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Dog park

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For the movie, see Dog Park (film).
The recently renovated Tompkins Square Park dog run was the first in New York City, and it was named one of the top five dog parks in the United States by Dog Fancy magazine.
Dogs playing in Milwaukee Area Dog Parks

A dog park is a park for dogs to exercise and play off-leash in a controlled environment under the supervision of their owners.

Description

Dog parks have varying features, although they typically offer a 4' to 6' fence, separate double-gated entry and exit points, adequate drainage, benches for humans, shade for hot days, parking close to the site, water, pooper-scooper to pick up and dispose of animal waste in covered trash cans, and regular maintenance and cleaning of the grounds. Dog parks may also offer wheel-chair access, a pond for swimming and a separate enclosure for small dogs.

Off-leash area segregation

Some dog parks have separate play spaces for large and small dogs. Others have one large area for dogs of all sizes. There is debate about this issue, as some argue that dogs should be segregated by size,[1] while others feel that dogs of all sizes can and should socialize together.

History

Historical plaque for Ohlone Dog Park in Berkeley, California

In 1979, Ohlone Dog Park in Berkeley, California opened. It is widely recognized as the world's first dog park.[2][3][4] Similar to other parks in Berkeley at the time (such as People's Park), it was a community project on public land that was not officially sanctioned.[5] However, it was officially sanctioned by the City of Berkeley government in 1983.[6][7]

Dog parks began as a reaction to decreased public space, urban development, and leash laws.[8][9]

New establishment of dog parks in urban and suburban areas has seen significant increase since the 2000s.[10]

Instant dog parks

Standard poodles at a water hydrant in a dog park

Communities re-purpose pools, ice rinks, hockey rinks[11][12] and tennis courts in the off season as makeshift dog parks as an inexpensive, practical, and quick way to solve a problem. Municipalities allow zoning variance and/or tax incentive, and liability waiver for these.[13]

Dog park growth

Dog parks are the fastest-growing segment of city parks. There were 569 off-leash dog parks in the 100 largest U.S. cities in 2010, a 34 percent jump in 5 years, while overall parks increased only 3 percent. Portland, Oregon has the highest per capita in the US with 5.7 dog parks for every 100,000 residents. Calgary, AB has the highest per capita in North America, with 15.9 dog parks for every 100,000 residents. There are now more American households with dogs than with kids of 43 million and 38 million respectively. "It's a playground for people without kids."[14]

Children in dog parks

In Houston, Texas, some dog parks allow children inside if they are properly chaperoned by an adult, while others exclude children.[15] The Houston Dog Park Association, a non-governmental club, said that adults should be cautious about bringing children inside a dog park and be aware that it is hard to keep a careful eye on both the dog and a child.[15]

Public dog parks

The Limminranta Dog Park in Hollihaka, Oulu, Finland

A public dog park is typically a fenced outdoor area where people and their dogs can play together. Similarly, a dog run is a smaller fenced area, created for the same use, that is often located within an existing park. Public dog parks are most commonly operated by your city or county's parks department and are frequently part of a park. As the names imply, these places offer dogs off-leash play areas where their owners can enjoy a park-like setting and the chance to socialize with other canines and their owners. Public dog parks are being established all over the country and offer a wealth of benefits to dogs, dog owners and the community as a whole. Unless they are well-lit, most public dog parks are open to the public from dawn until dusk. Some public dog parks have vaccination requirements but are not typically staffed or enforced unless there is some kind of incident which is reported to animal control.

Private dog parks

A private dog park is an indoor or fenced outdoor area where people and their dogs can play together. Private dog parks are most commonly membership based and run as a for-profit business. Private dog parks can also be run as part of an apartment complex or community center. Some private dog parks combine other businesses such as retail areas, boarding, dog training, daycare and grooming services. When private dog parks are staffed, they commonly inspect dogs for lice and oral papillomas upon entry and supervise play. Toys and common play areas of private dog parks are commonly sanitized on a daily basis to ensure cleanliness and to prevent the spread of bacteria and diseases.[16]

Benefits of off-leash dog parks

A Great Dane lounges on a picnic table in Meir Park, Tel Aviv.

Off-leash dog areas, or dog parks, provide a community setting in which people can gather and socialize[17] and where they can observe the interaction of groups of dogs at play. Dog parks allow owners and their dogs to spend time together and offer dogs a space for play and companionship with others.[18] Leashes can cause dogs (which are territorial animals) to become territorial.[19] Roaming free is beneficial for dogs.

Greyhound in a kiddie pool at a dog park.

Organizations like the ASPCA regard dog parks as beneficial to dogs and to dog owners.[20] According to Dan Emerson of DogChannel.com, proponents of dog parks cite the following benefits: "They promote responsible pet ownership and the enforcement of dog-control laws; give dogs a place to exercise safely, thus reducing barking and other problem behaviors; provide seniors and disabled owners with an accessible place to exercise their companions; and provide an area for community-building socializing."[21] Dog-park regulations vary from park to park; some are quite extensive and comprehensive.[22]

Studies have shown that people find it easier to talk to each other with dogs as the initial focus, breaking down the usual social barriers that make people perceive others as strangers.[23][24] Some dog-owners are unable to properly exercise their dogs and could benefit from taking their dogs to a dog park.[25]

Additional benefits of a dog park to the community include promoting responsible dog-ownership[26] as well as accommodating dogs and their owners in a public open space, which has been shown to lead dog owners to higher levels of compliance with relevant laws.[27]

Dog beach at Coronado, California.

The benefits of exercise for dogs are well documented,[28] although dogs can learn and reinforce bad behaviors if owners are not vigilant or careful.[13]

Limitations of off-leash dog parks

According to advice from experts such as Cesar Millan, dog parks are not able to substitute the act of walking dogs daily.[29][30] It has also been recommended that dog owners walk dogs for 35 minutes, before placing them inside a dog enclosure, in order to adjust dogs to the urban environment.[29] Dogs that are highly socialized and exercised are healthier, happier, and less aggressive in behavior. They are less likely to bark or be destructive or aggressive if they are able to expend pent-up energy during regular play or exercise.[31]

It has also been noted that establishing a dog park may create contention within a community when residents worry about noise, smell, and traffic.[32]

References

  1. ^ "Size Matters at the Dog Park". Startribune.com. 2008-05-07. Archived from the original on 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  2. ^ "Berkeley Historical Plaque Project – Ohlone Dog Park". berkeleyplaques.org. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  3. ^ Lowrey, Sassafras (2020-02-07). "The Dog Park Is Bad, Actually". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  4. ^ Magazine, Smithsonian. "How Dog Parks Took Over the Urban Landscape". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  5. ^ "How Dog Parks Took over the Urban Landscape".
  6. ^ Andrea Merrill (2022-02-09). "Dog Parks 101: The History, Rules, and Etiquette Behind the Dedicated Spaces for Man's Best Friend". Animals of the Pacific Northwest. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  7. ^ "Berkeley Historical Plaque Project – Ohlone Dog Park". berkeleyplaques.org. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  8. ^ Andrea Merrill (2022-02-09). "Dog Parks 101: The History, Rules, and Etiquette Behind the Dedicated Spaces for Man's Best Friend". Animals of the Pacific Northwest. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  9. ^ Magazine, Smithsonian. "How Dog Parks Took Over the Urban Landscape". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  10. ^ Lowrey, Sassafras (2020-02-07). "The Dog Park Is Bad, Actually". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  11. ^ "New Dog Park Possibilities Proposed". Fbiw.org. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  12. ^ City of Eden Prairie Dog Parks Archived October 22, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ a b Top 10 dog park etiquette rules Retrieved 1-15-2017
  14. ^ "Fastest-growing urban parks are for the dogs". USA Today. 2011-12-07. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
  15. ^ a b The Houston Dog Park Association's Dog Park User Guide and Tips, archived from the original on 2008-03-25
  16. ^ "What is a dog park?". barxparx.com. August 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  17. ^ "Dog Parks". ASPCA. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
  18. ^ "Creating a Dog Park for Your Community". Bestfriends.org. 2004-09-06. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  19. ^ "Avoiding Onleash Dog Aggression". Canineuniversity.com. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  20. ^ "ASPCA Position About Dog Parks". Aspca.org. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  21. ^ "How to Start a Dog Park" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  22. ^ "The New York Council of Dog Owner Groups" (PDF).
  23. ^ "Studies Show Walking the Dog Helps Meet People". Petplace.com. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  24. ^ Therapeutic Aspects of the Human-Companion Animal Interaction, Sandra B. Barker, Ph.D. Retrieved 3-18-2009
  25. ^ "What Are the Community Benefits?". Lowgapdogpark.org. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  26. ^ "Dog Parks". Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  27. ^ "Why Go to a Dog Park?". Sequimdogparks.org. 2010-10-07. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  28. ^ Sally Elliott. "Exercise an important routine for pets and their humans". Newsadvance.com. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  29. ^ a b "Tips For Walking in The Park". The Dog Bus. Retrieved 2015-03-13.
  30. ^ "Cesar Millan, p. 15". Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  31. ^ "Why It's Important for Dogs to Play". Petplace.com. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  32. ^ "Neighbors Oppose Proposed Dog Park". Theworldlink.com. 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
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