[lgnutah]

I read in the paper that a dog park is opening the end of this month, about 10 miles from where I live. I went over there today to look at the set up. They have two separate areas-for dogs under and over 25 lb. There is a fenced area before you enter the play area, so that your dog can sniff noses through the fence with the dogs already in the play area. I guess their rule will be if dogs growl when they sniff at each other through the fence, then the new dog isn't to enter the play area.
It looked like a good set up that way (but then, I have never been to a dog park before so I have no idea what a good set up would be!). They told me that another rule is any dog in the play area must respond to the Come! command.
The only drawback I noticed is that they had obviously just recently planted new grass inside the play area (it is open, but surrounded by trees and maybe they even cut down brushy shrubby stuff to create the play areas). Anyway, as we have had a lot of rain lately, there were low areas filled with water and the grass was so sparse I can imagine the dogs will have it turned into a muddy grassless area in no time.
Any thoughts?

 

[esSJay]

One of our city's dog parks (which I do not go to) has zero grass in it... it's all mud (when its wet) and dust when it's dry The last time we went, there were close to 50 or even 60 dogs in the park at once and it's not big to begin with, and there is no way that any grass would survive! Taking Molson home in the car was an absolute nightmare as his fur had clumps of mud that dried, and the mud from his paws got all over the back seats. Good thing it's leather and was much easier to clean than fabric would have been.

The other dog park that we normally go to has hardly any bare patches (except where the humans stand to socialize), and the rest is a combination of grass, clover and some other green stuff that seems to be able to stand up to the dogs running by.

 

[Augustus McCrae's Mom]

The dog park I sometimes go to in Greenville is just mulch. I worry sometimes that with all the running and sliding that someone's going to end up with a big mulch splinter, but that hasn't happened.

Where's the new park? And are there going to be people there monitoring it to see if the dogs growl or if they come when called? I just wonder how they'll enforce that kind of thing.

 

[goldengirl09]

This sounds like the dog park by my house. It's fairly new and about 5 minutes from my house. I love it. It is mostly dirt so it does get muddy when it's wet and your dog will get dirty wrestling with other dogs in the dirt but it hasn't caused any problems for me. I take him every day and keep a comforter over the backseat so he doesn't mess up the car. By the time we get home, most of the dirt has fallen off of him.

Oh and the small area before the play area is a safety feature so dogs can't escape to the parking lot- if they get out one gate, they're still in the safety area. Also, it gives you time to unleash them before all the dogs come running up to play.

I think dog parks largely depend on the people who go there and how well their dogs are trained. I'm lucky to have a great one by my house. Hope yours turns out to be a good one! It's a great way for them to exercise and socialize. I've been taking Harvey since he was 4 months and he is so good with other dogs now- he has a good sense of who wants to play rough and who doesn't, he's good with the small dogs (something I was worried about) and very respectful/submissive to the older dogs.

Aside from that, I love taking him- it's fun to see all the dogs play and meet other dog lovers. Hope you and your dog(s) enjoy it!

 

[lgnutah]

Marjory
It's Nettles Park, which is just off Issaqueena Trail where it branches off toward Pendleton. If you are on Hwy 123, get off at the Issaqueena Trail exit head toward Pendleton. You will pass the new Lowes that is going in. Then just after the new Patrick Square housing development, the road forks (it might be called Brown Rd, but I'm not sure). Take the left fork. You will cross a bridge and just after the bridge is the park on the left. Once you enter the park, follow the road all the way to the back parking lots (you will pass baseball field, kids playground, tennis courts, and the Clemson Parks and Recreation office, but keep going to the end of the parking lot).

 

[lgnutah]

One of our city's dog parks (which I do not go to) has zero grass in it... it's all mud (when its wet) and dust when it's dry The last time we went, there were close to 50 or even 60 dogs in the park at once and it's not big to begin with, and there is no way that any grass would survive! Taking Molson home in the car was an absolute nightmare as his fur had clumps of mud that dried, and the mud from his paws got all over the back seats. Good thing it's leather and was much easier to clean than fabric would have been.

I went to the new dog park last Friday. It hadn't rained in a few days and I was hoping the dog park would be dry (it wasn't). There were only 2 other dogs there (and of course one jumped up on me with his muddy paws).
I don't think the grass they planted has a chance of filling in before the dogs have it all worn away (it's a very shady park) so I am afraid anytime I go there Brooks will be a muddy mess.:no::no::no::no::no:

 

[Susan6953]

Our park gets muddy, too, but Jamie loves to play with the other dogs. Fortunately we don't have the "come" rule because Jamie becomes deaf when he's playing but he is totally submissive and would never get in a fight.

I wear rubber boots and a long raincoat if it is muddy because you can count on someone's dog jumping up even if yours doesn't. When I go on my lunch hour I also take a change of clothes to the office just in case.

 

[Augustus McCrae's Mom]

I missed your reply from a month ago Cheryl! I've been to Nettles Park before to play softball and kickball, so I know where that is. I actually used to live right off Issaqueena and work near downtown Pendleton while I was going to Clemson. I haven't been back there in a long time. I need to go check it out (I also want to see what Patrick Square is like).