A note from Kingsman Bark on park guidelines

We take the safety of our animals and our park users very seriously. We want the dog park to be a pleasant experience for all who use it. We know, however, that interactions between dogs can be challenging to manage when they are playing - things escalate. We get it, and we’ve all been there at one point or another!

Our guidelines and best practices are outlined below, as well as DPR’s official Park Rules - we ask that all park pals please follow these rules and point their neighbors to them when a new park pal joins us. You can also find our incident report form and review process.

Ultimately, we believe it is on all of us humans to keep an eye on our furry friends and work together to ensure our park community remains safe and enjoyable for all who wish to use it.

• Report ANY animal bites to DC Animal Control at 202-576-6664 or https://dchealth.dc.gov/service/dog-bites

• Closest animal hospital: Veterinary Emergency Group (202-794-8002, open 24/7, 925 H ST. NE)

• In case of ACTIVE emergency: call 911

Additional Steps You Can Take:

• We have a medical emergency kit that is available at all times in the ‘small dog’ side of the park to help with any immediate needs and/or minor scrapes/cuts. Please feel free to use it if you or a park pal are in need!

• If/when an incident occurs at the Dog Park, we encourage you to exchange information with the other dog owner(s) only if you feel comfortable doing so.

• If you or your dog ever feel uncomfortable at the dog park, or an incident has occurred involving your / your dog, it's always good practice to leave the park. You may also reach out directly to one of our board members via email: kingsmanbark@gmail.com.

• Submit a Kingsman Bark Incident Report Form: Download or fill out online by clicking here. Please note this is a mechanism for our records only. It is not a substitute for filing a police report or calling animal control in case of an an animal bite. If an owner would like to file a formal report, they should call DC Animal Control at (202) 576-6664.Completed incident report forms can also be submitted via drop off to the folder at the park or email: kingsmanbark@gmail.com.

Additional resources …

• Washington DC Rabies Exposure Form: https://dchealth.dc.gov/service/rabies-and-animal-exposures

• Metro Police Regulations: https://go.mpdconline.com/GO/3142000.pdf

Tips for Being a Good Park Pal

Note - these are meant to serve as recommendations / best practices. While they have been compiled from conversations with dog trainers and research into resources for dog owners, they do not take into account your dog’s specific needs or behaviors. You know your dog best and how to prepare them for successfully navigating the park, so we recommend that you trust your judgment and rely on your dog’s signals to guide you.  

What can I do to prevent conflict between my dog and others at the dog park?

1. Do NOT bring your dog to a dog park if he or she does not demonstrate consistent recall skills. This means your dog comes to you on command. This is necessary for you to manage your dog’s behavior. Work on this skill before introducing your dog to the park.

2. If your dog has been cooped up for a long time before coming to the dog park, consider a short walk first. While inconvenient, a dog who is a bit more rested may be a bit less aggressive.

3. Do NOT allow your dog to charge up to a dog who is entering the park. This is a vulnerable time for a dog. If this occurs, interrupt this and move your dog away from the other dog.

4. Do not allow your dog to bully, nip, bite, mount or pounce on other dogs. This is not appropriate play behavior, even for dogs, and can cause injury and long-term damage to a dog.

5. Separate small and large dogs using the small dog part of the park. If your dog needs a break from the main area of the park, they may use the small side only if there are no small dogs in the space. If a small dog arrives and would like to use the small side, owners with large dogs should return to the main area of the park or leave the park and come back at another time. 

6. Don’t bring a female dog who is in heat to the park.

7. Don’t leave your dog on a leash in the park. This triggers fights. If your dog needs a leash – don’t bring him or her to the park – work at home on recall behavior first.

8. Pay attention to your dog in the park! Inattention is the number one factor associated with conflict that escalates. Stay off your phones and be aware of the behavior of your dog and body language of other dogs.

What should I do if there is an incident at the dog park?

1. Be proactive - Don’t assume the dogs will “work it out”. If you see signs of problematic behavior, approach your dog from behind and pull your dog away. If your dog is the aggressor, grab the hind legs and pull him/ her away from the other dog. If you are not able to do this when your dog is aggressive, you should not bring your dog to the park.

2. Stay calm - Once the fight or incident has ended, you need to stay clear-headed and calm to help your dog recover, both physically and mentally. Your dog can sense your emotions and will remain anxious and aggressive if you are, so help your dog relax by not yelling or acting aggressively to the other dogs involved, or their owners. 

3. Take your dog out of the park - When a fight occurs, it raises the adrenaline level of the dogs involved, and all those nearby for several hours after the actual incident is over. It’s best to leash your dog and take them out of the dog park to lower everyone’s aggression levels and avoid another incident.

4. Assess injuries - Once your dog is safely away from danger, assess your dog’s or your injuries to determine if emergency care is needed. If the injuries are serious, including excessive bleeding, trouble walking, difficulty breathing or deep bites that expose muscle or bone, do not wait and take your dog to your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic immediately. For minor scrapes or scratches, there is a stocked medical kit in the green shed box on the small side of the park.

5. Exchange contact info - even if the dogs do not appear injured. If your dog is the aggressor, be fair and share your contact info, just in case. If your dog uses the park with a dog walker or sitter, please make sure that person has your contact information and has your permission to share it with the other dog owner.

6. Report incidents - to the proper authorities in the case of serious situations or via the online form to alert Kingsman Bark as soon as possible. In some cases, the owner at fault may refuse to give you any information, or may flee the scene, in which case, witnesses to the incident may also be able to help.

7. After Care - If your dog has been bit, take him or her to the vet and get him or her checked. Also, report any bites to the City’s Animal Control Department at (202) 576-6664.

1. If we learn that a serious incident or violation was not reported to animal control/authorities, Kingsman Bark will report the event to Animal Control.

2. The board will review all forms submitted each month and reserves the right to follow up with individuals involved.

   If a Board member is involved in the incident, they will be excluded from the review process except for providing a written statement of what happened.

3. If the incident / violation is part of a documented pattern of behavior, Kingsman Bark may recommend some voluntary resources to the owner to address the issues.

Note: Kingsman Bark does not hold any enforcement authority; but we can and will escalate dangerous and / or repeated violations to appropriate DC Government agencies for follow-up. The enforcement process from there is dependent on the agencies' decisions making process.

The DC Department of Parks and Recreation establishes and enforces specific dog park policies for use of publicly funded spaces. The following rules are in place for Kingsman Field Dog Park and enforced by the city.

Note: Kingsman Bark is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization, therefore we do not have the authority to patrol the dog park or limit access because it is a public space owned and operated by the city.

1. All dogs entering the park must have a valid DC Dog Park tag, issued by the DC Department of Health, and current registration and vaccination tags.

2. Do not exceed dog park capacity. Capacity for Kingsman Bark is 26.

3. No visitor shall have more than 3 dogs in the park at one time.

4. No dogs in heat allowed in the park.

5. No dogs younger than 4 months are permitted inside the park.

6. Each visitor shall comply with all animal control, “dangerous dog,” and communicable disease laws and regulations contained in the DC Code, DC Municipal Regulations, or elsewhere.

7. Failure to comply with Dog Park laws and procedures may result in you being barred from further use of any Dog Park.

8. Persons under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult inside the park.

9. Visitors must have full control of their dog(s) at all times and are responsible for the collection, bagging, and proper disposal of their dog’s solid waste.

10. All visitors and handlers use the dog park at their own risk.

Neither the District of Columbia, its agencies or officials, or the sponsoring Dog Park Group (Kingsman Bark) shall be liable for any injury or damage caused to them or their dogs inside the dog park.

For complete laws and regulations related to dog parks refer to D.C. Act 16 182, amending the Animal Control Act of 1979, effective October 18, 1979, D.C. Law 3-30; D.C. Official Code 8-1801, et seq. (2001); and D.C. Municipal Regulations, Title 19 Chapter 730, et seq. (2007), D.C. Register Vol. 54 No. 59 (2007)