Those of us who live with dogs know that a tired dog is a good dog. And probably a happy dog. Condo life can make robust play a challenge, but people and pups who live at Vantage Pointe will love the fact that they're "this" close to one of San Diego's best dog parks, Nate's Point at Balboa Park.
Nate's Point is a two-acre off-leash area just east of 6th and Laurel on the way to the Prado. The sprawling park is fully fenced and has a water fountain, some picnic benches and tables, and even a supply of poop bags for those who forgot to bring their own. It's grassy, hilly, filled with trees, and, best of all, lots of other dogs for yours to play with.
Dog parks are the perfect place to let your pooch let off some steam and socialize with their kind (and not a bad place for humans to make friends as well), but there's definitely expected etiquette -- and basic common sense -- you should follow so that you'll both make friends and everyone stays safe. Most dog park have posted rules, which you should be sure to follow, but in general, here are some guidelines if you haven't experienced a dog park before:
- Only bring well-socialized dogs. If you have a dog who is fearful, aggressive, or toy possessive, a dog park isn't a good place for your dog to be. You can work with a trainer to bring out the best in your pup before bringing her to a park and unleashing her on others.
- Clean up after your dog. Period.
- Be sure your dog is responsive to you and listens to you. He should come, sit, "leave it" or "drop it" so you can control him when necessary.
- Hopefully, your dog is spayed or neutered. If not, and your girl is in heat, leave her home. It only causes major problems at a dog park. And, you may end up with an unexpected litter of puppies.
- If your dog is usually sociable but having a bad day -- picking on other dogs, not listening to you -- just leash him up and take him out. It's no fun doing the walk of shame, but we've all been there and sometimes it's necessary -- just like with children.
- Make sure your dog is up-to-date on all vaccinations and don't bring a sick dog to play. Don't bring puppies younger than four months. They aren't fully vaccinated and are vulnerable to disease.
- Pay attention to your dog. Don't be one of those folks who unleashes their dog and proceeds to spend half an hour on the phone or goes deep into a book while the dog is unsupervised and wreaking havoc on others. Be sure to keep tabs on what she's doing.
- Keep your dog hydrated. Take her to the fountain for water or bring a water bottle.
- Bring your sense of humor and fun. If you're flinging a Frisbee or ball to your dog and another dog wants to join in, let him. There's no way you can expect to have exclusive play in a park full of pups.
- Leave the treats at home.
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