Deer Run Animal Hospital
Schererville, IN
(219) 864-7180


COMING SOON--Schererville's Perry Ferrini Dog Park

Bear & Avery

    Photo used under Creative Commons from pacdog   THESE DOGS WANNA KNOW... ARE YOU READY TO GO TO THE DOG PARK?!Dog parks can be wonderful places and can provide great experiences for both you and your dog!  But caution must be advised. The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) warns there are both Pros and Cons of Dog Parks.  This webpage is to help you be aware of the behavior and health risks before you go.  With proper preparation and protection these risks can be minimized and a dog park can be an enjoyable experience for both you and your dog.  We recommend reading the article Dog Parks: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly before deciding if visiting the dog park is right for you and your dog. Start by being aware of of dog park ettiquete.  Before visiting the park make sure that your dog is well mannered and responsive to your commands.  Can Big & Little Dogs Play at the Dog Park Safely?  The main factor dictating whether there is trouble at the park is the ability of humans to recognize inappropriate or rude interactions and ability of the humans to call their dogs away in a come when called immediately (not after 5 calls). Read Dr. Sophia Yin's Blog entry and watch her videos to learn to recognize the signs of trouble.The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) has compiled and excellent collection of  Dog Park Information including What Makes A Good Dog Park, and offering more great Dog Park Tips, Dog Park Rules of Etiquette, and information on how to read Dog Body Language.  This is all highly recommended reading BEFORE you head out to the park.Remember Common Sense and Civility Must Prevail at the Dog Park, click these links for some more great information and Dog Park Tips for Dogs and Owners .Veterinarian and Behaviorist, Dr. Sophia Yin, offers her expert advice on Dog Park Etiquette on her website blog.  And if you are looking for even more in depth preparation, purchase and read the book Visting The Dog Park-Having Fun, Staying Safe by Cheryl Smith.
To keep you and your dog safe and free of infectious diseases when enjoying dog parks follow the recommendations below:
  • For flea and tick prevention we recommend the use of Frontline Plus, or  for additional repellancey for mosquitos we recommend K9 Advantix.
  • To prevent heartworms, as well as the contagious intestinal parasites (Roundworms and Hookworms) we recommend year round monthly administration of  HEARTGARD PLUS  or IVERHART PLUS.  For even broader intestinal parasite protection you may want to consider  INTERCEPTOR which adds additional protection against the Whipworm.
  • Be sure to have your pet's blood tested for heartworm yearly and a microscopic fecal exam done every 6-12 months by your veterinarian.
  • Up to date vaccinations are required by most dog parks.  Protection against Rabies and Parvo and Distemper virus are always important.  Since wildlife will also frequent the dog parks additional vaccination against Leptospirosis is also recommended.
AVMA's Info on Health Risks for Dogs in Social Settings. DOG PARKS IN OUR AREA:COMING SOON--Schererville's Perry Ferrini Dog Park.  Click the link to learn more and join in to help make this dream a reality!Other dog parks in our area include Munster's Centennial Park Dog Park and Lemon Lake-Dogwood Run Dog Park.