I love the dog park.  I’m pretty sure Lucy (our Goldendoodle) feels the same way.  I can tell because whenever we get anywhere near the entrance to the park, she starts pacing back and forth in the backseat of the car.  Now, if she was a little dog, and by little I mean one that doesn’t take up half of a king-size bed, then the frenzied dance in the backseat wouldn’t be a big deal.  Her long, furry tail somehow manages to get everywhere, including my face, which is in the front seat behind the steering wheel!

We arrrive and one of (dog) us fervently pulls forward on the leash, while the other (human) one desperately tries to pull back and not fall flat on her face.  Guess who usually wins?  We get inside the fenced area for “Large Dogs”, I untether the crazed ball of fur and it’s an immediate doggy free-for-all.

Dogs and more dogs are everywhere - running, jumping, rolling, licking, butt-sniffing en masse.  I make my way to the shaded pavillion and try to find a relatively clean (tricky due to all of the dog slobber and mud) spot on the bench, sitting next to all the other ‘mommies and daddies’.  Conversation flows freely because clearly, we’re all there for the same reason - we love our pooches and love watching them frolick.

Those of us who walk upright on two legs seem to pretty much follow the unspoken dog park rules and etiquette.  So, if your poised pomeranian or glorious golden takes a steamy dump…get your rump up and scoop it up asap.  If your lovely labrador gets into a growling scuffle (much like a toddler playdate gone bad) with others, get your rump up and properly admonish the pup.  That’s about it.  The dog park is a laid back kind of place.  I like that..alot.

The only suggestion I have - don’t go there with plans to go elsewhere immediately after.  No matter how hard you try, you will get slobbered on, rubbed up against with mud and just generally become a bit ‘icky’.  See you there.  I’ll be the one in old sweatpants.

Filed under: Debbe Taylor, Uncategorized