According to USA Today’s recent story, Portland has the largest number of dog parks: 32 total dog parks. The study looked at cities with the highest per capita numbers of off-leash dog parks among the nation's 100 largest cities:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-12-07/dog-parks/51715340/1.
WOW –we have the MOST dog parks. I believe it but compared to huge cities like Chicago and New York, I found this surprising. It says so much about how fabulous our city is.
In addition to having the most dog parks, I think it’s remarkable that we have so many off leash dog parks. One of my dogs is much better off leash than on. We’ve been working on this on leash *reactive* behavior for years. I recently discovered that he has fairly good recall and doesn’t take off when we’re off leash on a trail. I knew that off leash at fenced in parks he was fine with dogs and people so I took him out to the Sandy Delta this past summer where we experimented. Now off leash is the way to go and I’ll never look back. Watching him and our dog, Bruiser, take off down a trail is so much fun and I swear they’re both smiling. If it’s dusk or dawn they have Ruff Wear Beacons, a safety light I can clip on their collars so I can see them better now that the sun goes down at 4:30 p.m.
There are tons of parks worth mentioning so in addition to my favorite, Thousand Acres, here is another great list on City Dog’s site of off leash parks: http://portland.citydogmagazine.com/city-dog-directory?catid=11. Sellwood’s river walk is the other park we go to a few times a week.
Here are some awesome tips from Ruff Wear Performance Dog Gear. One of my favorite tips is #6. My goal is to move and walk with my dogs regardless where we are – it could be an off leash *area* or a trail or simply an off leash park. I notice that my dogs will 85% of the time follow me and when they greet other dogs it’s a *drive by*. I notice that off leash dog fights start when owners are standing around and their dogs are therefore hanging around. That’s why Thousand Acres and Sellwood’s off leash area by the river are my favorites because you’re walking or trail hiking. This is the best way to excercise their minds!
Yes, you need to be courteous to others who have dogs on leash. I once was them and if their dog is on leash than it’s likely for a reason so call your dog to you if you sense that dog and owner aren’t interested in a *big visit*. Most of the time it’s fine, but use your judgment.
According to Ruff Wear Performance Dog Gear: the whole blog post can be found here……http://dogblog.ruffwear.net/2011/12/08/unleashed-and-dog-friendly/
1. Always carry a leash and two or more poop bags.
2. Pick up after your dog. If you're bag-less on the trail, bury the poop - it'll be less offensive and will decompose faster.
3. Keep your dog in sight and under voice control, or on leash.
4. If your dog is not relaxed and friendly around people or other dogs, keep her on leash (and avoid fenced dog parks).
5. If you meet children, dog-averse people, dog on-leash, mountain bikers, or horses on the trail, have your dog sit and stay, or leash up while they pass by.
6. When you visit an off-leash area, unleash and keep walking around with your dog. This type of behavior will encourage ‘good dog’ interactions.
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