Common Ground

Apr 22

Dog parks provide a chance for us to meet strangers we might not otherwise. Through our shared love for our dogs and the inherent trust of meeting another dog parent, we can foster new relationships with those around us. These interactions can allow us to widen our perspectives, increase our sense of empathy for others, and come together in greater unity.

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About the EPISODE

Instead of just letting your dogs off-leash and not paying them any mind, it’s important to spend time playing with our canine companions at a dog park. This can strengthen your bond, as covered in the Guided Play episode of Dog Parkology.

However, depending on your dog’s personality type, they may want to also play with other furry friends as part of their time outdoors.

During times when your dog is occupied, you may naturally meet fellow dog parents who are there.

Dog parks can present an opportunity to interact with strangers you may not otherwise have a chance to – from all sorts of backgrounds, ages, and viewpoints.

After all, dogs have a unique ability to be a social facilitator of conversation that opens up lines of communication. “When you're meeting somebody new who you don't know who's a stranger, where do you start with that interaction?” says Megan Mueller, an Associate Professor of Human-Animal Interaction at Tufts University.

“The nature of talking with someone else about your dogs is immediately personal because your dog means a lot to you and their dog means a lot to them,” Mueller says. “So that can be a nice safe place to start a conversation with someone that can then lead off into other areas.”

Aside from the commonality of a dog, many people find themselves more open and trusting of their fellow pet parents. There’s a shared sense of understanding of the selflessness and empathy that goes into caretaking for our canine companions, which creates a larger sense of immediate trust than with other strangers we might meet.

The low-stakes environment of a dog park puts less pressure on social interactions, allowing these connections to be loose, casual, and organic.

In a time when digital interactions have skyrocketed and physical third places have significantly declined, keeping community hubs like dog parks active is crucial for maintaining shared public spaces.

A dog park is a type of third place – a social gathering area outside the home (first place) and work (second place). These third places allow us to get out of our normal routines and algorithms, instead providing a chance to meet people who can impact how we see the world.

Sometimes these are loose acquaintances – otherwise known as weak ties – of people who you see occasionally at the dog park. Others may develop into deeper kinds of relationships.

When writer Whitney Harris moved with her husband and dog to different cities over the years, she didn’t know anyone else who lived there. Through going to dog parks and meeting neighbors, however, Harris struck up friendships with people she likely would not have otherwise and learned from their lives. This expanded her perspective on the world and they have remained friends over the years since.

As we encourage thinking outside the fence with Dog Parkology, it’s also important to note that these types of bonds can also form outside of strictly-official dog parks.

Dr. Sharon Holland has resided in a variety of places across the country. Having previously living in a Bay Area neighborhood, Holland had good experiences at formal dog parks – where she felt comfortable around a diverse community. However, she has a caveat: “Some parks are good, but other parks… If I came, I wouldn’t want to be the only person of color.”

Currently based in North Carolina, Holland and other dog parents found themselves needing a space to bring their dogs during the pandemic. Along with one of her neighbors, Aramis, they decided to start their own informal dog park in their community in North Carolina. It was centered around a culdesac near where they lived, with about a mile around for dogs to run, and neighbors would come out and enjoy shared time near each other.

“A lot of folks during the pandemic came down here and ran their dogs,” Holland said. “And folks from the trailer park near my house came here to let their dogs off-leave.”

Through the neighbors’ increased interaction during this period of heightened isolation, they have become closer. “Even though there's a lot of space between us, out here I feel I have more intimate relationships with my neighbors than I have in other places. I feel like I know everybody.”

If we can embrace places like a dog park that bring us together – whether formally designated or an impromptu space – we can start to develop more empathy, trust, and care for each other.

About the GUEST EXPERTS

Megan Mueller, Ph.D is a developmental scientist who focuses on the complex and dynamic relationships between people and animals. She is an Associate Professor of Human-Animal interaction, who directs the Pets and Well-Being Lab at Tufts University. The goal of the lab is to translate research into practical applications to improve the lives of diverse children, families, and animals. A key part of Mueller’s research is companion animals and adolescent development, particularly on positive youth development and teenagers experiencing social anxiety.

Whitney Harris is a writer and editor who covers dogs, parenting, and health. She has contributed to publications such as Dogster, Men's and Women's Health, Parents.com, Brides, Yahoo, and more.

Dr. Sharon Holland is a Professor of American Studies at the University of North Carolina (UNC). She is a Princeton University graduate with an A.B. in English and African American Studies. Dr. Holland’s latest book, an other: a black feminist consideration of animal life, was released last Fall through Duke University Press. Her books include Raising the Dead: Readings of Death and (Black) Subjectivity (2000) – an interdisciplinary exploration of death’s relation to subjectivity in 20th-century American literature and culture – and The Erotic Life of Racism (2012), a theoretical project that explores the intersection of critical race, feminist, and queer theory.

About the Narrator

Jenna Blum is a New York Times bestselling author of the memoir Woodrow on the Bench. The book focuses on the time that Jenna spent with her ailing black lab in a public park and the community they found. Jenna is based in Boston, teaching at Grub Street Writers, where she has been running master fiction and novel workshops for over 20 years. She is one of Oprah’s Top Thirty Women Writers with her books published in over 20 countries. Her other novels include Those Who Save Us, The Stormchasers, and The Lost Family. You can follow Jenna on Instagram.

About the Company

As It Should Be is a production company and creator behind the Dog Walk Meditation and Dog Save The People podcasts. The company develops original shows for self-release and produces commissioned podcasts for select companies. Content specialties and categories under development include animal advocacy, sustainability, mental health/wellness, and more. The production company also serves as a content studio for SOVRN STATE artist management.