dogparkfaq

Sorry for asking, but what exactly is a dog park?
A dog park is a fenced in area of 1 acre or more where dog owners can take their canine
friends to run legally off-leash.

Will there be a cost to use the park?
Yes, but a small one. You will be able to purchase annual passes, monthly passes, or daily
passes depending on your situation. Since the dog park is still in the development stage, we
anticipate annual passes to be no more than $30.

Is there potential public or personal liability?
Public liability has been resolved at other dog parks by the posting of signs that warn park
users that they are entering an off-leash dog area, that they enter at their own risk, and that
the dog owners are liable for their pets’ behavior.

Will dog parks be a danger to children and non-dog owners?
Fencing and a double entry gate helps to prevent dogs from getting out of the dog park.
Also, children under 10 are not allowed, and a dog handler must be at least 16 years of age
unless supervised by an adult.

Will dog parks be noisy and a nuisance to area residents?
Based on the many dog parks that exist across the U.S. and Canada, it has been found that
dog parks are no noisier than children’s playgrounds.

Will the dog park stink?
Absolutely not! Dog owners are required to clean up after their dog. Some people have
expressed concern if dog urine will be a problem. Again, absolutely not! By having lots of
vegetation and installing seating or lounging areas with non-porous surfaces, the smell of
urine will not be an issue. A female "in season" has the most potent urine - but is not allowed
in the dog park during her delicate time.

Don't the dogs fight?
Although dog fights do sometimes happen at a dog park, they are uncommon. Dogs that
seem dog-aggressive in their own yards often get along fine with other dogs in a dog park
situation. There are probably several factors contributing to this: (a) the dog park is neutral
territory; there is nothing to defend; (b) the dogs at the dog park keep changing, so there
isn't time for a "pack" to form; (c) dogs that are off-leash are much less likely to be
aggressive than leashed dogs

I'm not sure how my dog will react to being around the other dogs. Is it okay if I
leave him on his leash until I know if he is going to be okay?
If you believe your dog will be seriously aggressive, do not bring your dog to the park.
Bringing an aggressive dog and keeping it on a leash is not acceptable. If you are not sure
how your dog will act, but have no reason to believe he will attack other dogs in a neutral
territory, your dog will more than likely be fine, provided you let him off his leash. Time and
time again a seemingly aggressive dog brought into the park has become a very nice dog
once he was unleashed. Leashed dogs tend to feel intimidated by dogs running around off-
leash - The leashed dog is not on equal footing with these dogs. The leashed dog, knowing
he can't run away if need be, tends to act aggressive in order to "scare" off the unleashed
dogs. And the leashed dog may feel protective of his owner on the other end of the leash.
We recommend that unless you have reason to believe your dog is a danger to other dogs
(and if that is the case he shouldn't be at a dog park at all), you let your dog off his leash as
soon as he enters the park. If there is a problem you can immediately leash him. Or, drop his
leash and let him run around a little bit with the leash still on; that way you can more easily
catch him if need be. A good tip is to bring your dog to the park when there are very few
visitors on the first visit to see how your dog will react.

At what age can I bring my puppy to the park?
Puppies will have to be at least 4 months old before being brought to the park. This is to
make sure you have all there shots up to date and they are fast enough to run from a
situation if one should arise.

Will there by any time my dog will not be allowed at the park?
If you have a dog that is in heat, your dog will not be allowed at the park until she is done
being "in season." If you happen to be at the park, unaware that your female is in season, it'll
be obvious. The males will come running! Once you notice this, please remove your dog from
the park immediately to avoid any dog fights.
There may be times that special events may be going on that requires pre-registration or a
fee (dog obedience classes, dog workshops, etc.) and it may be that no dogs besides those
who have registered or paid the fee are allowed. But we'll make sure to notify everyone a
week or so before when those are going on.

Can I get my park using privileges revoked?
YES! If you do not follow the posted rules and/or place any dog or person in danger, you will
lose your park privileges. Breaking the simplest rule (like not cleaning up after your dog) can
get you banned from the park.

How many dogs can I bring to the park at a time?
We will most likely limit that to 3 dogs per person. Any more than that, and the dog owner
could lose track and not supervise their dogs as they should be.

Can I bring a friend's dog?
Assuming you have a pass for the dog, it will be allowed, however, the rules still apply. You
must have voice control of the dog and you will be held responsible for that dog's behavior.

I own more than 3 dogs and I want to bring them to the park all at once. Is there
anyway I can do that?
Sure. We anticipate that there will be a set day where dog owners can "rent" the park by the
hour. It is unknown what that day will be, or how much it will cost as of right now.

So how much is this going to cost and how long do I have to wait?
We will update this website with the latest news as soon as we know it, so keep checking
back! As it stands right now, we need money and people! We have applied for various grants
and will be starting fund raisers very soon! As it stands right now, I can give you a ball park of
$20,000 for a 1 to 2 acre dog park. That number is based on the cost of established dog
parks around Iowa and the Midwest.

The more people we have on this project, the faster it will get done so please join us by
calling (515) 833-9911 or emailing kanselaar@redfieldia.com!