What do people want in a dog park?

For those of us with a reactive dog, it is perfect as they can enjoy all the fun of sniffing and marking territory in an area where other dogs have been, without the fear of being pounced on by another dog or even worse being chased. We are so lucky to have so many in the local area along the south coast and many of these offer lots of activities for the dogs to enjoy. At some of these sites, there are jumps and logs to climb on, seesaws and other agility equipment and then some of them have got a sand pit, or even a paddling pool. I honestly think that we get as much fun with these items as our dogs. Play with them – I mean really play. Teach them to come back when called – make it fun and get your hands on them every time they return. Show them how to weave in and out of the weave poles or jump the low poles. Play hide and seek – if there is more than one of you, go and hide a few feet away and call your dog. Lay a track and get your dog to follow it.

Dog parks are places where dog owners can let their dogs run free in a purpose-built, secure environment. In dog parks, dogs can socialise with other breed types and sizes of dogs. This is important for dog owners who want their dogs to be well-rounded in terms of their personality and able to interact with different types of dogs. Dog parks also allow dogs the opportunity to meet new humans which widens a dog’s horizons when it comes to making friends. Dog parks allow dogs to play and interact with other dogs, often giving them a chance to swim in a pool and play on play equipment and run around off-leash which helps them stay healthy both physically and mentally. For many dogs, going to a dog park is like Disneyland – it’s full of things to jump on and over, tunnels to explore, pools to splash in and acres of land for running around in. Not all dogs are social or want to play with other dogs – for these dogs, a private and enclosed space is perfect. Dog parks offer the perfect setting for dogs and their owners to socialise with other people and dogs or they can provide that much longed-for solitude for training or a stress-free walk in a private hire session.