COCHRANE— A new, private, off-leash dog park just north of Cochrane aims to reduce conflict between reactive dogs.
The Unleashed Dog Park is a brand new style of park in town.
For $15 users can book an hour at the private one-acre property, owned by Sylwia Ciezar-Andersen. Only one user group is allowed in at a time, with however many dogs they want to bring.
“It’s about one-acre of fully fenced off-leash area, and it includes agility runs for small and large dogs,” she said. “We try to comply with the American Kennel Club’s specifications.”
The front half of the park is where the agility equipment is located, while the back half of the property, separated by a strand of trees and shrubs with a tunnel cleared through them, is a wide-open field perfect for running around and playing fetch.
The park also has a sandbox for digging in, two kiddie-pools to cool off in (for the dogs), and a disposal bin for the dog’s waste.
Ciezar-Andersen said she built the park for her own dog Emma that is a rescue and has over-protective tendencies.
“What inspired me to do this is that I have a very protective dog,” she said. “Since I got pregnant with my son she’s become very protective of me and I haven’t been able to take her to the off-leash dog park.”
She said that having a private space where her two dogs can play together is more comfortable for her and the pups.
“She enjoys being off-leash so much. As long as I can feel comfortable and safe having her there, I think that’s a big thing for me,” she said. “If I take her to the off-leash park, I’m always anxious even if she doesn’t try to protect me from other dogs.”
Keeping the park to one party at a time will give other reactive dogs a space to play and frolic without any chance of conflict.
Once the park was built, she realized that she would not be using it all the time, so she thought she would let others use it as well, Ciezar-Andersen said.
Visitors to the park are able to open the gate, drive on in and close the gate behind them. All park bookings made online, and guests are able to let themselves in when they visit, Ciezar-Anderson said. She added that because the park is set up to minimize contact it is COVID-friendly.
The park officially opened on Saturday (Aug. 15) and is currently taking bookings online.
To book a spot in the park visit UnleashedDogPark.ca/.
