Dog parks, which are a center of attraction for dogs and their owners, contribute to the residential environment by creating connections between residents, strengthening communities, and providing a platform for community initiatives and increased civic engagement by residents.
However, when a dog park is not planned/operated properly, there is a danger to both the health of the dogs that use the park (for example, due to the spread of diseases) and to their environment (if a dog escapes from the area). In order to prevent these dangers and increase the use of established dog parks, a review of what is happening in the field worldwide, especially in the US, was conducted, and the recommendations that appear below were developed. It is advisable that an authority that plans to open a dog park in its area consider the recommendations, as these may prevent operational problems that, despite the investment, will prevent dog owners from coming to the park.
This is the place to emphasize that this document details recommendations for dog park planning that aim to highlight the unique features of a dog park, so that the dog park will be attractive and safe, but these do not replace the existing recommendations and standards for planning public spaces and public parks of the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Construction and Housing, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, or the local authority. In addition, these are only recommendations written based on the collection of data on dog parks in Israel and around the world, and are not binding recommendations. At the end of the document, you can find diagrams of dog parks and links to regulations, procedures, and websites from around the world on the subject.
Dog park legislation:
According to the Law for Regulating the Supervision of Dogs – 2002, Section 11 reads:
(a) The owner of the dog will not allow it to leave the premises (hereinafter – the premises),
Unless the dog is held by a person capable of controlling it, by means of a leash whose length and nature will be determined by the minister.
(b) The head of a local authority may determine areas and times in which the obligation as stated in the subsection will not apply
(a) and the conditions therefor; The head of the local authority will publish, in the way he deems appropriate, and in the records a notice about the areas and the dates he determined;
This provision will not apply in an area declared infected according to the Rabies Ordinance.
(c) A dangerous dog will be kept in accordance with the instructions determined by the Minister; The minister may establish, among other things, instructions regarding –
(1) blocking the dog’s mouth as a stray when it finds itself outside the premises;
(2) tying up the dog or keeping it in a cage inside the premises;
(3) castration or sterilization of the dog;
(4) Minimum age requirement of the owner of the dog when removing it from the premises.
It should be noted that if there is a municipal bylaw that states that a person must keep a dog on a leash, the areas designated as dog parks should be excluded .
It is also important to emphasize that a dog that has been declared dangerous is required by law to be on a leash and is not subject to an exemption in accordance with Section 11(c).
When planning a dog park, several guiding principles should be considered, which we will explain immediately.
The number of parks to be established will be influenced by the number of dogs within the authority’s area and the expected popularity of the complex. For example – if it is an area where most houses have yards, it is likely that less will use the park than in an area where there are only buildings. In addition, the expected crowding in the park during rush hours should be taken into account –
One of the recommendations is that there should be no more than 30 dogs in an area of 1 dunam.
The use of public parks by dogs and their owners can be monitored in order to decide on the establishment of a park. It should be taken into account that appropriate distribution of dog parks, according to the need in terms of the number of dogs and the frequency of use, will prevent increased use of existing public parks, which can cause local nuisances such as noise.
There is no single criterion by which cities decide to establish a dog park. In some cities, a decision to establish a dog park will be made only after an organized appeal by residents of the area (which indicates a need for the park and that it will be used), while in other cities, the establishment of the park is initiated by the municipality.
It is advisable to choose the location of the park so that there is minimal disturbance to the environment. To this end, the park must be established at least 50 meters away from a residence, not near sensitive breeding sites for wild animals and at least 100 meters away from school grounds or kindergartens. At the same time, it is necessary to avoid placing the park at too great a distance from residences in order for it to be used.
Since in many urban areas the density of construction and the area do not allow compliance with the above conditions, it is possible and desirable to use local solutions in these places as needed. For example, near a place of residence, the opening hours of the garden can be limited (example: until 22:00 and from 06:00).
Near playgrounds and schools, the garden can be separated with a visual or acoustic partition such as vegetation, and if necessary limit the hours of use as well.
The area of the park will be affected by the number of dogs expected to reach it, the number of existing parks and the available space. The recommended minimum size is 225 square meters (15 m * 15 m). If the existing area does not allow for the establishment of a dog park of this size, a smaller dog park can be established in accordance with the area available to the municipality.
However, the larger the park, the more physical activity the dog will be able to perform and the more overcrowding that may cause friction between the dogs will be avoided. Therefore, it is possible and desirable to establish larger parks, depending on the available space, and to divide them into an area for small dogs and an area for large dogs.
Ground cover is a critical part of the dog park. The covering must be such that it will not cause injuries to the dogs’ feet – due to small particles / heating that could cause burns, easy to maintain (collect feces and clean), and allow for drainage to allow use of the park throughout the year. It is possible to use different coverings in parks throughout the city or to combine different coverings in the same park in order to allow the owner to decide according to the comfort shown by his dog.
Below are various possible coverings:
1. Sand – easy to maintain, but care must be taken to provide shade in the park.
In order to prevent overheating, it is also necessary to prepare to replace the sand twice a year to prevent odor hazards.
2. Grass – requires a lot of maintenance and watering.
3. Gravel – no larger than 0.6 cm in size.
In addition to the type of covering, it should be noted that the covering is applied uniformly in the park and, if possible, that it is placed at a depth of 10 cm to prevent digging.
The fence must be such that it effectively prevents the passage of people and animals – through, over or under the fence. Therefore, it is recommended that the fence be at least 180 cm high from the ground.
In addition, the base will be inserted to a depth of 00 cm and the fence itself will be inserted to a depth of 15 cm – excluding the access areas to the park.
It is recommended that the fence be a mesh fence with a density of 5*10 cm in order to prevent the escape of especially small dogs and the thickness of the material at least 2 mm in order to allow the fence to withstand jumping by the larger dogs. The durability of the material the fence is made of (weather resistance), the insulation it provides (mesh fence versus a plant fence) and the required maintenance (painting if a wooden fence is used) must be taken into account.
The gate area is an area prone to problems – dogs enter through the gate while other dogs are in the park, which may cause gatherings by the dogs that are released inside the park. Also, when entering, dogs may try to get out. In addition, the dog is brought into the enclosure while it is tied and other dogs are not, which may make it feel vulnerable and therefore provoke situations of aggression.
In light of this, the access gate to the park must be a double gate at the height of the fence.
That is, the owner will enter with a dog on a leash. He will close the first door after him, remove the leash from the dog and then open the second door which will let him into the park. The area between the two gates must be at least 1.5 square meters (1.2 m * 1.25 m). Self-closing gates can be installed, but care must be taken that they do not slam (because the noise may startle the dogs and provoke aggression). It is desirable that, in addition to the access gate for dogs and their owners, there should be another gate that will be used by the maintenance department and that will be 5 meters long so that they can enter the vehicle area.
Both gates should be lockable.
In large parks, it is recommended to establish more than one entrance gate intended for dogs and their owners, in order to make it easier for visitors coming from different directions and to reduce the pressure and crowding around the gate.
Under each gate, concrete must be poured 15 cm deep in order to prevent excavations under the gate that would allow dogs to leave the park.
Dogs have a harder time cooling themselves than humans and tend to suffer from heatstroke and dehydration relatively easily, which can cause serious health damage and even death.
It is therefore desirable that the park have extensive shading areas as much as possible. Shading areas will allow the dogs to take a break from the activity, will maintain the temperature of the surface during the hot summer days and allow use also during the winter days.
Trees can be used for shading (trees have additional benefits in the area such as masking noise and contributing to the green appearance of the area). In addition, shading makes using the dog park more pleasant for human companions, which increases the likelihood that the park will be used frequently. When planning the shading, you must take into account the directions of the sun at different times of the day and plan accordingly (for example, don’t put shading with a southern slope next to a northern fence.
The following facilities will allow for an enjoyable experience and make the park an accessible place.
Many dog owners visit the garden with their dogs after work hours. A dark garden prevents use during these hours. Sufficient lighting will also allow the dog owners to collect the necessities that will be done in the garden. Also, illuminated gardens are advantageous for the residential environment because they are a focal point for a normative population of dog owners.
Who walk their dogs in the evening.
Covered bins and bags for collecting feces. Care must be taken that the bins are of a type that dogs cannot turn over during play.
Faucets for people and water troughs for dogs.
Benches in a shaded area for use by human companions.
The facilities must be stable enough to carry a large dog and be safe.
Toilets for dog owners and a dog toilet complex (in the park area or in the vicinity of a designated location).
Depending on the location of the garden, its size and the facilities around it.
Care must be taken to ensure that all equipment in the park (bins, facilities) is resistant to climate conditions and dog play, and is stable so that it does not fall due to dog play.
Trees outside and inside the park will improve the appearance of the park. In addition, surrounding vegetation of bushes will isolate the park from factors in its environment that may disturb the dogs and provoke barking/aggressiveness such as runners, bicycles, vehicles, children. Trees and shrubs scattered throughout the park will add interest to dogs, provide shade for people who bring them, and act as noise insulators. However, it is recommended to place a low fence around young trees in the park. When planning the vegetation, vegetation that is toxic to dogs should be avoided.
A clear sign must be installed at the entrance to the park with the rules of conduct in the park in large and clear letters. In addition, warning signs should be hung along the fence in prominent places because there are loose dogs in this area. The signage for the dog park will indicate a number of rules of conduct and entry to the park.
The use of the park is conditional on the fact that the dog is vaccinated against rabies and that the owner has a possession license – this must be clearly noted at the entrance to the dog park. In addition, it is recommended that a dog coming to a dog park be vaccinated against distemper, treated against external parasites and dewormed (including park worms) in order to avoid transmitting diseases in these areas.
An authority that establishes a dog park on its territory must prepare for the fact that, in addition to establishing a dog park, ongoing maintenance is needed – this maintenance may include, among other things, cleaning the area of waste at a frequency that will prevent odor hazards, emptying bins, filling bags in the facilities, maintaining the facilities, spraying the park area against external dog parasites, and replacing the ground cover at least twice a year to prevent odor hazards.
The rules of conduct listed below are a recommendation and were collected from a variety of sources. Their purpose is to ensure the existence of the park for many years, to prevent incidents and friction between the dogs, to maintain the well-being of the residents living near the garden, as well as to explain to the owners what is allowed and what is not allowed in the park:
– Entry is permitted for dogs with a valid rabies vaccination. Entry is prohibited for bitches in heat.
Puppies under 0 months of age and dangerous/aggressive dogs/dogs with spiked collars/choke collars.
– If your dog is sick/infected with external/internal parasites, please refrain from entering the park.
– Entry of children under the age of 12 only when accompanied by an adult.
– Do not leave a dog alone in the park. You must stay with the dog inside the park for the entire duration of your stay there.
– Entry into the park with bicycles, skates, skateboards or roller blades is prohibited. It is also forbidden for people to run in the park.
– The park is not intended for training – training classes can be held in the park, but the use of the park for other dogs should not be impaired as a result.
– Arriving at the park when the dog is tied, the dog can only be released from the leash in the park area.
– Food (for dogs / people) / toys should not be brought in for fear that this will provoke aggression between the dogs
(Balls and Frisbee can be allowed outside of rush hour).
– Do not bring in glass bottles due to the risk of injury to the dogs.
– Up to three dogs can be brought into the park under the supervision of one person (because it is impossible to keep eye contact / keep an eye on them all).
Professional dog handlers (dog-walkers) can enter with more than three dogs as long as the person in charge of the dogs controls them and they do not interfere with the use of the garden (if necessary, the hours of use of dog handlers in the park can be limited to the afternoon hours when their activity is more extensive and the use of the park is usually little ).
– A dog that is released in a dog park must respond to voice instructions.
– Entrance to the park is the sole responsibility of the people entering.
– It is mandatory to clean up dog feces immediately.
– The owner must prevent the dog from digging holes and if the dog digs a hole, the owner must cover the holes it has dug.
– Do not hold or catch a dog that is not yours.
– You must have one leash in your hand for each of the dogs you came with and maintain eye contact with all the dogs.
– If a fight develops between dogs in the park, it is advisable that you put a leash on your dog as soon as possible and leave the park in order to maintain your safety.
Do not separate the fighting dogs by pulling as they may bite.
– If your dog shows aggression you must leave the park area immediately.
– Try to prevent your dog from running to meet dogs entering through the gate.
– Smoking and consumption of alcohol in the park area are prohibited.
– When it’s hot, make sure the dog drinks / take proactive breaks in a shaded area.
– Make sure the park gate is closed at all times.
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