No, mine have ten acres to dig and destroy, which they try to do every day... No dog parks for them! They do have fun though!

Nope, never will again. There are too many people that have big dogs that do not keep their dog on leashes. That was required at this dog park. When I had my Stretch, (passed away) I went to a dog park in our area. This park had a place where you could walk your dog around this large field. Well, when I got about three quarters around it this huge beast of a dog came charging at my little Doxie. The owner had NO leash on the dog (dumb) and she was screaming his name to "get back here." I swooped up my Stretch and covered my body over his and RAN like heck to my car. That dog was chasing me...and the stupid woman was telling me it was friendly. Yeah, right, lady. I will walk mine in my yard or throw balls. I have a plenty of fenced in yard for my dogs.

I've taken Jaggs a few times. Our park has separate areas for small and large dogs. He has fun but always gets filthy! It always means a bath when we get home, so we don't go that often. He's just as happy in his own yard with a friend or two!

Nope. My dogs have each other and are very social with all dogs they meet. They have DD's little dogs come visit too.

Our Rottie loves to play with little dogs. She gentles down to whatever size dog she is playing with. However I find many little dog owners don't bother to teach their pets good manners and socialization skills. Plus there is the flea issue from romping in a dog park. I have never had to use flea treatments on my dogs except when they first arrived. One or two doses as puppies or new dogs and that has been it.

Thistledows post is classic from owners of small dogs. My large extremely social dogs come running up with tails high and ears forward to meet and greet and ankle biter dog owner calls it "charging". Then scoops up Muffy and RUNS causing my big friendly dogs to think that she wants to play chase. LOL

Fearful dog owners are a greater threat than any animal I have ever seen in a dog park or a other venue where dogs are allowed. I've had the same experience in pet supply stores. My well behaved dogs are on 6 foot leads and at my side occasionally seeking to make friends with other animals. Along comes hysterical owner with Muffy completely NOT under her control because she's got the little thing on a 25 or 30 foot fully extended retractable leash, yelling that I need to keep MY dogs away from hers. LOL

Nope - won't subject my fur kids to all the perils a dog park presents. I walk my dogs 3 miles a day and they are in great shape - one is a 12-yr. old border collie and the other is a 10-mo. Chi.

My concern is that other dogs may not be up to date on their shots or have fleas. I've seen some mangy looking dogs at the dog park. I think the owners who don't bother to clean up after their dogs should be fined. That's the main reason I'll never go back.

I don't think thistledew was over reacting. I would have felt the same way - and I also have raised a wonderful German Shepherd, a silly black lab and 4 immensely lovable rottweilers. When the dog park rules state that dogs must be leashed and some unleashed dog comes running toward me with its' owner running behind and yelling at it - I would be concerned too.

Twice one of my rotties was attacked by a small dog. The first time it was in my own home and my girlfriend brought her Jack Russell over to play. I was amazed to see her dog snarl and growl and leap for my Rotties' throat. My dog just sat there while she pulled her dog away. I put my dog out in the back yard and walked back into the house to see her dog lift his leg and pee on my couch! Quite a brazen creature. The second time I was standing in my front yard with my dog on a leash when a the pit bull/terrier came running down the street and attacked my dog while the owner came running behind screaming.

What's the point of having a dog park if the dogs have to be on a leash? I thought the whole point was to provide a place for them to run around off the leash, especially for people who may live in apartments or places where they don't have a big yard. My dd lives in NYC and takes her dog go a dog park so she can throw balls.

Exactly Fran. Dog parks are for off leash. If a dog isn't well socialized then the dog doesn't belong there.

We took our Boston Terrier a few times when we had him. One time, he was running full speed in one direction...and another dog was running full speed in another direction. They collided. They were both whimpering...but unhurt. We left as we just knew that other owner was going to want to make us pay up for something, since people are so sue happy these days. Before that, a dog gets his front paws on my husband's lap...stands there snarling, growling and barking in his face. The owner just sat there watching. I told him to get his dog...and not very nicely. People are just wierd. A dog that is friendly in their presence doesn't mean it will be when they are out of sight. I would never trust our dog alone with a stranger...and she is afraid of her own shadow.

To a dog park--no. The reasons listed in this post are all valid, and all boil down to one, really--irresponsible owners. But that's not the only reason I would avoid our local dog park. There's a bit of a unique side issue with the local one.

Now, that being said, when DD used to raise Seeing eye puppies, we regularly had get-togethers with the other dogs--at our monthly meetings, at parties, fairs, parades, camping. Once a summer, we'd rent a fenced park (with a lake) for a picnic and we'd let the dogs run free and enjoy themselves. The big difference, though, was that these dogs were all up on all their shots, they were all well-socialized and knew each other and the humans, and we had 2 very well-educated leaders of the club who were able to handle any problems that arose. It was a lot of fun--for the puppies and their raisers.

Our dog park is a wonderful place. It is very close to the animal shelter. In order for dogs to be at our park, you must first buy a permit from the shelter and show proof your dog is up-to-date on his/her shots. The park is divided into small dog and large dog areas. The whole purpose is for dogs to be able to run off leash.

We took our lab to the dog park every Saturday and Sunday from the time he was 6 months until he passed at 12 years old. Guess we were lucky because we never had a flea issue or any other issue listed by posters. Our off leash park was sectioned off to accomodate small and large dogs.

When we get our lab puppy in 3 weeks, he will be enjoying the park when he has completed his shots and has gone through obdience training.

I read the pro and cons, and I agree with everyone. We have a park where the under 30 pounds are on one side of a fenced area and bigger ones on the other side, You NEVER can have dogs leashed, The point of the park is for them to run and catch balls. So far the people and their dogs look nice and behaved but I am still leery since I have an aggressive (to bigger dogs) Doxie who had issues from his former life where he lived with a bunch of dogs and I suspect was bullied. That said my Ziggy loves to run and play ball and chase play with others. Wally goes to the big dog fence and tries to engage them into running along the fence, I keep a good eye on them and if anything looks weird, we're gone. I walk them two miles a day and we have a fenced in yard but Wally finds ways to get out so that's why I like this for him.

Nope. The only thing worse to deal with than overprotective or irresponsible parents are overprotective and irresponsible dog owners. They ruin it for everyone!

I'm glad my kids are grown and that my dogs have each other. Park days are over! :)

Took Georgy once but had to have proof of all her shots (a good idea) but I didn't have it with me. Also, there was a yearly fee and I had to drive to get there ....Georgy doesn't do well in the car. I, too, thought the whole idea was for the dog to be off leash and play with the other dogs which Georgy loves to do. I walk on the golf course before golfers start to play and there are a couple of dogs that we meet up with and let them play off leash. Sometimes it requires a lot of trap raking if the dogs discover the sand but all in all, they have a good time and burn off some of that excess energy. If I see someone walking off in the distance, I immediately leash her because she considers it her duty to officially greet people. Even if a dog is friendly, it's scary to see a big dog come charging at you.

At our doggie park , there is a nature trail behind it. My dogs and I love to walk about 50 minutes thru the woods and meadows and by the creek. We see bluebirds everywhere because there are boxes for them to nest. However all dogs are leashed which mine always are anyway. It pisses me off when I round a bend and there stands a huge rottweiler or lab or pit..My dogs are only 22 pounds but are no shrinking violets. They snarl and pull and then the owner comes over and says..they're friendly, won't hurt you. Yeah, right. Leash your dog lady, The law applies to everyone.

I have before but don't do it often. My dog is big and plays rough and I also don't like to deal with owners who freak out when dogs behave like...well..dogs. However, all our dog parks are NO leashes only, you are not allowed to have your dogs on the leash in the park, as it can create problems when some dogs are on leash and some dogs are off leash. I don't see the point of a leashed dog park either, the whole world is a leashed dog park.

Ruby has been once or twice, but since we got Max there have been too many dogs that have gotten sick from dog parks around here.

Leptosperosis and pertussis (kennel cough) are big problems here, as is heartworm.

Plus Max gets very anxious around other dogs and doesn't seem to like being around them. If they are smaller he will run like the wind to avoid them. If they are bigger, he runs even faster and poops as he goes.

Ruby likes other dogs fine, but we have a nice fenced yard for them to bark like crazy in ;).

Dances.