How Off-leash Parks Have a Positive Effect on You and Your Dog?
Hi Everyone!
Trent here for a rare moment…I know I said I would be around more and the guilt of it all is nearly overwhelming 
..ok I’m exaggerating but I do wish I could be posting more and look forward to doing so hopefully soon. I wanted to post a couple of items that I was hoping to get people’s feedback on.
Firstly I wanted to pose a question for people to offer their opinions.
I received an email a couple of days ago from Angie Fredericks asking me if I could share with her in a paragraph or two, how taking Dexter to an off-leash park has a positive effect on me and my dog’s life. Angie is from Brooklyn, Nova Scotia, about 5 minutes from Liverpool. She is part of a small group trying to get a dog park in their community. They are hitting some road blocks along the way but they will not let that stop them. She thought it would be nice to hear from other people who currently have a dog park and think it’s a great thing (although PPP is not specifically a dog park it does allow dogs). They are trying to come up with a plan to present to their council members, hoping they will understand the need for a dog park in their community. They have many dog owners who think it’s a great idea!!
Now as much as I will be sharing that soon I have certainly been thinking about it for the last couple days and pondering what points I would want to focus on. Is it the fitness of both my dog and myself, the closeness within the community it creates…or is it a renewed passion for doing things as a couple as Bobi and I discovered after getting Dexter? So this led me to do this…who better to answer this question than all of you. Please add as much or as little as you want in the comments section but I truly believe that all of you know better than anyone how this can enhance the life of both you and your dog.
Thanks for taking the time 
Posted on January 17, 2013, in Health and Wellness. Bookmark the permalink. 5 Comments.
Wow, there are so many benefits to having a green natural place for both people and dogs to roam freely. Impt. to me is the opportunity to for both my dogs and me to commune, relax and restore ourselves in nature and in a natural way…roaming freely. Also, is the wonderful opportunity for both of us to socialize (I mean real socialization in the flesh not electronically..not that my dogs text) and build community. In this fast paced world, after a trip to the park with my dogs I feel much more grounded, renewed and connected. My dogs are relaxed, content and calm. The park and the ability to roam freely in it supplies us with a safety valve to release stress and tension, lower blood pressure and increase all those happy hormones. I sure hope those people in Brooklyn get their off leash park.
Hello- Trent your site is out of sight! Thank you for doing this. I own the blue eyed Mist and a very sweet old lady dog, Nop.
It frustrating to read that there are naysayers regarding a proposed dog park. I am only guessing as to why folks might be wary of the same.. fearful of disrespectful pet owners, people not picking up, etc? One might suggest that most of these issues are common to any public areas. Would it be acceptable to suggest that there be no baseball fields because everyone knows how loud the fans can be and don’t get me started on those litterbugs! No way….the good far outweighs the potential for bad. Of course we need ball parks, and hiking trails and bicycle paths? All these things make a community a better place to live!
So I wonder why some folks think it is ok, to say no way to dog owners?…I would suggest there are far more dog owners than baseball players? And on a baseball field, only people who play ball can actually use it…a dog park is accessible to all and likely to garner far better use, hence the community is guaranteed a great bang for that public dollar:)
And please for all you baseball fans, I would never suggest that ball fields are not a must for any community.
Perhaps many are not aware that dog parks are not a new idea and many communities have them? Places as urban as New York City have dog parks…and if a dog park can work there, surely one can be successfully implemented in a small community NS. And by the way, I have not heard of any community complaining that they are worse off for undertaking such a positive initiative.
Perhaps a little education and demonstrated successes might go a long way to ease folk’s minds.
Personally, I believe that dog parks make owning a dog in these modern times a possibility. Otherwise, many dogs would be faced with the prospect of living life on a tether. PPP allows our family to own active dogs while living in the city. It is also a great opportunity to build a community. Mornings at PPP are always a positive start to my days. And in this day of low fitness and poor eating, a park where dogs can goes just encourages all of us dog owners, pet lovers and just folks who enjoy meeting others in their community, to get out there with them and get fit.
We have a ball field just around the corner and I have to say Bonnie that you are right, it is utilized more by dog owners and their dogs and we are much more respectful and responsible in our care of the field. After the ball games it is the dog walkers that go around picking up the garbage left behind.
Although all dogs benefit from an off leash park, I’m convinced that with certain types of dogs it’s an absolute necessity.
Our Springer Spaniel belongs to the Sporting Group and what a difference walking him off leash vs on leash.
On leash he can be distrustful of other dogs and even people but off, he’s in his element and beautiful to watch as he pretends to hunt, follow scents,explore, etc. Every person and dog is his friend.
His other favourite activity, fetching a ball and bringing it back, fills him with delight. He even barks at me… demanding that I toss the ball again and again.
No way you can do that on leash.
My dog park is in Sapphire, North Carolina. A wonderful safe place to bond, train or socialize. Folks who enjoy that enjoy the little book Just for the Moment: The Remarkable Gift of the Therapy Dog. Just like the you tube video I just watched, it’s all about living in the moment.