What is your "Bark Park" like?
I would like to know what some other ones are like. What do you like about them or not like. Are there things you would change if you could. Do you have to pay. What about rules- good, bad, what were they thinking... Or anything else you can think of. |
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| Here in the Phoenix area the cities each have bark parks that are free. Most are just grassy, fenced in area with the essentials - a few picnic tables or benches, trash cans with poop bags, and water fountains. Some have lights and shade structures, which is very nice. We're getting a new one this fall, Cosmo Bark Park, named after our town's first K9 "officer". Cosmo Park is supposed to have an agility course and a "water feature" for the dogs. Can't wait until it opens! |
| We don't have any... no where near us... I think they might in Toronto or other major cities... but that's about it? |
| Ours is great. A small section for the small dogs and a huge section for the big dogs. There are tennis balls all over. They have water fountains and even some kiddie pools. There are lots of trees to offer shade on one side on the other side they have shaded area with benches. Also lots of chairs. They also have fake fire hydrants all over. Pooper scoopers and garbage recepticles.
The rules are good. No females in heat allowed in the park. All dogs must be up to date on vaccines. No aggresive dogs allowed. If the dog shows aggression it must be removed from the park immediately. You also must supervise your dogs at all time. There are no fees for our park. It is provided in a lot owned by the town right next to the airport. |
| I have quite a few parks close to me and the rules are similar to what some of the others have mentioned. I find that the climate of the park is set my the attitude of the owners more than the dogs. I like the park closest to my house for that reason. It isn't the nicest of all the parks but it's a laidback bunch of people (for the most part) who love their dogs and understand their behavior enough to not freak out when dogs do what dogs do!
One thing that I would suggest if I could give input would be to require all dogs to wear either nylon or leather collars that are free of studs or spikes. No chokes or prong collars. I think they're dangerous at the park, especially with dogs that play by mouthing. Last year, we had a Doberman at ours cut her gums up terribly when a dogs prong collar stuck in her gum. It was an accident that could have easily been avoisded had the collar been removed. It isn't a rule at our park but I try to suggest it to some owners if I see a dog with one on. I've gotten yelled at a few times and told to mind my own business but I always feel that if my dogs' well-being is at stake, it is my business. |
| We live in a town with a population of 40,000 and should get our dog park within the next year.
Our neighboring towns are actually cities, and have 4 or 5 parks in each one. In one city the park is huge, and more of a park for people. It has an agility area, a wooded area, lots of fountains and kiddie pools with water. There are hardly any rules, expect pick up after your dog. It is very nice, but I find that the people tend to be a bit loud and rude. The dogs are kind of rough, and there are often several packs running around together. In the other city it is a big field, with a couple of park benches. LOTS of rules like no children under that age of 8, no choke chains or prong collars, no people food etc. The people seem to be much more responsible owners, and the dogs seem friendlier. We have been going more to the second one, lately, as I found Dixie was being bullied at the first one. |
| I live in a town with a population of 800,000 (they think - they still aren't sure since we had so many Katrina folks relocate here) and we have the whole whopping 1 dog park and it is on the other side of town. Basically it is a large fenced in area with water troughs and garbage bins and pooper scoopers. I took Lucky over there a total of 1 time (prior to our getting Sam). Due to the number of pit bulls running around - I didn't even let him get out of the car.
I live in hope that Baton Rouge will eventually catch up to the rest of the world... |
| I've never been there but in MI there's a park located on a lake with a swimming area for the dogs, how cool is that? One of the Jill's found it while looking for a place to have our picnic. |
| Our park is park of the Philadelphia public park system and so we can have a "members association" to set up things like volunteering for cleanup day, but we can't exclude any one. That is a shame because that means we have no ability to kick out some of the stupid owners with aggressive dogs. That is a major drawback.
Things I like -- separate areas for "all dogs" and "small dogs"; water fountain at dog-bowl height; trees for shade; lots of trashcans around the perimeter; lots of benches. Also, a really great thing is the double gate entry system. You go through one gate into a little entry area where you take off the leashes and there is another gate to either the "all" or "small" dog parks. This helps prevent dogs in the park from escaping when people come and go because they might squeeze past one gate in the confusion of entry/exit but then the second one is closed so they are stuck. Also, it helps prevent leash aggression because you don't bring your leashed dog into the park with unleashed dogs. One thing that has mixed reviews is the ground texture. It is gravel/dust. This is good in bad weather because it does not get muddy or puddled. But not all dogs like the texture because it hurts their paw pads. Chum hates it. Other people recall fondly when the ground cover was wood chips, but that got slippery and slimy in the rain. One thing we don't have is a covered area for people to congregate so the dogs can continue to play in moderate bad weather. Hope that's helpful! |
| We have many off leash areas, and parks. The one I go to is the biggest, it has a large grassy field, for all fetching enthusiasts.
It is located by the river...dogs love to swim, and cool off there. People can too, the water level changes so when it is shallow you can walk out along ways in a pair shorts...on a rocky bed. It has many wooded paths, providing shades spots. You can hike more challenging paths or take a lesiurely stroll. It is also used by mountain bikers, they try and provide poop bags, has an outhouse type of bathroom by the parking lot. Changes I'd like: Some bylaw officers to be there on really busy days, like the weekends... control owners and aggressive dogs. Gravel the paths that have low spots, to avoid a major mud puddle. Larger parking lot. Shelter for visiting while the dogs play, in moments of bad weather that will pass. More reg type of bathrooms, with the shelter, and a picnic area. |
| Thanks for all the input.
There are 2 bark parks in Indianapolis but I haven't been to either one of them. One is 25 and the other is 35 miles away. You also have to pay a $40 annual fee and $10 per dog!!! And you also have to pay to get into one of the parks. Things move very slowly around here but, you never know, we might get one someday. |
| I pay $50 a year for the one closest one to my house and it's well worth it. We lost a lot of the troublemakers when the fee was put in place. |
| Hi,
Vancouver has over 40 dog parks! Some do have signs posted as to doggie park rules and etiquette are. The cost is free. http://www.raincitydogs.com/parks.htm or this one to get an idea of how the city spreads them out and the list of rules: http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/parks/i ... /index.htm In the burbs where I live, 1/2 hr away from the city but still has a population of a million there are three large parks. One is located 3 blocks from my house and is manned by the parks board. The others are manned by the city and provide bags and special bins for pickup. I was the steward of the dog park for 2 years there...meant I just told people about the park and general rules. That's my special one on one time with Panda. Merlin and Blue go for walks around the neighborhood nightly as they rough house together daily, and Panda gets a chance to play with other dogs. Some parks have sections for small and large dogs..but not in the burbs but the spaces are much bigger than the city offleash parks. My favorite park is a 17 acre offleash park located within an even larger park. I go there 4-5 times a week. Vancouver is a really friendly dog city so lots of people gather in unofficial places on a regular basis..certain beaches, trails..ect..so in theory more places exist than the 40 mentioned. (This is for 3 million people) Marianne and the boys |
| My closest dog park is on the north side of Mankato, about 25 minutes from me. Mankato is NOT dog friendly, no dogs are allowed in any city parks. This park is run by the local Kiwanis Club and is just outside the city limits. It has a good sized chain link fenced area, with a double gated entry. Poop bags are provided, as well as a dumpster to throw the poop in. There is a water spigot with a big dish, also a double drinking fountain - 1 human height, the other dog height. There is also a wading pool and lots of tennis balls. There are lots of big shade trees, and woodchip mulch under the tree area to cut down on mud. There is a newer large dog area being developed. The fencing is like the livestock fencing and has tube gates. Your dog needs to be fairly well trained d/t the wide spaces in the gates - they can get out!
Mankato is about 45,000 population, and the dog community has been trying to get a dog park going for years! This park is just in it's 2nd year - we love it! |
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