◦ Honest, opinionated, occasionally inconvenient
Guides for the
off-leash life.
The good guide is the one that tells you when not to go. These are about safety, etiquette, and the unwritten rules — written by people who have made every mistake on this list.
◦ Safety
The Atlanta dog park heat problem: which parks actually work in summer
From June through September, half of Atlanta's dog parks become trap doors by 11am. Here's the short list of the ones worth driving to, and the ones to skip.
9 min read
Seattle's rain problem: which dog parks stay usable in winter
From November through March, half of Seattle's dog parks turn into mud pits by week two of the rainy season. The other half drain. Knowing which is which decides whether your dog actually gets exercised in winter.
9 min read
What to do when your dog gets in a fight at a dog park
Most owners panic and reach for collars. That's how you get bitten. Here's the actual sequence: how to break it up safely, what to do in the first 24 hours, when to involve animal control, and how to document for insurance.
8 min read
Hot pavement, hot paws: when not to take your dog to the park
Pavement above 125°F burns dog paws within 60 seconds. The asphalt at most US dog parks hits that temperature by 11 a.m. in June.
8 min read
Fenced vs unfenced dog parks: a safety guide for your first visit
Fenced parks are not always safer. Unfenced parks are not always better. The honest comparison, and how to choose for your dog.
9 min read
◦ Etiquette
Boston's OLRA system: which dog parks are off-leash when (and why people get tickets)
Half the off-leash spaces in Boston are legal only during specific hours. The other half are city dog parks where dogs run off-leash inside a fence whenever the gate's open. Telling the difference saves you a $200 ticket.
8 min read
Charlotte's Mecklenburg County dog park system: what county-run actually means
Almost every dog park in Charlotte is run by one agency, on one schedule, with one set of rules. Knowing that saves you the dance of looking up each park's hours separately.
9 min read
Dog park etiquette: nine rules nobody puts on the sign
The official rules are about vaccinations and bag pickup. The unwritten rules are what actually keeps the park functional.
7 min read