Dog parks?

[papalazaru]

We live in a small town in the US - not unlike Pleasantville. Rules are that all dogs have to be leashed unless you're in a dog park. We have a fab, fenced in big park nearby which is only for dogs - you have to have a pass to get in.

We re moving back to the Kingston upon Thames area this summer and (not having had a dog in the UK) wondered if there are dog parks or areas where the dogs can be let off leash?

[Floralnomad]

You can let your dog off in most parks here but not in the fenced off children's play areas. Most places are well signposted . TBH dog parks sound like a great idea !

[bryte]

We have a fenced in dog park near us, it is next to a children's park. It's a great idea but I do not know if they exist in many towns. The only problem with ours is it's the place where dog owners pick up poo the least

[LetThereBeCupcakes]

We have a dog park - nowhere near Kingston Upon Thames though I'm afraid. Such a shame there aren't more, it's so good for socialising (dogs and us!).

bryte do you think that's just because there are more dogs there than in other places?

[Cuebill]

There are loads of fantastic walking around Kingston for dogs. They can be off lead on commons, woods, river walksetc.

Off lead walking in the UK is much easier that the US but we do try to have a general rule that if you see dogs approaching on lead you will also put your dog on lead and it is not polite to just let your dog run up to other dogs unless you have asked the owner. Unlike in US dog parks.

I hope you have a great time when you get to the UK

walks around Kingston

[BoneyEm1972]

Is there a list of where they are ??

God one near me would be perfect !!! :)

[Cuebill]

Go carefully in my opinion Dog Parks are the work of the devil and should be avoided at all costs

[LadyTurmoil]

You will have Bushy Park and Richmond Park very close to you www.royalparks.org.uk/about-us/dogs-in-royal-parks You have to keep your dog away from the deer and there are areas where you need to put dog on the lead. You can also walk down from Kingston along the river! Nice walks too but probably more on-lead. When u get to know the area, you can come a bit further south and find loads of lovely walks - Oxshott Woods, West End Common near Esher (with tea and cake after at Garsons Farm!), the South Downs around Guildford are lovely too and you can get to Brighton in an hour for a great day at the seaside! If you fancy some company, I'm always up for a dog walk!

[RedwingWinter]

It's not like the US where there are leash laws. Generally so long as your dog is under control it ban be off leash, except in places where it says it has to be on a leash. Also if you are walking near any livestock (sheep, deer) you should keep it on a lead (leash) so that it can't harass the animals.

I think on the one hand the UK is much more relaxed about dogs (not needing to be on leads) and at the same you are less likely to have a problem with loose dogs like you do in some rural areas in north America*. You don't really need a dog park, since there are lots of places for dogs to run around, unless you have to have a fenced-in area for your own dog so that it doesn't run off.

*This may be a sweeping over-generalization but is true of the places I know.

[merrymouse]

Search Fenton on youtube.

As shown, dogs are allowed off lead in the Royal Parks, but there are certain times of year when you need to be particularly wary of deer e.g. during the autumn rut. Generally deer are in big herds, (or in the case of stags just big), so easy to spot and as long as you bring your dog to heel/put lead on in good time you will be fine.

Once they start to chase, recall can be more difficult...

[papalazaru]

Oh that Fenton stuff is funny! That would be me chasing after our stupid beagle/hound mix. I don't know how any one could recall their dog when it gets into that sort of state of mind..... Of course Cesar Millan would make sure it didn't get into that state in the first place . My dogs recall isn't too bad in the dog park but I'm just not sure how he'd be with no fence at all....

We will be living in surbiton so I think we'll head south and try to avoid the deer!

[merrymouse]

I think the best thing to do is practice in an area without deer and go into the park once you are confident that you can keep your dog within a certain range. However, in Surbiton the Royal Parks are a car ride away, so you would probably go to a different local park on a day to day basis.

To be honest, you are likely to find that other dogs/runners/cyclists/toddlers with balls/people with picnics are going to be more of a problem as they will be in closer range. If you can control your dog around these distractions, deer won't be a problem.

(Having said that, I have a year mad old collie/springer cross and live in the bit of the New Forest where Highland Cows wander up to your front gate, so he is currently always on a long lead...)

[merrymouse]

(one year old mad collie/springer cross)

[merrymouse]

(But my parents have a formerly mad springer/collie cross and walk him off lead every day in Richmond Park)

[LadyTurmoil]

Apart from Bushy Park near Kingston/Surbiton, there's a big park near to Hampton Court as well, although surrounded by busy roads and unfenced, so you could only use for on-lead walks. www.britainsfinest.co.uk/gardens/search_results.cfm/searchcounty/Surrey/searchclasscode/4 Also, this may be useful www.dogfriendlybritain.co.uk

[TheReturnoftheSmartArse]

Wimbledon Common isn't that far from Surbiton either and is less scary as there are no deer (but of course you mustn't let your dog go after the Wombles!). Though your dog needs to be on a lead around the ponds at certain times of the year when the birds are a-breeding. Other than that, it is a fantastic place for off-lead walks.

[SpicyPear]

The local authority website should have a section with details of any dog control orders in place in the area. In our borough and ours are just no dogs in playgrounds and tennis courts. There are no lead requirements.

We love driving ours out for walks in the Surrey Hills at weekends.

[SpicyPear]

There are horses though smartarse that my pup thinks are playmates

[TheReturnoftheSmartArse]

Good point, Spicy ! I'd forgotten them. ArseDog just ignores them.

[papalazaru]

Thanks all. Our house is very near a park which has a fenced in playground. My only worry there is that off lead he'd go running up to strangers and can be a bit bouncy...... Also sounds like there's lots of other places not far away where we can take him for an extra bit of excitement. No idea what he'd be like with horses......

[SpicyPear]

It might be worth setting up a couple of training sessions on your return as you'll need better control over him/her here than is required in a secure dedicated dog park setting. Not criticising btw, just might help DDog understand what is expected.