Did Someone Say Dog Park?
Now that the weather is clearing up on a consistent basis- time to shake off the indoor blues for our furry friends! There’s nothing better than taking our dog to the dog park and letting him run around with some new friends!
Denver has seven off leash dog parks:
Berkeley Park - Sheridan and West 46th
Barnum Park - Hooker and West 5th
Jason Street - 678 South Jason Street
Kennedy Park - Hampden and South Dayton
Fuller Park - Franklin and East 29th
Green Valley Ranch East Park - Jebel and East 45th
Stapleton - East 24th Avenue & Syracuse Street
Bring a bowl and water, it gets hot out there, and some bags for clean up, if you know what we mean. You may also want a visor or some sunscreen for the humans in your pack that go along to watch the true wild spirit of our dogs.
Tags: Dog Park, Dogs, Off Leash, OutdoorsRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Family Fun, Great Places to Unwind, Great Walks, Just a Bit Weird - Fun & Quirky Places, People - Interesting Local People, Resources, Top Ten
4 opinions for Did Someone Say Dog Park?
trish
May 2, 2008 at 3:28 pm
don’t forget about chatfield out on C470 and chatfield. it’s $6 a day or you can get a year membership. it’s a huge off leash area with lakes and a river. it’s also a great place to meet your future partner :)
Heather
May 3, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Aww, I miss the Murph! Question: how hard is it to trust other dogs around Murphy (in regards to aggression specifically), especially ones you’ve never met?
Nancy
May 3, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Look at the murphy. He is sooo cute!
Alicia
May 4, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Hi Heather! Murphy misses you too, especially those tasty (to him) dog cookies you make!
That’s a great question! Most of the time, the people who bring their dogs to the dog park know their dog is sociable (socialized) and can be trusted around other dogs. An an owner, it’s your responsibility to keep an eye on your dog and to be ready to intervene if your dog becomes aggressive.
There’s always that one owner who brings their dog and lets them loose and then spends their time talking on a cell phone or reading or otherwise generally ignoring their dog. This isn’t to say that you cannot multi-task, but it’s obvious when someone thinks that the dog park means they can ignore their dog for an hour. Responsible owners tend to get personally invested in their dog park, and I have witnessed people confronting irresponsible owners over their dog’s behavior (or telling them to pick up the poo!).
Generally what you want to look for is body language in an approaching dog. I know Murphy’s signals in relation to how he’s feeling, so I watch him as well to make sure he isn’t picking up on an aggressive stance. If the dog approaches with a wagging tail and what I call a “goofy grin”, he probably just wants to play.
You want to watch for raised hackles (the hair on/between the shoulders), a stiff tail, bared teeth or a low growl. These are all signs that the dog isn’t friendly (or simply doesn’t like you or your dog for whatever reason). Some aggressive dogs also sit close to their owners and will snap at any other dog that comes near. When this happens, I grab Murphy’s harness and lead him to another area of the park (even into another fenced area if they have one) and engage him there and call him away if he wanders back over.
Sometimes dogs just snap and growl at each other in play, but you can definitely tell when it’s playing and when it’s “LEAVE ME ALONE!!” behavior. If there is a certain dog that just won’t leave yours alone, the best thing to do is to leave the park and come back another day. It’s better to cut short your afternoon than have to take a trip to the emergency vet after a dog fight.
To sum up:
1. Watch your dog. Keeping an eye on him/her and knowing their signals (”I’m afraid” “I’m angry” “Let’s play!”) goes a long way in avoiding a dog fight.
2. Watch the other dogs. Aggressive dogs stick out like a sore thumb at the dog park. Don’t be afraid to pull your pooch away if you think the other dog is being aggressive. If you feel uncomfortable, chances are your dog does too.
3. If a dog fight does occur DO NOT GRAB AT YOUR DOG. You could get bitten or seriously injured if one of the fighting dogs turns on you in fright. Stay back, call your dog to you, clap your hands, make loud noises, but STAY BACK.
4. If you feel uncomfortable, take your dog and leave. Walk them around the park, find another dog park for the afternoon, or go back home for some fun in the home.
5. Have fun! Most of the dogs there are friendly and want to play, and their owners are responsible and want their dogs to have a good experience too. Bring a ball, lots of water, and a good attitude and it’s fun for everyone involved. You get to meet a bunch of new dogs (and their owners) and your dog gets some time in the sunshine.
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