How to Choose the Best Location for a Dog Park

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• Good signage prevents 80% of the drama
• What to include on dog park signage (must-haves)
  • 1) Leash and control expectations
  • 2) Dog behaviour and safety
  • 3) Age and supervision
  • 4) Health and vaccination guidance
  • 5) Waste rules (non-negotiable)
  • 6) Hours of use
  • 7) Emergency and reporting info
• Optional rules (use based on your site)
• Sign placement tips (so people actually read it)
• Dog park signage checklist

Good signage prevents 80% of the drama

Dog parks don’t fail because people love dogs too much; they fail because expectations are unclear.

Clear dog park rules and simple dog park signage help:

• reduce conflict between users
• support enforcement (when needed)
• set standards for cleanliness and safety

What to include on dog park signage (must-haves)

1) Leash and control expectations

• Dogs must be under voice control at all times
• Leash required outside the fenced area

2) Dog behaviour and safety

• No aggressive dogs
• Owners must supervise and intervene immediately
• Remove dogs in heat (if applicable to your policy)

3) Age and supervision

• Children must be supervised (and/or age guidance based on your policy)

4) Health and vaccination guidance

• Dogs should be healthy and vaccinated (wording varies by organization)

5) Waste rules (non-negotiable)

• Pick up after your dog
• Dispose of waste in provided bins

6) Hours of use

• Posted hours reduce neighbour complaints

7) Emergency and reporting info

• Who to call for hazards, vandalism, or maintenance issues

Optional rules (use based on your site)

• No food or glass containers
• No digging (or fill holes immediately)
• Limit number of dogs per handler
• Separate small/large dog areas (if you have two zones)

Sign placement tips (so people actually read it)

• Put the main sign at the primary entry gate
• Add a second reminder sign near seating/waste stations
• Keep it short (people dont read paragraphs)
• Use icons where possible

Dog park signage checklist

• Rules are short and clear: Yes/No
• Waste expectations included: Yes/No
• Hours posted: Yes/No
• Emergency/reporting contact included: Yes/No
• Signs placed at all entries: Yes/No
• Secondary reminders placed inside park: Yes/No

Want a ready-to-print rules + signage template for your municipality/strata/community? Email info@westplay.ca with your city and site type.