Lately I've been working on a theory: You can tell the quality of a city by the quality of its dog parks.
Having joined the ranks of urban-dwelling pet owners this past year, I now pay attention to these things. My work at the newspaper turned me on to French Lake Park, Federal Way's own off-leash dog area, long before the City Council officially approved the area for this purpose.
I've watched as the park transformed from a spot used by few rogue pet owners looking to exercise their dogs, to a full-blown canine extravaganza.
On any given day of the week, (during any month of the year that the rains don't keep the park underwater) you can turn loose your dog for the type of exercise it just can't get in world of passing cars and pavement.
Those of us who own sporting breeds understand the need to achieve tongue-dangling exertion as often as possible to maintain sanity in our homes. And an off-leash dog park in the city is just the ticket.
I applaud the city for its work in establishing what has turned into a fairly respectable park, with plenty of space for dogs to run and adequate safeguards to maintain a reasonably safe and sanitary facility for our pets.
But with the privilege of an off-leash park in our community, pet owners have to uphold their end of the deal as well. If we abuse this valuable resource or take it for granted, we're likely to lose ground to the contingency of French Lake neighbors who would like to see the park return to on-leash times.
To help the cause, I decided to put together a list of dog park etiquette for new and seasoned pet owners. Some of these suggestions are mandatory, while others seem to me like good, solid advice that will likely help enhance the experience for Federal Way's dog lovers.

1. Pick up after your pet

This should be obvious, but as many visitors to French Lake Park know, the obvious escapes many. Too many, in fact.
The city and French Lake volunteers have made it ridiculously easy to pick up your pet's piles with numerous bag dispensers throughout the area. I suppose technology will evolve to the point where we can eventually vaporize poop with a laser, but until then, we must all overcome basic human laziness and use a bag.
Even if your dog didn't do it, grit your teeth and pick it up. It's good karma: There may come a time when you'll find yourself stranded without a bag, or your dog will do its business without your knowledge.
Dog poop undoubtedly ranks high on the list of nuisances on everyone's list, and it's no fun to return to your vehicle to find a smelly smear of dog doo attached to your shoe.
Briefly crunch the figures in your head and calculate the number of dogs times the number of days, and you'll begin to understand the potential biohazard risks as well.
Do your part and clean it up, and make sure others to so as well. I always carry extra bags in my pocket, because you never know when nature may call more than once during an outing, and it's a great way to encourage others to pick up after their pets.
When I spot someone attempting to leave their pet's poop on the ground, I politely ask, "would you like a bag?" Works every time.

2. Vaccinate your dog

Again, this piece of advice should seem like a no-brainer for most responsible pet owners. Rest assured there's no easier way for your pet to come down with parvo than to fail to vaccinate it and then bring it around a host of dogs with unknown backgrounds in a confined space.
Puppies younger than 15 weeks (and sometimes older) are not protected and shouldn't be brought to the dog park. To socialize them before they're vaccinated, let them meet other dogs that you know are good with puppies and up-to-date on all shots.
Talk to your vet about a safe vaccination schedule for your dog. Or look one up online.
Don't tell me that the expense of vaccines is an issue, either. If you simply can't afford to have your vet administer the vaccines, do it yourself. You will find a host of credible pet supply companies on the Internet that will ship you a chilled vaccine for less than $10 that you may easily give your pet yourself.
I use Drs. Foster and Smith and Lion Country Supply for my dog's vaccines.

3. Pay attention to your dog

While not written in the Federal Way municipal code, this suggestion should become the law of the land for off-leash dog parks.
These parks provide pet owners with a wonderful opportunity to socialize and exercise our animals, while providing pet owners with an outlet to meet other dog lovers and socialize as well.
Do yourself and your dog a favor and put down your Blackberry and keep an eye on your pooch. Even if Fido is not attached to you, he's still your responsibility.
Turning your wound up pet loose while you catch up on some e-mails or texting does not constitute responsible pet ownership.
Use this off-leash time to play fetch with your dog, or help enhance its relationship with other dogs by encouraging good behaviors around other animals (and people) and correcting undesirable ones.
Spend time with your dog and train while you play, and I believe you'll be surprised at how quickly your dog will learn to be a good citizen.

4. Don't bring an unsocialized dog to the dog park

This tidbit is a strong piece of advice that will enhance the safety of off-leash areas for all pets.
The off-leash park is not a place to rehabilitate an aggressive adult dog or to turn loose a dog that has not first learned how to properly socialize with other canines.
Nothing infuriates me more than watching someone unleash a dog that doesn't play well with others into a pack of unrestrained animals. I can usually spot these folks from a great distance, and it's about that time that I pack up my stuff and end our time at the park.
Let your rehabilitating dog get used to socializing with mild-mannered ones in a controlled environment away from the chaos of off-leash areas.
If you must bring these dogs to the park, keep them on a leash so you can quickly correct undesirable behaviors.
Remember: While some dogs have tendency towards dominance (they are after all, historically pack animals), aggression is a learned behavior.
We owe it to ourselves and our pets to become the dominant figure, and snuff out unwanted behavior before it starts.
I have no problem with my dog playing with breeds dubbed by the sensational media as "dangerous," so long as their owners have responsibly socialized them. My dog will run and romp with pit bulls, German shepherds and Dobermans as easily as golden retriever.
In my experience (and I know I'm going to catch some heat for this one), the most dangerous dogs in the dog park are unsocialized toy breeds that have learned to be aggressive through a systematic lack of discipline from their owners.
Despite their petite size and cute faces, these dogs don't need coddling, they need structure and discipline:
The two bad encounters my dog has experienced there have come through run-ins with an aggressive miniature dachshund and West Highland Terrier.
If you've taken the time to read this column, then I'm probably preaching to the choir in the church of responsible dog ownership. Kudos to you.
It's our job to educate others and help ensure the future of off-leash areas in our community.

Federal Way News staff writer and photographer Seth Bynum and his dog, River, visit the French Lake Park off-leash area as often as possible. If you find yourself in need of a poop bag, just ask him. His pockets are usually stuffed full of them.