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a June 25th, 2013

  1. Must Love Dogs: Dog Parks in the Madison Area

    June 25, 2013 by admin

    IMG_0248A dog park is a great outing.  It’s a chance for your pup to run off leash and an opportunity for both of you to get into nature.  Here are a few of our favorite dog parks in the Madison area.  All of the parks feature fenced in areas and trash disposal- they usually have some water available too, just in case you forget to bring it for your pup.

    • Yahara Heights:  This is one of our favorites as it has trees, prairie, and a river.  It’s big, so one trip around the circumference is usually plenty of exercise on most visits.  Yahara Heights is rarely very crowded, which we consider a plus.  Moo likes to go wading at the docks and Bluey enjoys running on the paths in the woods.  Once we met a nice 80 year old man walking his two Shelties and he talked to us for twenty minutes.  It gets pretty breezy in the winter, so watch for wind-chills.
    • Warner Park:  It’s closer to our house, but also more crowded than Yahara.  Warner Park has water access into the lagoon.  Its smaller size makes for a quicker walk than some other parks- but sometimes that’s just what we want.
    • Sycamore Park:  We love this park when we don’t want to deal with a wet dog.  It offers a long walking trail through a grassy prairie setting, with no pond or river.  On occasions when we want to give the pup some exercise, without dealing with towels, we head here.  There are no trees and little shade, so be careful on hot days and grab your sunscreen or a hat.

     

    A few caveats:

    • Always bring water, a leash, and disposal bags with you to the dog park.  Don’t assume that it will all be provided.
    • Some parks require a registration fee on a daily or annual basis.  Be prepared for this or you’ll risk a ticket.
    • Use some form of flea and tick preventative on your dog.
    • Check yourself for ticks thoroughly when leaving the park.
    • Keep your dog on a leash unless s/he is super-friendly and well-behaved.
    • Watch for small kids as they become quickly intimated by running dogs.  Your dog is your responsibility to control properly.

     

    Grab your leash and head outside!