We used to have them in the city where we used to live. They were well maintained by the dog owners themselves who appreciated them. Now there is talk of having one in the city we moved to and I would love to have one here.

We have one here in our city but since I don't have a dog I don't use it. I have a huge vacant lot behind my house that would be my dog park if I had one.

We have one, just recently, BUT, the trail to it is downhill and I,m unable to do that. Plus, the girls are 11 now, and slowing down. I've always wished for one, but now it comes too late for me and the dogs.

Yes, we do have a nice one, also a short stretch of the beach is a dog park - I have two dogs, but don't use the parks, fearing dog fights. Mine get walked 3 miles a day, around my neighborhood.

One of my dogs is a 12 year old Border Collie and the other is a 11 mo. Chi - can't take the risk of either one of them getting hurt/killed in a dog fight.

In Colorado; We have several really fancy dog parks. A shed company donated a cute doggie house and a fence company donated a work out/training area.....:0) They have an area for small dogs, an area for big dogs...

Our small town is getting ready to build one, and I think it's a huge waste of money in these tough economic times. There are no homes within 1/2 mile of the proposed site, and I would guess there are less than 25 homes within 2 miles in any direction. We live in the country, for pete's sake, and most people have land.

The other thing they are doing that just amazes me is that they are spending a fortune putting a sidewalk next to the road I live on. Hellllloooo, this is an agricultural area, with very few homes--and 5 miles from "civilization". Who the heck is going to walk on the sidewalk? Once you get into the town, there are a lot of homes, close together, sitting right next to the street. Those people have no sidewalks! Duh!!! I think they are trying to spend [translation: waste] some of the stimulus money from Uncle Sam.

we have dozens here in the orlando area, we are a very dog centric area. my own city which is a northeast suburb of orlando has 2 and most cities around me have them. we have a dog beach in new smyrna beach (at the jetty) and a few parks inland are on lakes w/ beaches. many restaurants in our area allow doggie patrons where they have outdoor eating areas. we have alot of boutique doggie stores, dog washes, bakeries and our share of petsmarts, petco, pet supermarkets etc... dog businesses are booming here LOL. i live right by Park Ave in Winter Park which is an upscale shopping district and most stores put doggie water bowls out and have dog treats for patrons. there are several dog boutiques in Winter Park alone.

we don't go a lot to the parks anymore, my girls are 12 yrs old and have back or hip problems and can't take young whippersnappers jumping on them. every sat & sun we do something w/ them and drive by our 2 parks to see if it's slow, or if the little dog area is avail. then we'll stop if it is o.k., otherwise we go on to the stores. ~ liz

Isn't that ridiculous, Wanda?! Horrible waste of money that could be well spent elsewhere.

We tried to get one built in our downtown because we are trying to encourage residential development and one of the things we need to overcome is the lack of a dog friendly area for exercise. City council shot us down and directed us to an outlying area....where there is already plenty of green space. Talk about shortsighted.

do you mean off leash parks? then yes, we have several.
we can also take our dogs on leash to any park.

We have several on the Island. Two are near me, one is very crowded the other no one ever goes to..City beach has a walking trail that intersects with another trail along the shoreline on the base.
We also have other very dog friendly trails in the area. I don't understand the whole dog park concept.

Wanda--are you sure "they" are putting in the sidewalks? Sidewalks, at least around here, are the responsibility of hte property owner. Have you checked to make SURE you won't be getting a bill for your portion of the work? (that's how it works here--if the township does the concrete work on your property, the homeowner subsequently ends up having to pay for it). Of course, then you're required to maintain the sidewalk, and you only have something like 8 hours to get it cleared after a snowstorm.

As to dog parks--there is one in a lovely area of the county park and while it's pretty well used, not everyone goes there. Not really sure how to phrase what I'm trying to say. In other areas, where you have off-leash parks, does the general population use them? or have they become a sort of special area for a specific group of people?

No special dog park in the near by towns, but I do believe you can take your dog on a leash to them. I have never gone, so I don't know. Living in the country I have plenty of room for Izzi to run and play.

Sue

Yes we have one. I took Georgy there when she was about six months old. However, I didn't realize I had to bring papers to show she has had all her shots, her dog license, and there was a yearly fee of $15.00. When I was there, there were not that many dogs there. Also, I had to drive in order to get there and Georgy doesn't like riding in the car. We never went back. We have three golf courses here that I can walk and occasionally we meet up with a dog that likes to play. We unleash them and let them romp. Unfortunately, sometimes she runs through the sand traps leaving me to rake them.

We have a nice one in our city called Central Bark. I don't have a dog anymore but like to go watch other people's dogs play.

Jodi-

The dog parks we frequent most often are all for off-leash dogs & fenced. All have a big dog & a little/elderly dog section.

So yes, it's for a particular part of the population, though we've run across people who for whatever reason can't have a dog, but their "fix" is coming to a dog park and watching them play.

My gripe hasn't been the dogs, but people who bring little children to a dog park, then get upset if a big dog knocks them down. Hey lady this is a dog park not a kiddie park--double duh.

I have 2 designated dog parks within 1 mile of my house. We took our lab every weekend and will start the tradition when our new puppy arrives.

Azzalea, the two off leash dog parks in my area are not used by the general population, they are for dogs only. There is not much of a grassy area, only tan bark and completely fenced in, nothing elaborate. We have several city parks in my area that are used by little league and soccer on week nights and weekends. Dogs are not allowed to run free during those times. Dog owners complained and the city gave the dog two parks.

Yes there's one here. I don't have a dog but I pass it often and see lots of people there with their dogs. They even have fake fire hydrants in the park, thought that was cute.

No and we have very strict leash laws, and small yards. It's dumb.
We also don't have a city swimming pool, skate park, movie theater....

Boring.

No, not in this small town. I probably wouldn't use one any way due to the reasons mentioned above. My little dog doesn't know he's little lol!

They also did the sidewalk thing here, Wanda. What a waste! Even cutting through the streets to pour the concrete "sidewalk" dumb, dumb, dumb

We have one here. It is a fenced area that lies between a Golf course and a wooded park. It is split in two sections. One for large dogs and one for small guys. I like it because Jaggs is frightened of big dogs so he can have fun without the worry! When he's had enough there we go for a leashed walk in the woods.

My town has two, both well-used. So it annoys me when I see dogs running off-leash in the non-dog park near my house. Always scares Chloe.

We have a lot of dog parks here in Seattle (probably at least 10 within the city limits), several with water access so they can go swimming. They are greatly appreciated in cities where a high percentage of the population live in apartments or condos because there is nowhere else to let your pup run around off leash. Whenever I've gone to a dog park, they are always busy. I think they're great.

We just got a dog park here a couple of years ago. Large dogs and small dogs have separate areas. You buy a pass and show your dogs immunization records. It is very nice. Aggressive dogs are not allowed. I don't have any dogs now but when I did, DS took Jake to the dog park and Jake peed in the drinking water. DS was embarrassed but someone told him all dogs do that. I have not heard anything negative about our dog park.

Yes, the town does and our development has one, too. The other day, I saw a couple walking their dog toward the park. It was the cutest thing! The dog was looking straight ahead at his "buddies" who were already there and I swear he had a smile on his face. He was just trotting along all excited.

We have one here and drive past it often, seeing the fun the dogs are having off-leash. I would be there if I had a dog...socializing your companion is necessary and the park is a good place,especially if you start young and often. Nanny

Yes, we have dog parks, but unfortunately you wouldn't want to take your dog to one unless you don't mind them picking up fleas.

We have two nice dog parks close by. Conway absolutely had a blast and then he'd come home and sleep for two days.

I don't know about parking your dog ... but I can assure you that if you park your car in the wrong place ... or too long, etc., in many situations you'll get a ticket - that gets costly.

I received such a ticket in a city over 100 miles away a while ago, and sent them the fee, after one escalation ... but there'd been two ...

... so I can't renew my vehicle registration till I pay the whole thing, at the licence renewal place.

I believe that the nearby city has more than one dog park, for the owners' convenience. I know that my friend takes his rambunctious dog down near the river and she has a glorious time running around.

She loves to have me show up ... for occasionally she gets to ride in the car ... and, even more occasionally, gets to come out to spend time at the farm, where she can run to her heart's content.

Couldn't one call confining such a frisky dog to a small apartment, then to walk slowly on a leash for exercise and to do one's business ...

... sort of akin to canine abuse??

ole joyful

I've seen dog parks locally, but not in my exact town. I'd love to have one but my dog Molly is very timid around other dogs, I don't think she would like it.

i live in seminole co. just north of orlando and here you can not walk your dog even on a leash in a public park. you can walk your dog on a leash, on our extensive multi-county trail system thou. i understand the park policy, there are dog owners who don't poop scoop and no one wants to step in that :-0 we also walk our girls at a trail by our house, we park in a parking lot that is shared w/ a public park and have had a few old ladies actually yell at us from their parked cars that we can not be there w/ our dogs & to get out :-0 and actually at this park you can walk on the path along the park to another set of trails but after getting yelled at once we quit going on that side and now only go across the street. there are even signs all along the path that you can walk w/ a leashed dog thru there. we've been yelled at even thou we cross the street too LOL. our dog parks are not supported w/ public funds, usually only thru fundraising and donated land. we volunteer a couple times a yr to help w/ clean-up and maintenance and donate $$ to help keep them open. they are another perk of living in this beautiful area! ~ liz

Does Calgary have *a* dog park? Check out the map of Calgary and see for yourself:

Here is a link that might be useful: Do we have a dog park?

Yes but we have two dogs and a large yard so we don't use them. My 3 grand dogs come to visit and play making 5 which is plenty. Plus we don't have any flea problems to deal with that way.

We have a doggie park about five miles away. All I have to do is say "DOGGIE PARK", and they both come running. When they're in the car, as soon as we turn into the park they're up and whining. My little Nazi Dachshund runs to the big dog fence and tries to engage the big dogs. I watch him carefully in his own side because he can get aggressive. He just barks and chases, doesn't bite. My other dog loves to nag all the humans to throw balls for him.