How to assess your local dog park

Posted on January 1, 2010

This is the first post of 2010. I hope everyone had a fun celebration to welcome this new year with lots of resolutions that no one keeps. Except the puppy related ones. I’m going to try to make an effort every day to make time with me more fun for the doggies in my life. What are you dog related resolutions? Leave your comment on my facebook site to share with everyone!

Now to the first doggy wisdom post of this year. I realize that not every town has their own dog park, I know that Manhattan doesn’t, which is very unfortunate. And for those who do not have access to a dog park I am in the process of putting together a post of all kinds of places you can enjoy on- and off-leash walks with your dog in Riley County and its surroundings. But for all of you who do have access to a dog park, like the one on Fort Riley, the association of pet dog trainers (APDT) has put together a sheet that can assist you in assessing your dog park.

Some of the things your dog park should have to be of good quality (and fun for you and your dog) are:
1. Bags and trash cans to clean up after your dog (and avoid the risk of parasites and bacteria crawling all over you and your furballs)
2. Water and shade
3. Enough space to avoid crowding (and that bully to finally snap)

Those are the absolute basics.
But I love some of the features they mention that very exceptional parks have:
1. No 90° corners in the fence (so no dog can be cornered)
2. Special enclosed areas for smaller dogs (under 20lbs.)
3. Agility equipment

Oh, how I would love to have a park like that near by, wouldn’t you? But as long as I am living here I will just have to built my own in our backyard…

You can find the complete list by the APDT here. For more information go to the APDT website at www.apdt.com