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My dogs will tell you there is no better place in the world than the dog park. It’s a place to run and romp off-leash, sniff at will, and roll around in other dog’s scents. The dog park is a place to meet friendly dogs of all shapes and sizes and play crazy games of chase and tag. My dogs will also tell you the dog park is where they take their mom to de-stress, refresh, and meet other happy dog owners. After a couple hours at the dog park, you’ll always find terrific big smiles on my face and those of my terriers.
Not all dog parks, however, are created equal. We love our regular dog park that has acres of area for dogs to run and romp with lots of trails and creeks to entertain every dog. There’s space for dogs to get together and space to keep their distance when they’re not comfortable or need a break. and there are important rules about leashing dogs as you near the vehicle parking lot to keep everyone safe. We’ve been to other dog parks that consist of small, fenced in areas that quickly become muddy, result in bottlenecks at entrance gates that make entering uncomfortable for many dogs, and don’t give dogs space to get away from other dogs when they’ve had enough play. animal behaviorists support that well-designed dog parks give dogs healthy opportunities to exercise and socialize — but it’s important to make sure the park design facilitates healthy behaviors.
I recently read a new book by Marilynn Glasser called dog Park Design, Development, and operation that is a practical how-to for adding a dog park in your community. Glasser addresses the benefits of dog parks, with ideas for how to develop community support for a dog park, including legal and practical issues like potential for noise, odors, etc. This book addresses financial issues, needed rules to keep the dog park safe and enjoyable for all, and practical aspects of how to design and build your own dog park. dog Park Design, Development, and operation addresses the equipment needed to keep both dogs and their humans happy, signage to post at the park, and even ideas for marketing your park to interested dog owners. This book is a terrific resource to use when you’re designing a new dog park or working to improve on that’s already in your community.