Dog parks in Kitchener
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Overview
If you want a place where your dog can play and socialize with other dogs, consider visiting a dog park in Ontario. Dog park locations are fenced areas where your dog can feel free to run around and enjoy themselves off-leash, with other dogs often joining in. A dog park can be a great place for dogs without a backyard to play in, and that’s just one reason they’re so popular. If you’re looking for a spot for your pup to play, here are some Kitchener dog parks that you might want to bring your dog to.
Connect with an online vet in Kitchener
Amenities
Kiwanis Dog Park is one of the most popular parks in Kitchener, and for good reason. At the entrance, you’ll find waste bags and a trash can, and there are separate entrances to a small dog area and a large dog area. Plus, if you find yourself tired of the dog park, you can walk your dog around the rest of the park as long as you have a leash. Be prepared for a bit of a trek. The dog park is about a 400-meter walk from the parking area.
2. McLennan Dog Park
Amenities
McLennan Park is also locally known as “Mount Trashmore,” a former landfill that has been turned into a park area for locals to enjoy. Many of the trails that you can find across Kitchener actually come together at McLennan Park, and free parking is available. On top of the variety of other park features, such as a splash pad, volleyball and basketball courts, and a toboggan shelter, the leash-free dog park is a treat for locals. It offers a large area for dogs to play and has wood chips in some of the areas to reduce muddiness during the rainy season.
3. George Lippert Park
Amenities
George Lippert Park has long been an enjoyable area in Kitchener. In 2015, the park underwent renovations which included the addition of an off-leash park area right beside the community garden. If you’re looking for a spot for your dog to run around and play, this is a great one. It’s a smaller park, but it’s large enough for dogs to have a great time running and playing.
4. The Aud Neighbourhood Leash Free Dog Park
Amenities
The Aud Neighbourhood Leash Free Dog Park is a great spot to take your dog if you’re just looking for an area with lots of space for a dog to run. It’s fully fenced in, so you’re free to let your dog roam, and the area is primarily a large field, which boasts grass in the warmer spring and summer months. The City of Kitchener requests that no toys, balls, or food be brought into the area, as this can encourage aggressive behavior between dogs.
5. Bechtel Dog Park
Amenities
Bechtel Dog Park is right on the border between Kitchener and Waterloo, meaning that some sources designate it as being in Kitchener and some indicate that it’s technically in Waterloo. Regardless of which city it’s in, dog owners who live in both cities visit this dog park and enjoy it. It’s located within the 100-acre Bechtel Park, which is also dog-friendly as long as your dog is on a leash, and offers completely fenced-in areas for dogs to run around in. There’s also a path circling the edges of the park, allowing dog owners to walk around more easily with their pups.
Let your dog run around outdoors
Allowing your dog to run around and play helps your dog exercise, socialize with other dogs, and just generally spend some time outdoors, all of which are great for your pup. However, a dog that doesn’t know how to do this safely may cause danger to themselves and other dogs at a dog park. If you’re looking for information about preparing your dog for a dog park, book a virtual vet appointment with Vetster to get a veterinarian’s insight into your dog’s socialization.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Not all of them. Some dog parks do have separate areas for large and small dogs, which can allow smaller dogs to run around without having to contend with larger ones. However, some parks just have a single area where both small and large dogs can play. Regardless of how your dog park is set up, you should always keep an eye on your dog, as fights can break out regardless of dog size.
- You can look at signage near a park to see whether the park allows dogs. Most parks will have some kind of visible signage that indicates whether or not dogs are allowed in a specific park. If you’re looking for more information or you’re interested in seeing whether dogs are allowed in a park before you get there, check out the Kitchener Parks and Recreation website for more in-depth information about various parks in the area.
- Many dog parks are only managed by local volunteers, and you can become one of those volunteers if you’re interested. Contact the current group running the local dog park. If you’re only interested in helping out unofficially, you can do that as well. Just clean up after your dog and clean up any other waste you see. Anything helps keep the dog park clean.
