A dog park of our own

If you haven’t visited Ernie Smith Park in awhile (Arnold Drive at Craig Avenue), then I have news for you. The lovely little park has gotten a facelift that includes a fenced dog park, new trails and renovated trails, retaining walls, renovated lawn areas, new landscaping, irrigation, a pedestrian bridge, picnic tables and drinking fountains. The construction was completed in April, and was funded by State Parks Proposition 12 and Sonoma County park mitigation fees (thanks to the Sonoma County Regional Parks Department).
Being that we don’t have kids, I must admit that in my household we are most excited about the dog park. No more hauling us all out to Glen Ellen or across town to Sonoma’s little dog park. Our park is deluxe. At least double the size of Sonoma’s dog park, our park is outfitted with plush new grass, a doggie-n-me water fountain, wooden picnic tables on neat concrete slabs, and some comfy leftover patio furniture that someone donated. (Thanks!)
I love going to the dog park. As long as there are a bunch of people and a bunch of dogs, you can bet your sweet Alaskan Husky that something interesting is going to happen. My husband calls it Dog Park Theater. For starters, you can play the which-dog-belongs-to-which-person game. Most of the time, this is a fairly easy game because dogs and their people usually do favor each other in some way. Next, you have your choice of people-watching (fun) or dog-watching (super fun). There is a special culture at dog parks, and if you have ever been to one, you know what I’m talking about.
There is some unspoken dog park etiquette which all should obey when visiting. In case you are not well versed in the rules, or if you need a refresher, here are some practical guidelines:
1. Pick up after your dog! Do I have to say it, people? When you adopted your dog, you took responsibility for a lifetime of dog poop. There is no pretty way to say it. Don’t pretend like you didn’t see it happen. In this regard, I think it would be nice if we had some of those poop-scoopers like at Sonoma’s dog park. They have more specialized tools over there than the San Francisco Zoo. We could use a couple. Not everyone carries the blue bags, and the handy blue-bag dispenser is clear on the other side of the universe from the seating area.
2. If your dog is grumpy, take him home. We all have bad days, and sometimes we just need to be left alone. If your dog gets aggressive in the dog park, leash him and leave. Please don’t wait for two or three incidents before you pull Fido out. Dog park people and their dogs won’t put up with snapping, growling, teeth bearing, or attacking of any kind. Hunching (if you know what I mean) is also frowned upon. People are also expected to behave kindly and humanely to both other people and all dogs, including their own.
3. Healthy and immunized dogs only. If your dog is sick or has not been immunized, the dog park is not where he needs to be. This included puppies that haven’t finished their rounds of puppy shots. I know you want to show off your bundle of joy, but for the safety of your animal, wait until your vet says it’s safe.
4. Don’t bring female dogs in heat. I am not going to explain this. Just don’t do it.
5. Don’t bring small children. On a recent episode of Dog Park Theater, a man brought his young child into our new dog park on a particularly busy evening. Though I didn’t witness the act, one dog park visitor said he saw the child kick a dog. An argument ensued between the child’s father and the other visitor. Regardless of whether there was a kick or not, bringing children into a dog park is dangerous. Dogs are running at full speed in various directions and children often do not understand the true threat of an animal moving at 15 mph.
6. Don’t bring more dogs than you can control. Many dog parks only allow one dog per visitor, though it’s not a posted rule at our park.
7. Don’t bring food into the dog park. Food can create all kinds of problems inside the park that would otherwise not exist.
8. Take responsibility for your dog’s behavior. It’s fun to chat with other dog owners while our furry family members romp and play, but you must keep your eyes on your dog, and take responsibility for his actions.
9. Have a ball! Or a Frisbee, or a game of chase. Just have a good time and keep it safe and tidy out there.
See you at the dog park!
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