Since 2007, the number of dog parks has grown by 89%. Cities in the US continue to incorporate pet friendly zones but how can they be sure these dog parks give pets the best possible experience?
According to Leslie Lowe, a landscape architect, dog parks need to replicate an animal’s natural habitat. However, a lot of architects who design the parks don’t really understand dogs. As someone who has been working with hunting dogs for decades, Lowe explained that dog parks should allow dogs experience to experience a natural setting. They should be able to enjoy a stimulating, wide open wild.
So the question is how do you design the best dog park?
Design the Best Dog Park
There Must Be Room to Roam
It could be hard to do so in cities that are often cramped. But this is important in order to prevent dog problems from developing right away. A tiny, cramped dog park with narrow entries can lead to dog dynamics that aren’t easy to control. As such, dogs need to be given a broader terrain when mixing with other dogs.
Set Aside Small Areas Away from the Crowd
Setting aside small areas is important so that smaller dogs won’t feel intimated by larger pets. Such spaces can also be used for special cases like shy dogs or dogs that are uncomfortable in large parks. With smaller areas like this, they can feel less pressured and become happier.
Give Dogs Variety and Challenge
Dogs need exercise to both physically and the mind. In dog parks, this translates to giving dogs with different surfaces from gentle hills, level fields and clumps of rocks that they can jump on and play. Just like people, dogs like variety and challenge so putting tunnels and boulders for them to explore are great.
The Water Should Be Kept Flowing
When you Design the Best Dog Park Water is important in dog parks for drinking as well as for dogs who like to play on water. One good way to provide this is through water fountains that serve both dogs and their masters. At the same time, putting swimming pools can provide dogs with a great exercise especially for pups that are unable to run well. However, it should be regularly tested and perhaps even gated as well.
Get Rid of Dangerous Plants and Sustain Helpful Ones
There are plants that can bring harm to dogs and you need to put great care in eliminating them in the park. Apart from ridding the dog park of toxic plants, you need also to sustain helpful ones such as trees which provide both dogs and humans with shade. However, you may need to protect the trees from often getting urine.
Encourage Human Visitors
The park should also be kept clean for human visitors. It should have baggies and waste stations though proper use of them falls into human’s responsibilities. Engaging and encouraging human visitors also help in building the dog park. A dog park with benches, good lighting and other amenities will definitely draw dog lovers to even throw in money to build the park.
