What makes a good dog park? (A visit to Long Beach)
I always enjoy going to different dog parks, seeing what volunteers have done at the facilities and taking stock of what makes each one unique.
Long Beach's dog park in Recreation Park was the first dog park I ever visited -- back when it was still quite new in the mid-1990s. I'd just adopted my shaggy dog Ellie from the LB animal shelter and, at 2 years old, she was in need of exercise and socialization (not that she wasn't social, she was, but that was the point: She craved more interaction than she got on leash walks and with just my other resident dog, Fritz, a terrier who was up in years).
I'll admit, I was wary of the concept at first. Wouldn't all the dogs just fight? Fritz spent the first several visits sitting anxiously on my lap the whole time.
But pretty soon we got the hang of it and the park became a regular and much-enjoyed stop on weekends. After I moved to San Pedro (where there was no dog park at the time), we'd make the trek back to Long Beach sometimes even on weekdays during the summer months when we had the longer daylight hours and I got off work earlier than I do these days.
I still remember many of the "regulars" who would gather at that time. Everyone would converge at the end of the day, sitting around the same big tree for a lazy chat as the sun went down and the day began to turn into evening. (There used to be a different dog carving hanging below the sign shown above, a wooden dog that was much bigger and more realistic looking; every time we'd drive by it and into the park, the sight of it would set Ellie off on a barking tangent, thinking it was real I suppose.)
Dog parks are good at developing spontaneous little communities-within-a-community. These are often temporary, but sometimes lasting friendships are made.
I still periodically make the trip over the bridge to go to that park because the one in San Pedro is so tiny. I don't know anyone there anymore, but I still enjoy the change of scenery and I think the dogs the change, too.
I especially appreciate the Long Beach Dog Park's wide open and roomy space, there's plenty of acreage for dogs to run -- and it's a good size for human exercise as well, you won't get dizzy (or bored) walking the perimeter.
One of the many downsides about dog parks that are too small is if an unstable dog or two enters, it easily changes and disrupts the entire dynamics. At a larger park, a few difficult dogs somehow are absorbed more easily, which makes larger parks safer for everyone. Redondo Beach Dog Park is another example of a park that has a good amount of space.
(An excellent book on dog park "etiquette" that includes tips on the best designs is Visiting the Dog Park by Cheryl Smith; it's put out by Dogwise, but also is available on Amazon.)
The Long Beach park has some wonderful mature trees and is surrounded by one the largest municipal parks in the area, with more trees, grass and squirrels (safely outside the dog park's perimeter fence). The park also features lights for nighttime use, handy during the winter and also for people who get off work later than most.
There are some basic agility pieces dogs can have fun with, including a couple small tunnels. There's an old fallen tree trunk that's great for dogs to explore. And the volunteers have conducted fundraisers through the years where people can purchase and design a cement "stepping stone" in honor of their dog, either living or deceased. They dot the park on the outside walkway and in the areas around the drinking fountains.
Dog parks have been around for quite a while now. It's sort of an evolving field in terms of design and trying to come up with the best features in terms of fences, entries, benches and ground covers.
If you frequent dog parks, what features are most important to you and your dog? What elements go into making a successful, pleasant and safe dog park? What's your favorite local dog park (and why) in the area?
Below are just some random shots I took the other day at Long Beach:
Here's Maggie, a cairn terrier who loved playing with her blue ball:
And this female coonhound would be a perfect match for Rocket. Oh, the noise they could make together.
One of the "people" benches honors someone who clearly was prominent in the dog park community.
It's a good way both to memorialize a loved one while providing funds and amenities to a local dog park. Redondo Beach dog park has similar benches that are dedicated.
The personally designed stepping stones are fun to see, owners are really quite creative. And the messages are all so heartfelt.
About the Bloggers
Daily Breeze reporter Donna Littlejohn has shared her homes with a succession of wonderful, funny, and occasionally difficult canines -- Muffin, Fritz, Ellie, Mercy, Pilgrim and now Cowboy, an Australian shepherd-border collie, and Tess, a border collie. From strong-willed terriers to weirdly obsessed Australian shepherds, they've invaded her world with boundless energy, wet noses, muddy paws and soggy tennis balls. But they've really brought so much more than that -- like laughter and joy, some unexpected life lessons, and more than a few tears along the way.
E-mail Donna at donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com.
Josh Grossberg grew up with the usual array of animals: goldfish, dogs, hamsters, parakeets and turtles. He now owns the loudest dog in the South Bay(Video: Rocket the Dog) and is the least popular person on his block. He spends his free time in dog parks, pet shops and always has an extra plastic bag in his pocket just in case. He also has a cat.
E-mail Josh at josh.grossberg@dailybreeze.com.
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