Dog park checklist

Dog park meetup safety checklist.

Dog parks can be fun, but first meetups need a plan. Use this checklist before introducing dogs that have never met.

• Confirm both dogs are comfortable around unfamiliar dogs.
• Compare size, age, energy, and play style before meeting.
• Ask about vaccine status, health notes, and triggers.
• Choose a public park with space to walk separately first.
• Start with a parallel walk before face-to-face greetings.
• Keep the first meetup short and end while things are still calm.
• Avoid sharing home addresses during first introductions.

Puppdates is built around this idea: better profile details lead to better first hellos.