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Dog Exercise Without A Dog Park or Private Yard

2K views 17 replies 15 participants last post by  ddvv 
#1 ·
Thinking about not taking our 1 yr old Doberman to the dog park or dog beach anymore due to various incidents involving dogs being bitten by other dogs (not mine luckily) or dog park fencing being inadequate & wildlife entering the park. Skunks made a home in a corner of our local dog park.

Just wondering what everyone here does for exercise without the dog park/beach?

I'm in a condo unit so I don't have access to a yard. I could definitely run with her on leash but cannot really think of much off leash exercise for her to do besides in house fetch or training. Any ideas or methods used by other people in similar situations (owning dobermans without private yards and not using dog parks) would be much appreciated.
 
#2 ·
I have a yard and access to the training field at my club but I still take my girls to a neighborhood park (not dog park) nearby to play and run sometimes. I use a 50' long line to comply with leash laws.
 
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#3 ·
-Obedience. Mental exercise is part of getting them tired!
-Nose work/tracking. Can do this on-leash in fields, parks, etc. Also a mental exercise.
-"Hall ball"- playing fetch in the house, I use two balls and keep her in constant motion when I want to try to wear her out. Good for rainy days.
-Playing at a park in the water. My dog likes to splash around and be a goofball.
-Hikes or long walks somewhere new. New places are exciting and can cause them to wear out faster.
-Day care- choose somewhere reputable and experienced with dogs. Mine comes home pretty tired!


Also keep in mind since your Doberman is still young, you should not be doing lots of strenuous exercise until 18+ months old. :)
 
#5 ·
We use a private dog park through a local dog club that we pay to access with an annual membership. It is locked to the public.

There is also a local trainer who has off leash times on his fenced acreage, and other training facility with open indoor sessions (dobermans only).
 
#8 ·
I don't really have a yard, and there are no dog parks near me.

I take Elsie out to the country to do tracking, out in the forests and vacant paddocks. We walk to regular parks every day (dogs allowed off lead) and she runs off lead there, she was on a long line when she was little. We're also members of a few dog clubs, so we can go and use their training grounds to wear her out and do training as many evenings a week as we like.
 
#9 · (Edited)
******* sometimes goes to a private dog park I'm a member of. I'd explore different spots. It's a shame things have occurred with other dogs at the beach. It's seems like such an ideal place. Is there a time of day/morning/night when it's typically less crowded? There's a public park by me that's fairly new in a newer developed area. It's starting to gain more attention, but there's still different times when if I go, I know I'll usually be the only one there, or there will be one or two other people in the field area so I can just take her on the trails.

You could also get her involved in a sport. I'm looking into getting ******* involved in lure coursing.

I'd explore. I have found so many random fields where noones around and noone cares if we're there. For example; behind the damn at the reservoir by me there's a huge field with longer grass and some trails. No one ever goes back there, but I'm also not trespassing by being there. People go up on the paths by the dam all of the time, but on the hill and field area below, even though there's paths leading down, noone ever goes down there.
 
#11 ·
Hello! - i have to agree with many of the other posts. A private dog park is great as it is supervised and dog owners have to interact and watch their dog's behaviors. They just cannot let the dog do its things while the owner check his messages on his phone or drink coffee with the other owners. Doing so will get them expelled from the park.

Doing exercises with your dog like long runs and walks are the best. This will help create a better bond with your dog as getting both of you in great shape. Cesar milan is always promoting these activities with your dog.

A threadmill can also be used when the weather is cold and miserable. Living in a northern country, this is what I do when it it sleeting outside or in the middle of winter when it is minus 20 degres outside. It is also good in the middle of the summer when it is way too hot and humid to take long walks. My dog then do its threadmill routine in an air conditioned room.
 
#13 ·
Can you drive to the countryside?

I am fortunate that I live in a remote area, not only that I have a large compound in which my boy can run, still I often take him for a drive to find some real out of the way spot where we can have a blast without risk of running into anyone.

Sorry you cannot take your Dobe baby to the park/beach anymore, just a few irresponsible folk can and do spoil it for so many.
 
#14 ·
Really not keen on any type of dog park anymore public or private. The dog park I used to go to was private and I feel like they stole my dues by never keeping up the place and allowing wildlife to enter and make a home inside it constantly (skunks and raccoons). Also, there had been incidents I had heard of involving dogs biting other dogs. So just the fact that it was private didn't seem to be keeping aggressive dogs out. I think the risks outweigh the rewards for dog parks/beaches for me.

I would love to just drive out and find some open land or grassy vacant lots that are semi-secure. I think I just need to take the time and explore and find some. If anyone knows of any in the city of Chicago or right outside it please let me know (a PM would be great).

Otherwise I've found a vacant fenced grass lot that someone is willing to lease to me.
 
#15 ·
Yes, the private park we are members of allow you sole access, or you can have other members in. The rule is you can stay in there as long as you want until another member drives up, then you have another 20 minutes to vacate. It's perfect for us, Carson is not dog or human friendly..
 
#16 ·
Most will think I am crazy but I pick up Rugers toys every night put them in a basket then put the basket on the second floor landing. All day long he goes up and down until all his toys are played with trust me he has a lot of toys.

To be honest I am too fat, old and lazy for a doberman so our walks are 2 miles he needs much more than that so the stairs work great. I saw an article in a doberman magazine says use stairs so I came up with this. Ruger is my first Doberman in 20 years I forgot how energetic they are, but my love is so strong for him I am so glad we have him.

He also goes to doggy daycare a few times a week four hours there and he is tuckered out. When I pick him up I turn on the heated seat and he is in heaven back there last week he didn't want to get out of the car my husband cracked up saying "leave the car running momma I'll be in when I feel like it" he was just so cute! It took all I had to get him out of the car first time he didn't follow command. He is only six months old so we can give him a break lol.
 
#18 ·
I gave up on dog park after my dobe got bitten by a lab and then got blamed for "being too hyper". Anyhow, I am lucky enough to live by a park with a double wide tennis court completely fenced in and I can let her run after the ball there early in the morning on weekends when nobody is playing and in winter most of the times. I also have a common ground area behind my backyard where I can let her run after the freesbee that she loves.
 
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