Dear owner,
While you’ve been squirrelled (where?!) away on the couch this winter eating inordinate amounts of takeout (which, I’ll note, you never share), I’ve been loyally stationed at my guard-post by the front window, keenly alerting the entire household to even the slightest whiff of danger from the seemingly endless onslaught of delivery drivers who I’m beginning to think are here by your request.
Normally, I don’t mind serving as your companion, security guard and emotional support — I am man’s best friend, after all. But now that the weather is beginning to change (these past six months have felt like years, to me), I believe my loyal service should be rewarded with some much needed F-n-R (that’s fetch-and-relaxation for those not in the know). So, I’ve prepared a list of my favourite dog-parks fit for any occasion below.
Don’t bother trying to get out of this one or distract me — frankly, I don’t know what W-A-L-K-I-E-S- means, and I don’t care. I’ve already taken the liberty of putting on my finest collar, so when you’ve got the leash and poo-bags, I’ll be in the car.
Don’t let my Labradoodle curls fool you — I’m descended from wolves. That means every now and then I feel the need to really dig in to my roots (there might be bones buried down there, too!) and there’s no better place to feel the call of the wild than Terwillegar Park‘s off-leash area. With its more than four kilometres of pristine woodlands, scenic river valley shoreline, rugged walking trails and ample parking, there’s really no reason not to embrace your feral side. And we can end the day with some tasty doggy snacks from Tangent’s Treats’ food truck (I’ve heard they sell people food too, but to be honest I can’t even tell the difference). Bone appétit!
Ready to feel the wind in your fur and the grass between your pads, but not quite comfortable going full lobo? Then Buena Vista‘s dog park is the place for you. With the best of both worlds, including a semi-enclosed off-leash area and lighted parking, I’ve got the freedom to put the term “zoomies” to the test any time of day while you two-leggers relax at one of the picnic tables. Just make sure you keep my treats on hand (meaning human-waist height).
Since time immemorial humans and canines have been working side by side. Yet now that you’re working at an office (well, la-di-da) instead of guarding sheep from bloodthirsty coyotes, you want to leave me at home all day? Sure. Yeah. Whatever. I get it.
But for those with a dog-friendly workplace — or just those heading into town on a day off — there’s no excuse not to bring us four-legged companions along on those trips across town thanks to these multi-use parks that connect to some of the city’s liveliest neighbourhoods. Whether we’re trotting along the riverside towards Kinnaird Park (where, of course, we’ll stop to play in the Dawson Park off-leash area) or heading through Mill Creek towards Old Strathcona for a puppicino at one of Whyte Avenue’s hipster cafes, these connector parks will make our commute feel like one big game of fetch.
You can watch me run (to the far fence and back) for a week. I like people, not other dogs (hence my good paw-nmenship), so it’s nice to have space to myself. But my sister Rory loves other dogs, so she does enough socializing for the both of us. And there’s even a separate area for small dogs, which aligns with my philosophy that, when it comes to small dogs, the more fenced off, the better.
With the cost of living these days (a new chew toy costs what?!), we can’t all afford to be acreage dogs. Some of us have to settle for a doggie bed in an apartment downtown. But that doesn’t mean we should spend our days cooped up. There are plenty of off-leash spaces to enjoy that don’t require leaving the city (or hiking, for my notoriously lazy-bone Frenchie friends). Among my favourites is SouthBARK on Whyte. It gives me the opportunity to mingle with the Whyte Ave cool kids, while its enclosed space allows me the freedom to really stretch my legs without worrying about traffic or those pesky cyclists.
If you can’t find me waggin’ around SouthBARK, I’m probably at my other downtown hangout — Alex Decoteau dog park. With a fenced off space for puppy play right in the heart of downtown (with dog-friendly turf, I might add), it’s conveniently close to some of the city’s best eating and drinking establishments, too. And I would know. I am the fur-baby of Edify’s publisher, after all. Just don’t forget to bring a doggy bag when you’re done.
Being a vital (like, hold the whole operation together, vital) employee at Edify means I spend a lot of time in the office and I don’t always have the time to travel to all my favourite parks around the city. But thanks to Edmonton’s community league temporary off-leash park program, I don’t have to travel far to get in a little exercise. What’s your excuse for not hitting the gym this week?
It’s not easy being a pet, and sometimes our daily duties can leave us feeling a little anxious and defensive. But all dogs deserve the option to run free — even my reactive friends. Thankfully, there’s Laneway Getaway. Located just southwest of the city (did someone say car ride!?), this private dog park offers a large, wooded, securely enclosed space that can be booked in advance and privately. That means no chance encounters or pissing matches to see who’s the alpha and who’s not. Here, even the most high-strung pups can breathe easily while exploring the beauty of the outdoors.
