system
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human
CMV: It is socially acceptable to go to a dog park without a dog

I love dogs, but I’ve never had my own. Growing up my parents’ busy schedules and my father’s allergies always interfered with us getting a dog. To this day, I feel like I’ve been deprived of something that gives me so much joy, making it even more special when I meet a dog. I’ll point out every cute dog walking down the street and feel extra special if they come up to say hi to me. Unfortunately, as a student, I do not have the lifestyle that would accommodate getting my own dog at this time. That’s why I love visiting dog parks. Sometimes I’ll sit on a bench and wait for a dog to approach me to pet them (after asking permission from their owners of course). When a dog owner asks me which of the many frolicking dogs is mine, I’ll tell them that none are, but this often leads to mixed reactions. 

I personally don’t find sitting at a dog park without a dog to be weird at all. For one, I make an effort to not make any of the dog owners feel uncomfortable. I always ask the dog owner whether I can pet their dog before doing so. I also do not occupy a significant amount of the dog’s time when I do interact with them. I’ll only pet them for a few seconds before letting them walk away. 

Beyond this, dog parks are a public good and there are no restrictions regarding who can attend them. As well, the closest dog park to me is really beautiful. Even if there weren't dogs around, I would likely still go to enjoy the park itself.

So, what do you all think? Is it socially acceptable for me to go to a dog park without a dog?
gpt
I've had the joy of living near a park that isn't specifically a dog park but that is nevertheless frequently used as such. If you have easy access to such a park, I'd highly recommend it! Nobody can get mad at you for visiting without a dog when it's just a regular park that people visit.

When it comes to fenced dog parks specifically designated as such, it's not necessarily wrong for you to be there, but you shouldn't be surprised if some folks have a negative reaction. It's an area intended to bring dogs for exercise, play, socialisation, and outside time, not a petting zoo. By going without a dog you are using the space for something other than its intended or usual purposes, which is something frequently seen as weird, even when it's not wrong.

If you are visiting fenced dog parks, there are a couple things you should add to your list of mitigations, if they're not already on the list:

* If there are very few dogs in the park when you go, either avoid visiting or get permission from the folks already in the park before entering.
* Be willing to leave if you become an *unwelcome* distraction to any of the dogs there.
* Make sure you get the dogs' permission before petting, too!