State Parks Yay or Nay?

JLStorm

New member
I keep finding new state parks in our area...so far Ive found over 20,000 acres within 30 minutes of us, but I rarely see dogs there even though the state laws and statutes allow dogs for walks or hunting/service training. Is there a reason any of you particularly like or dislike state parks?
 

Erika

New member
its not the parks we dislike its the irresponsible dog owners.We live in a wooded village , so our dogs experience nature here just fine along with the neighborhood dogs along our pathways
 

BLCOLE

Active member
I don't have any problems taking my Newf to state parks. On the contrary, I belong to two NCA regions that REGULARLY use state parks for their meetings / events.
 

JLStorm

New member
its not the parks we dislike its the irresponsible dog owners.We live in a wooded village , so our dogs experience nature here just fine along with the neighborhood dogs along our pathways
We are the same way here we have a few hundred wooded acres on our street, but I get bored of walking the same paths over and over again, the area dogs rarely get bored of the same areas though. I hadnt thought of irresponsible dog owners...thats why I have sworn off dog parks, to many bad experiences there.
 

NessaM

New member
I don't understand the question at all. We regularly use our local County-run parks, and we see dogs there ALL THE TIME. One of the parks even has an off-leash dog park located within it. I think it's more likely that you live in an area where folks don't partake in structured outdoor activities with their animals, than that there's some kind of nation-wide dog-owner hate on for Park Services.

I've never had a problem with our parks or their rangers as long as my two are on leash. I was stopped once because the ranger couldn't see the black leash attached to black Pooka, but once I raised my arm up and the leash was visible, that was that.

Granted - I'm talking about locally-managed parks, not State Parks. We don't have any State Parks close enough to visit.
 

dfwmiket

New member
I've never had a problem with our parks or their rangers as long as my two are on leash. I was stopped once because the ranger couldn't see the black leash attached to black Pooka, but once I raised my arm up and the leash was visible, that was that.

Granted - I'm talking about locally-managed parks, not State Parks. We don't have any State Parks close enough to visit.
Nessa,
That ranger probably just wanted to make sure you weren't about to be mauled by a giant black bear. :lol::lol:

Next time I make a trek to visit family on the East Coast, I may have to run up to Jersey and see the superstars in person. :beer:

State parks here get used all the time.

-Mike
 

Erika

New member
I don't understand the question at all. We regularly use our local County-run parks, and we see dogs there ALL THE TIME. One of the parks even has an off-leash dog park located within it. I think it's more likely that you live in an area where folks don't partake in structured outdoor activities with their animals, than that there's some kind of nation-wide dog-owner hate on for Park Services.

I've never had a problem with our parks or their rangers as long as my two are on leash. I was stopped once because the ranger couldn't see the black leash attached to black Pooka, but once I raised my arm up and the leash was visible, that was that.

Granted - I'm talking about locally-managed parks, not State Parks. We don't have any State Parks close enough to visit.
Nessa its the area we are in here.....the stae parks are close to the city limits.......lots of pit bulls and not so good owners........we drive to other facilities to have fun.Alot of dog fights and owner arguments have occured here......NOPE wont go there with my LUVS.....lol
 

JLStorm

New member
I don't understand the question at all. We regularly use our local County-run parks, and we see dogs there ALL THE TIME. One of the parks even has an off-leash dog park located within it. I think it's more likely that you live in an area where folks don't partake in structured outdoor activities with their animals, than that there's some kind of nation-wide dog-owner hate on for Park Services.

I've never had a problem with our parks or their rangers as long as my two are on leash. I was stopped once because the ranger couldn't see the black leash attached to black Pooka, but once I raised my arm up and the leash was visible, that was that.

Granted - I'm talking about locally-managed parks, not State Parks. We don't have any State Parks close enough to visit.
Well to give you more background I always lived in suburbs or other populated areas with lots of dog parks, but not many state parks. So of course the dog parks were always populated, but I just had too many bad experiences there so I quit taking out dogs to them. Anyway fast forward a few years and now I live out in the country where there are no dog parks, but TONS of state parks. I think these state parks are great places to walk dogs, or take them swimming or just explore. There are trails, waterfalls, lakes, ponds, lots of cool stuff. It seems almost everyone owns a dog out here and tons of people visit the state parks, but not many dogs, so it just made me wonder. The state allows dogs, but I just very rarely actually see dogs there and I was wondering if others shared my thoughts on state parks being good areas for dogs or if I was missing something which is why I dont see many dogs there.
 

NessaM

New member
Sounds to me like you've answered your own question then - it's a matter of population density.

Erika - you bring those gorgeous creatures of yours up here and we'll have LOADS of fun. *laughing*

Mike - there is nothing Pooka likes better than to be admired - you'd be welcome!
 
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gitchegumee

New member
The state parks we have visited in both Wisconsin and Minnesota are great places for our Newfie. We have used two parks near us in Wisconsin for tracking work. This last fall we went to the north shore of Lake Superior (Gitche is named after the lake). We had a great time enjoying the state parks in Minnesota. Beautiful colors, rivers and waterfalls. We met many others enjoying the parks and many said that meeting Gitche was the one of the highlights of their day.

The rumor in one of the parks was that someone was walking a little bear....

:lol:
 

Wash

New member
We've never had or seen any issues around here with state parks in Minnesota as long as the dogs are on leash (actually most that we have been to dont even care if the dogs are off leash as long as they are behaved). Only time I have ever been stopped was at a state park run camp ground last year when a ranger stopped me because "from a distance I thought you were walking a bear cub". Always lots of dogs out and about at the parks.
 

JLStorm

New member
The rumor in one of the parks was that someone was walking a little bear....

:lol:
Only time I have ever been stopped was at a state park run camp ground last year when a ranger stopped me because "from a distance I thought you were walking a bear cub". Always lots of dogs out and about at the parks.
Yes, I have never had to worry about that before, but since we have bear hunting out here I've decided that an orange dog vest will eventually be in order.
 

Erika

New member
Sounds to me like you've answered your own question then - it's a matter of population density.

Erika - you bring those gorgeous creatures of yours up here and we'll have LOADS of fun. *laughing*

Mike - there is nothing Pooka likes better than to be admired - you'd be welcome!

ha ha ha.i think ill buy more land and make our own park.....newfyland.
 

pecanpiepatti

New member
We found this link to be more up to date than the funny Texas Dog Lover's Companion book. http://www.dogfriendly.com/ and it's the whole US.

I imagine once we are taking our "Thor" places, we'll use a bright orange vest while in state parks, just to be on the safe side!
 

NessaM

New member
We've used this one on walks before - apart from a tendency to slide a little to the side, it stays in place, it doesn't hamper canine movement at all, and it's pretty good on the visibility front.
 

JLStorm

New member
We've used this one on walks before - apart from a tendency to slide a little to the side, it stays in place, it doesn't hamper canine movement at all, and it's pretty good on the visibility front.
Do they seem to get hotter in that? I was going to look for something made of a mesh breathable materia in the near future for my moms dogs when she brings them up, but that looks nice and sturdy.
 

NessaM

New member
Since it barely covers much surface area, no they don't seem hotter in it. It's a very lightweight, flimsy thing. I've seen the full vest-shaped ones before but think this one is easier to deal with.\

Here's Pooka modeling it:



it has a velcrod tab that goes around the collar at the top of the neck, and then a long stretchy girth that goes beneath the belly and velcros up underneath the material on the opposite side.

Here's Bojie modeling the vest-type:



My two also wear big bells on their collars when we're in the woods.



Here's Nanook in the same blaze orange:

 
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Lisa@Caeles Hills

New member
Gitchie, where are you going that allow the dogs? Most of the parks around me do not allow dogs even on leash, and when I show in Duluth the only place that allowed him on North Shore was Gooseberry Falls State Park. We did take him on the board walk and along the shoreline too. Its getting so discouraging when I was a kid dogs were allowed everywhere outdoors now it seems more and more have no pets signs posted.
 

2newfs4now

New member
We have many state and county parks close by and all allow dogs...on leash! There is a hefty fine ($400 - $500) if caught off leash. Many of the parks also have water (streams, lakes, etc.). The problem is, the rivers/streams that are deep enough to swim in have too much current to be safe and the lakes don't allow dogs in the water because of health reg's.
 
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