang-Shan Huang, Evaluation of off-leash dog parks in
Texas and Florida: A study of use patterns, user satisfaction, and perception, Landscape and Urban Planning, Volume 92, Issues 3–4, 30 September 2009, Pages 314-324, ISSN 0169-2046, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2009.05.015. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204609001030) Keywords: Off-leash dog parks in USA; User satisfaction; Park activities; Benefits of dog parks
This study chooses to look at the benefits of dog parks for both the animal and pet owner. Looking at four different dog parks the authors compare and contrast different environments for dogs to run around and their interactions with the owners. The study took a survey at each of the dog parks allowing them to pinpoint the main social groups who utilized these parks. The survey also discovered that dog owners prefer dog parks over any other environment when spending time with their canine. They also found that proximity, weather, and time of day greatly alter the usage of dog parks.
6. Scott, John Paul, and John L. Fuller. Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog, by John
Paul Scott and John L. Fuller. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago, 1965. Print.
In this book the author researches the stages of maturity that dogs go through as they age. It goes through the dogs time in the womb all the way to a fully aged dog. It researches how humans have affected these stages that the dog goes through when they are adopted by a human at a very young age. Many things effect how the dog develops and humans have planned a large role in this. Dogs develop very fast and therefore the first weeks of its life are very crucial for how well it is going to mature. The author explores different avenues that humans have done to affect the dogs ability mature and how we have helped dogs to mature fully.
7. Crockford, Susan J., Ehud Galili, Hitomi Hongo, Max G. Pavesic, Jean-Marie Cordy, Luminita
Bejenaru, Antonio Tagliacozzo, L. Antonian, I. Lehr Brisbin, James K. McIntyre, A. C. Kitchener, Naohiko Okumura, and Akira Matsui. Dogs through Time: An Archaeological Perspective. Oxford: Archaeopress, 2000. Print.
In this book the authors explore the history of the dog species. It analyzes why the dog, out of all animals, was the first one to be domesticated and the only one to be a fully domesticated species. The authors look into the role dogs play in our society and how humans interact with them. Dogs have many traits that have allowed humans to create suck bonds with them. There is a reason why dogs have become mans’ best friend and this book gives this history of why this has happened. This book gives insightful information about the pet that most households have and why this has to come to be.
8. Horowitz, Alexandra. Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know. New York:
Scribner, 2009. Print.
The author analyzes how dogs very their lives. This book gives the dogs perspective on everything from the house he or she lives in to the interaction he or she has with other dogs. The author uses her science background to analyze the dogs every move and thought. The author gives insight on what a dog wants and not what humans want the dog to do. The author goes into depth about the difference between human and dog and how humans need to understand their dogs better in order to truly bond with them. Dogs are assumed to have the personalities of that their owners gives them however, this book explains how to really read your animal to see what he/she likes and dislikes and how they think.
9. Miklósi, Ádám. Dog Behaviour, Evolution, and Cognition. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2007. Print.
This book analyzes how dogs have evolved and why humans have used them for this from companionship to experiments. Dogs are one of the few species that have been domesticated and there are behavioral reasons for have given humans the ability to domesticate them. On the other hand, there are behavioral reasons that have allowed humans to create such strong bonds with dogs. This book explains these behaviors that humans have connected to and also exploited. The evolution and cognitive ability of dogs is explored by the author in relation to why does have been domesticated and used for research. This book gives a background on the relationship humans and dogs have.
10. Arnest, S., & Associates, S. (1994). Wolf-Dogs as Pets. Smithsonian, 25(5), 6.
The author reflects on how wolfs evolved into dogs and then into a domesticated animal. The research gives an in depth description of the relation of wolfs to dogs and what aspects of these species are similar and what are different. Wolfs may not have been domesticated but there are still many features of dogs that are similar to wolves, such as traveling in packs. The dog species has evolved so much since being domesticated that the similarities to wolves are noticed less and less however the are still many similarities present in our pet dogs today. The author explains these similarities and explains how humans have helped in the evolution of these two species.