Dog Parks are an awesome asset to any community. They are also an asset to any dog owner. There are approximately, 569 off leash dog parks in 100 of the largest cities in the U.S. New parks are always welcome in any urban setting. The best parks usually contain a mix of fields, a pond or lake, along with trailed woodlands. Many parks provide a token waste bag dispenser to encourage picking up after your dog, but always remember to bring your own, which is always the responsible thing to do. Some parks have potable drinking water for dogs and even Agility Courses.
These parks are a God send for dog owners for many reasons. The chances of your dog meeting up with other dogs for a good old high spirited romp are great and this means your dog is usually tired when he gets back home and less prone to be needy or bothersome, leaving you to go about your chores in peace. An outing at a dog park should never be a substitute for a leash walk, as there is still a need for a structured leash walk at least for, 20 - 30 minutes per day. Taking your dog to the park, offers your dog the chance to socialize with other dogs and this is great experience for them as they learn to get along, co-operate and even get reminded by older dogs that there is a pecking order among dogs and are quickly put back in their place.
Port Burwell in Southwestern Ontario is an excellent place to take dogs. About 2 miles of the beach is restricted to dogs and their owners. Ideal for a day at the beach with the family, dog included.
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| Tompkins Square Dog Park, N.Y.C. |
These parks are a God send for dog owners for many reasons. The chances of your dog meeting up with other dogs for a good old high spirited romp are great and this means your dog is usually tired when he gets back home and less prone to be needy or bothersome, leaving you to go about your chores in peace. An outing at a dog park should never be a substitute for a leash walk, as there is still a need for a structured leash walk at least for, 20 - 30 minutes per day. Taking your dog to the park, offers your dog the chance to socialize with other dogs and this is great experience for them as they learn to get along, co-operate and even get reminded by older dogs that there is a pecking order among dogs and are quickly put back in their place.
Port Burwell in Southwestern Ontario is an excellent place to take dogs. About 2 miles of the beach is restricted to dogs and their owners. Ideal for a day at the beach with the family, dog included.
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| Always Pick Up After Your Dog...Unless! |
U.S.A
As far as dog friendly cities in the U.S go, Portland, Oregon tops the list. Below is a list of some major cities that are dog friendly and offer dog parks. This list only contains a few parks for each city mentioned. There are plenty more in most major centers, with the exception of a few. Not all parks listed are strictly off leash parks.
San Diego, California: Dog Beach, Point Loma Blvd.
Miami, Florida: Emilia Earhart Park, Municipal Airport at masters field.
Nashville, Tennessee: Shelby Park, or Centennial Park.
Philadelphia, Mass. : Schuylkill River Dog Park.
Seattle, Washington: Puget Sound
Bellingham, Washington: Maritime,Heritage Park, Bennet Drive.
New York City: Tompkins Square Park Dog Run
( Voted into top 5 dog parks by Dog fancy Magazine)
Chicago, Illinois: Navy Pier, or Grant Park.
Boston Mass. : Boston Common, or Back Bay Fens.
Salt Lake City, Utah: Ensign Peak Trail, or Liberty Park.
Tucson, Arizona: Rillito River Trail.
Birmingham, Alabama: Oak Mountain State Park.
Atlanta, Georgia: Piedmont Park.
Los Angeles, California: Venice Beach Boardwalk
Some U.S. cities like San Antonio Texas, sadly offer only one off leash park.
Canada
Vancouver, B.C: Burrard View Park, or Coopers Park, False Creek.
Kelowna B.C : Kelowna Off Leash Park, Vernon Road, by airport.
Calgary Alberta: There are 67 Dog Parks in Calgary.
Sydney, Nova Scotia: Alexandria Park, or Victoria Park.
Edmonton Alberta; There are 40 Dog Parks.
Winnipeg Manitoba: Little Mountain Park, and Kil-Cona Park.
Toronto, Ontario: Don Valley Brickwork's, or High Park.
WARNING: ANYONE TRAVELLING TO TORONTO OR THROUGH ONTARIO WITH A DOG!
Ontario has new laws put into place that are unfair and too vague without leniency.
Pitbull's or similar breeds ( Not Specified ) are banned in Ontario. The only exception is that the dog has been grandfathered by a resident Pitbull pre- 2005. Any Pitbull caught in Ontario is subject to instant confiscation and fines. This is a ridiculous law for a few reasons, the main one being that anyone travelling from Eastern Canada to the West or Vise Versa, has to go through Ontario to get there and is subject to prosecution if travelling with a Pitbull. There are no signs warning you of this as you are travelling.
Refer to Toronto's Pet Laws before travelling to clarify specific breeds.
Furthermore, in almost all cases of attack by Pitbull's, it has been the fault of the owner and down to total irresponsibility and lack of proper training. Pitbull's are not prone to attack unprovoked anymore than any other breed, unless they are under the ownership of a person as mentioned. I know a few Pitties and while they are strong as an ox, most are like big babies and love affection and attention. It is irresponsible owners like this that should be banned from dog ownership and a zero tolerance law for owners of dogs like this would be far more reaching and make more sense than banning any breed of dog. If dogs are truly man's best friend, then banning a breed is no different than racism and is a form of genocide.
All Dog Parks have rules and regulations posted and some park rules can vary greatly. Winnipeg Manitoba Parks state that if your dog digs a hole, you must cover it up. Female dogs in heat are often banned from the parks. Always bring water for your dog, treats, poo bags, toys and a leash. treats can come in handy if you have to heel your dog quickly because of a threat or if they are getting in the way of something. Dog parks can be a rough place and you should remain alert at all times. Dogs running together have a way of running through groups of owners and knees are at risk. Dogs should never be taken to a Dog Park without proper immunizations and shots to prevent kennel Cough and other ailments.
Your dog should be within eyesight at all times and under your voice control. Small children and the elderly should be watched closely around playing dogs as both are susceptible to easy injury by getting knocked down or bitten. Dog Parks, promote responsibility in dog owners and it's a great place to meet new people. Dogs are an excellent ice breaker to do just that. It's healthy for dogs to socialize and exercise on neutral territory. Before you take your dog to a Dog Park for the first time, they should have at least a grasp of the basic commands, sit, stay, down, come. Aggressive dogs should not be taken to these parks unless they are wearing a muzzle. Dogs should be slowly acclimatized to the Dog Park Setting.
Always be aware of your surroundings at a Dog Park as not everyone is a responsible pet owner and I have witnessed attacks by other dogs, while the owner did little or nothing to control the situation. A Dog Park and a leash walk should be part of your dog's everyday structure and routine to maintain a healthy relationship between you and your pet. The responsibilities of owning a dog are many, but somehow it's all worth it for mans best friend.
Miami, Florida: Emilia Earhart Park, Municipal Airport at masters field.
Nashville, Tennessee: Shelby Park, or Centennial Park.
Philadelphia, Mass. : Schuylkill River Dog Park.
Seattle, Washington: Puget Sound
Bellingham, Washington: Maritime,Heritage Park, Bennet Drive.
New York City: Tompkins Square Park Dog Run
( Voted into top 5 dog parks by Dog fancy Magazine)
Chicago, Illinois: Navy Pier, or Grant Park.
Boston Mass. : Boston Common, or Back Bay Fens.
Salt Lake City, Utah: Ensign Peak Trail, or Liberty Park.
Tucson, Arizona: Rillito River Trail.
Birmingham, Alabama: Oak Mountain State Park.
Atlanta, Georgia: Piedmont Park.
Los Angeles, California: Venice Beach Boardwalk
Some U.S. cities like San Antonio Texas, sadly offer only one off leash park.
Canada
Vancouver, B.C: Burrard View Park, or Coopers Park, False Creek.
Kelowna B.C : Kelowna Off Leash Park, Vernon Road, by airport.
Calgary Alberta: There are 67 Dog Parks in Calgary.
Sydney, Nova Scotia: Alexandria Park, or Victoria Park.
Edmonton Alberta; There are 40 Dog Parks.
Winnipeg Manitoba: Little Mountain Park, and Kil-Cona Park.
Toronto, Ontario: Don Valley Brickwork's, or High Park.
WARNING: ANYONE TRAVELLING TO TORONTO OR THROUGH ONTARIO WITH A DOG!
DON'T DO IT !
Ontario has new laws put into place that are unfair and too vague without leniency.
Pitbull's or similar breeds ( Not Specified ) are banned in Ontario. The only exception is that the dog has been grandfathered by a resident Pitbull pre- 2005. Any Pitbull caught in Ontario is subject to instant confiscation and fines. This is a ridiculous law for a few reasons, the main one being that anyone travelling from Eastern Canada to the West or Vise Versa, has to go through Ontario to get there and is subject to prosecution if travelling with a Pitbull. There are no signs warning you of this as you are travelling.
Refer to Toronto's Pet Laws before travelling to clarify specific breeds.
Furthermore, in almost all cases of attack by Pitbull's, it has been the fault of the owner and down to total irresponsibility and lack of proper training. Pitbull's are not prone to attack unprovoked anymore than any other breed, unless they are under the ownership of a person as mentioned. I know a few Pitties and while they are strong as an ox, most are like big babies and love affection and attention. It is irresponsible owners like this that should be banned from dog ownership and a zero tolerance law for owners of dogs like this would be far more reaching and make more sense than banning any breed of dog. If dogs are truly man's best friend, then banning a breed is no different than racism and is a form of genocide.
All Dog Parks have rules and regulations posted and some park rules can vary greatly. Winnipeg Manitoba Parks state that if your dog digs a hole, you must cover it up. Female dogs in heat are often banned from the parks. Always bring water for your dog, treats, poo bags, toys and a leash. treats can come in handy if you have to heel your dog quickly because of a threat or if they are getting in the way of something. Dog parks can be a rough place and you should remain alert at all times. Dogs running together have a way of running through groups of owners and knees are at risk. Dogs should never be taken to a Dog Park without proper immunizations and shots to prevent kennel Cough and other ailments.
Your dog should be within eyesight at all times and under your voice control. Small children and the elderly should be watched closely around playing dogs as both are susceptible to easy injury by getting knocked down or bitten. Dog Parks, promote responsibility in dog owners and it's a great place to meet new people. Dogs are an excellent ice breaker to do just that. It's healthy for dogs to socialize and exercise on neutral territory. Before you take your dog to a Dog Park for the first time, they should have at least a grasp of the basic commands, sit, stay, down, come. Aggressive dogs should not be taken to these parks unless they are wearing a muzzle. Dogs should be slowly acclimatized to the Dog Park Setting.
Always be aware of your surroundings at a Dog Park as not everyone is a responsible pet owner and I have witnessed attacks by other dogs, while the owner did little or nothing to control the situation. A Dog Park and a leash walk should be part of your dog's everyday structure and routine to maintain a healthy relationship between you and your pet. The responsibilities of owning a dog are many, but somehow it's all worth it for mans best friend.
***
Do Have A Good Day And A Walk In The Dog Park.
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Jeffrey R Hilton
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