What exactly are Dog Parks??? - Page 1

I hear these mentioned on this Site, and presumably in the U.S.  But what exactly are they and their purpose?  Are they like an outside school and you pay for the use of special facilities that they offer?

We have dog parks that a dog owner can bring their dogs to so they can run off leash and/or socialize with other dogs.   

Are these purely in very built up areas then?  Or are you not allowed to have your dogs off lead anywhere else?  What about general Parks, Woods, Country-side, open land etc....

Regards,
Vixen

It varies from state to state but in my state a dog who is off it's owner's land or who can come off it's owner's land (ie an open front yard) must be on a leash.

Exactly wording from my county's 'Nuisance animal' laws.

Confine your pets to your property. Use a leash to control dogs and cats away from home. 

I agree that a garden should be secure.  I am surprised that in safe rural areas dogs cannot go off lead.  General Common Land that is often just a walk or short drive away is still considered to be on lead for dogs!

On the plus side however, you would not have the concern of Recall as quite a few British people do with their dogs!!

Dog parks are public parks, or areas in public parks, that are set aside for off-leash dogs to be allowed to play, chase balls, etc. In many, if not most/all municipalities, dogs are not allowed to be off-leash in public parks. Some parks don't allow dogs at all, particularly if a children's playground is in or near the park.

They originated in Berkeley, California, I believe.  In cities with restrictive leash laws, they're sometimes the only place dogs can run loose on public property. 

In the US, we have leash laws. A dog must be confined on private land with a fence that it cannot get out of, or on a leash. There are very few exceptions, one being a dog park.

Dog parks are usually in very urban areas. People bring their dogs, and socialize, sometimes they actually watch what their dogs are doing. Lots of dogfights and unintended breedings happen in these parks. Not all dog owners who take their pets to such parks are so irrisponsible, but it just takes a few to ruin it for everyone else. I seen dog fights and I've seen dogs attack people...........I will not take any SchH dog or puppy to such a park, its too risky. If another dog or pack of dogs attack a puppy or young dog it can set up a lifetime of confidence issues and render him usless for the sport.

Another place dogs can be off leash, only if under voice control, are our national forests. Its a much safer place to let the dogs run and play. Unfortunately national forests are few and far between and usually take hours to get to.


 

Germ Factories and sources of giardia and coccidosis infections.  Places where little dogs get hurt by big dogs because they think they own the park, and so do their owners................

 

Nice concept, but it does not work !

Dog parks....LOL
The latest fad I guess.
I'll leave it at that.