I was dissapointed in our local dog park.
There is a dog park in the next town over, (5 minutes away) but because I live in a different county they charge me extra to belong. I paid, I took my dog,I obeyed the rules. I rarely met anyone else who paid any attention to the rules. I also had to pick up left over other dogs' poop most of the time while I was there as evidently hardly anyone picks up after their dogs. My dog loves to eat other dogs poop and would grab a mouthful and run off like she had the best treat in the world, so that is how we got our exercise, sometimes she chases tennis balls, but most of the time, mommy chased her to get the nasty stuff out of her mouth:mad: And hoped not to step in it while I wa chasing her! She would almost always get sick the next day or so.

People would also steal the special pooper scoopers that were supplied there.

On the one hand, it is great as it allows her to run free and yet protected by a fence. on the other, she would get sick, so I just figured it wasn't worth it in the long run.

Now that the local pet box store teaches classes, I think most people meet at the dog park and probably more pay attention to the rules. However, we no longer go, just in case.

I do wish folks would figure manners are also for dog parks

I think dog parks are great, if people cleaned up after the dogs, vaccinated their dogs, taught the dogs how to act.. etc..etc..

But they all don't I have been to a couple dogs parks and I never really left thinking " that was the greatest thing ever"!

LOL maybe it is just CALIF!! Britt you are lucky to have such a wonderful DP! I am jealous..

Agree. I walk Jackson every single day but like taking him to the dog park 1-3x a week so he can get a chance to meet and socialize with other dogs of all kinds. I think it's very important for a dog's well being to be able to learn to "communicate" with their own species, just as it is good for a child to learn to play, talk, etc with other children. I don't mean any offense to anybody in particular on here, but I see so many people who post here on YT whose dogs have never ever been on the ground with another dog, other than their siblings, or something like that, and I just think that's sad for the dog. I think we have a right to be over-protective of their size but there's no reason they shouldn't be able to be on the ground and learn to socialize with dogs their own size -- even if it's not at a dog park in particular.