They seem to lead the pack. And while most dog parks are simply public parks that offer an open area for off-leash frolicking, some are a bit more elaborate. For example, Dog Central Station in Gainesville, Fla., offers 15 privately owned, fenced-in acres with two dog swimming ponds, dry dog areas, a full agility course, and dedicated space for small dogs. It also provides on-site doggie daycare and training. Rules and regulations will vary between parks.
Some public parks require permits of owners, or they require dogs to be licensed.
We heard from readers from New York to Chicago to California. Calif. Our dog park is a wonderful place. The city built it with the understanding that we would pay it back. We have had wonderful fund-raisers. We raised enough money to pay the city back and even put in some improvements.