Just like my previous post, “Off Leash Dog Trails In SLC, Utah“, I was going to do another post on the fenced in dog parks in the same general area. That changed when I realized that I really don’t go to or even seek out the fenced in dog parks. So here are 5 reasons why I stay away from traditional fenced in dog parks.

Over Crowded

This isn’t always the case, but generally in the thick city areas, I find fenced in dog parks to be overcrowded. Often times you have to get through a pack of dogs at the entrance to even enter the park. I enjoy my personal space, and don’t necessarily love that many bodies in an enclosed area when I’m there to relax with my pup.

Smelly/Dirty

Along with the over-crowding. When there’s too many dogs in that environment, the parks get nasty real quick and become nothing more than dirt/mud. Some parks remedy this by laying down gravel or bark but that doesn’t cover up the smell that also comes along that many dogs.

Lack of Enrichment

I don’t see fenced in dog parks as being very enriching places. It’s absolutely better than your dog staying at home and not going anywhere. But some dogs, especially mature dogs, can get bored with these environments, leading to certain behavioral problems. This leads me to my next reason . . .

More Likely To See Aggressive Dogs

I tend to see more fights occur at fenced in dogs parks vs when your on a trail. As many dogs going to these parks are local, if they get bored coming to play in the same park every single day then they can become territorial over the environment. Especially as many owners tend to sit and relax in a favorite area. This leaves it up to your dog to come up with their own entertainment. When your on a trail, there’s more of a journey/mission involved to reach your destination. This in turn, helps take the focus off of being a punk to other dogs.

More Likely To See Disease

With the high volume of dogs all using the same communal water fountains/bowls, there’s a higher risk that your dog’s going to contract something from another dog. It could range anywhere from kennel cough and giardia to something even more serious. That’s not to say your dog won’t get sick on a hiking trail either, it’s just less likely. On a hiking trail, even if there is water, it’s most likely a flowing stream, and not stagnant water that been sitting around with a bunch of tongues going in and out of it.

In Conclusion

Fenced in dog parks do have their pluses as well as their minuses, like if you have a puppy that just wants to play with other puppies. Or if you’re training your dog to recall. I’m sure they’re also convenient for seniors, people with a disability, or people recovering from an injury who can’t really go on a hiking trail but still want to get their dog out to play.

So though fenced in dog parks have their uses, they just aren’t for me. There’s only a handful of them that I’m willing to go to, but if I have the opportunity to choose between a fenced in park and an off leash trail, I’ll pick the trail every time. That goes double for Keeneye as he also enjoys hiking and adventure more than interacting with other dogs.