Dog Park Rules Evaluation

By Lynn Scroggins, Sound HoundsJanuary 2010

Dogs aren’t our whole lives,but they make our lives whole.

In Memory of Audrey Ulrich, Tri-City Dog Park Society

Summary

• Number of dog parks evaluated: 157 in WA, 2 in OR, plus TX, MA, CO, AZ, UT, FL

• Dog park with the least rules: 4 SODA (Marymoor and Grandview dog parks)

• Dog park with the most rules: 19 The Woodlands TX (new planned community)

• Average number of rules: 12• Newer dog parks tend to have more rules. • Rules and guidelines are mixed, even at dog parks with

fewer rules. There are lots of variations.

LakewoodWA

www.parkdogs.com

Cowlitz County Longview, WA

http://fola-cowlitz.org

OBSERVE GOOD “PETIQUETTE” 2.Please pick up stray feces an owner may have missed or politely notify the owner. Also, help keep the area trash free.

3.Please do not allow your friendly dog to jump on people.

4.Handlers are responsible for providing water for their dogs.

5.Closely supervise your children and do not allow them to chase dogs.

6.Please close and latch both gates after entering and exiting the area.

7.Please call your dogs away from gates as another dog is entering.

Kitsap CountyOlalla, WA

www.kitsapdogparks.org

CentraliaWA

www.cityofcentralia.com/Page.asp?NavID=80

Clark County Vancouver, WA

BY ENTERING THIS PARK YOU AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE POSTED RULES. THIS PARK IS FOR DOGS AND THEIR HANDLERS. ALL CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO PLAY UNATTENDED. ALL USERS OF THIS PARK DO SO AT THEIR OWN RISK AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THEIR DOG.

•Dogs under 4 months of age, female dogs in heat, unaltered male dogs over 1 year of age, and sick dogs are NOT allowed.•Your dog MUST be licensed, vaccinated, and wear an appropriate collar with tags. Pinch collars, prong, choke, spike, etc, are NOT allowed.•Dogs MUST be removed from the park at the first sign of aggression.•Handlers MUST promptly respond to any request to “call or control your dog”.•Do NOT allow your dog to jump on people or bark excessively.•Handlers MUST immediately clean up by picking up waste and filling any holes created by their dog. •Under NO circumstances are you allowed to leave your dog or child unsupervised in the park.•Handlers MUST leash and unleash their dog within the double-gated entrance and carry a leash for each dog.•Food, smoking, and glass containers are PROHIBITED. These rules and tips will help to ensure that our dog parks stay clean and safe.

www.clarkdogpaw.org

Serving Our Dog Areas (SODA) in Marymoor and Grandview Dog Parks

King and Pierce Counties, WA

www.soda.org

Benton CountyTri-Cities, WA

www.tricitydogparks.org

●Dogs must enter and exit the dog park on leash.●You must clean up after your dog.●Dogs must be current on vaccinations per their vet's recommendation.●Dogs must be closely attended when in the park.●No more than 3 dogs per guardian in the park.●For safety, children are not permitted in the dog park.●Intact adult male dogs, females in heat, and puppies under 4 months old are not allowed in the dog park.●No smoking in the dog park.●No glass bottles allowed into the dog park.●Dogs exhibiting dangerous or aggressive behavior will be asked to leave the park.●Dogs that escape the dog park or destroy dog park materials will be asked to leave the park.●Please note that using toys and treats in a dog park can create fights so monitor your dog closely in the presence of food and toys.●Please remove your dog if they exhibit signs of distress or exhaustion. Try to end visits on a positive note.●Please discourage bullying behavior in your dog. If your dog appears to be picking on another dog call your dog away and walk in a different direction, encouraging your dog to find a more appropriate playmate.

EugeneOR

www.eugene-or.gov

AshlandOR

www.ashland.or.us

Taylorville UT

www.taylorsvilleut.gov/parks_rec.dogpark.html

MesaAZ

http://phoenix.about.com/cs/anim/a/dogparks_4.htm

Ft CollinsCO

www.fcgov.com/parks/dog-park.php

Pinellas County

Sand KeyFL

www.pinellascounty.org/park/paw_playgrounds.htm

ProvincetownMA

www.provincetowndogpark.org

The Woodlands

TX

www.thewoodlandsdogparkclub.org

SummaryMost Common Rules

• Waste pick-up • Vaccinations, license, ID tag • No digging or destructive behavior • Control, in view & in voice • Liability/risk• Supervise children• No aggressive dogs • Carry a leash• No females in heat• Leashed outside the dog park • No food, glass • No young puppies

Recommendations

• A fun approach may gain more attention/compliance. • Keep the rules simple.• Use no more rules than you really need.• Include benefits, contacts, donations, and thank-you. • Use separate signs for added emphasis. • Use the same set of dog park rules throughout South

Sound. • See www.soundhounds.org for this study and other

information available for public use.

Most to Least Frequent Rules

The numbers indicate the number of dog parks with the same rule.

15 Waste pick-up 12 Vaccinations, license, ID tag 11 No digging, destructive behavior 10 Control, in view & in voice

Liability/risk9 Children must be supervised

No aggressive dogs 8 Carry leash in the dog park

No females in heat, ban or limitation 7 Leashed outside the dog park

No food, glass No young puppies

6 No other animals, no bikes 5 No excessive noise

4 Maximum number of dogs/person No smoking

3 Dangerous dog Spayed and neutered

2 Benefits ComplianceContact informationFun approach HoursKeep gate closedKeep to designated areasLeave at first sign of bad behavior No abandonmentNo intact adult male dogsNo food, glassNo jumpingNo sick dogsNo spiked collars, etc.Park rules apply

Most to Least Frequent Rules

The numbers indicate the number of dog parks with the same rule.

1 Bring own water Close gatesDonationsFun approachLeave at signs of dog’s distress or exhaustion Loss of privileges consequence Monitor around food and toys No bothersome behavior No bullying

No cigarette butts No professional dog walkers, etc. without a permitNo strollers, child toys Park belongs to all Park is self-policing Report inappropriate activity Respect

Photo by Tri-City Dog Park Society

Dogs aren’t our whole lives, but they make our lives whole.