Whether it's your first or 50th trip to the dog park, don't let your dog off-leash unless you're completely certain they're ready to be (i.e. you've trained them to go off-leash and have watched them socialise with other dogs appropriately).
If you're not sure your dog's ready for the off-leash life, no worries! Tori recommends putting them on a long, loose leash — about six feet or so in length — to give them just the right amount of freedom.
"Also be sure give the entire length of leash when one dog is meeting another," she said, meaning you want to give the dog lots of slack rather than keeping the leash taut. Otherwise, you may be "communicating tension through the leash" and unintentionally stressing your dog out as they interact with others.
Like the floppy ears of a basset hound, long and loose is ideal.