Darlene & Bella hit the Dog Park!!

**SarasotaRepub** · 04-23-2013, 05:12 PM

There is a nice shaded Paw Park not too far from us and we took the girls there for the 1st time
this afternoon. Bella got so excited she didn't wait for me to open the car
rear hatch and jumped into the CLOSED door...

Thankfully she didn't hurt
herself but did yelp.

I'll bring the camera next time, my poor departed Xena loved the park and I think
these two will also. They were a little cautious in exploring it but this was their
1st time there.

There was a 1 year old "puppy" there that was trying to play with Darlene a little
too close and she let him know it was NOT appreciated. This pup must have weighed
close to 1 hundred pounds, some kind of PittBull mix. He was friendly but
SLW was not pleased...

**LukeEDay** · 04-23-2013, 05:14 PM

Dogs love going for walks. I hope they enjoyed themselves..

**southernlady** · 04-23-2013, 05:24 PM

Our two LOVE the "puppy" park...ours has a big dog and a small dog side and ours are small dogs. So the only time we get a big dog over there is if they are very young puppies (between 4 and 6 months).

We also take ours on "pack" walks...a bunch of us are members of a group on meetup and usually there are 3-5 walks a week (we usually manage one). Plenty of greenways around here and as long as they stay on a leash, all is well.

**LukeEDay** · 04-23-2013, 05:32 PM

Do those puppy parks have bathroom spots for the dogs, or do you have to carry your own bag with you?

**SarasotaRepub** · 04-23-2013, 05:33 PM

This park is totally shaded by huge old oaks so it will be good with the
summer getting close and it was in the 80's here today.

The other Paw Park in the area where I used to take Xena is more than
twice as big but doesn't have the shade trees so you have to watch the pups
to make sure they don't over heat.

They both have water stations and people bring metal water bowls.

I wanted to bring them there at an off hour so they could get used to it
without tons of other dogs, they tend to fill up once people get home
from work.

We have two happy tired greyhounds now.

**SarasotaRepub** · 04-23-2013, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by LukeEDay

Do those puppy parks have bathroom spots for the dogs, or do you have to carry your own bag with you?

The county supplies poop bags and cans.

The "usual" routine is for the dogs to do their stuff when they first get there and then they play.

**southernlady** · 04-23-2013, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by LukeEDay

Do those puppy parks have bathroom spots for the dogs, or do you have to carry your own bag with you?

We have bags we keep with us all the time (the dispenser is on one of the leashes). They also have stations with bags for those who forget.

We also take water with us as ours shuts down the water fountain from Nov til April. Besides, when they built the lowest one, they theoretically made it for small dogs but not the smallest dogs...it's too high for even our Jack Russel Terrier mix.

We have a BUNCH of them in town...the one we like is the one closest to us...lots of trees and grass. Some have almost no trees for shade. Our county is in collaboration with PetSafe to make sure we have plenty of parks in the area.:
http://www.petfriendliestcommunity.com/
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/recreation/dogparks.asp

**SarasotaRepub** · 04-23-2013, 05:53 PM

This is where I used to take Xena.

This is where we took the girls today.

**LukeEDay** · 04-23-2013, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by SarasotaRepub

The county supplies poop bags and cans.

The "usual" routine is for the dogs to do their stuff when they first get there and then they play.

Well, that is good.. I am glad they do that.

Originally Posted by southernlady

We have bags we keep with us all the time (the dispenser is on one of the leashes). They also have stations with bags for those who forget.

We also take water with us as ours shuts down the water fountain from Nov til April. Besides, when they built the lowest one, they theoretically made it for small dogs but not the smallest dogs...it's too high for even our Jack Russel Terrier mix.

When I had a dog, that is I would do also. It seems that I was constantly using them though, as he pooped a lot lol ..

Originally Posted by SarasotaRepub

This is where I used to take Xena.

This is where we took the girls today.

Is the second picture, the white puppy, her? She is adorable!