Thousands of dog owners are discovering the simple pleasures of our Peachtree City Dog Park.  A well-run dog park will make owning a dog more manageable, providing stimulation and exercise for your pet, decreasing destructive habits and anxiety at home. 

Your goal as a dog owner should be to have a happy, well-behaved pet that exhibits a high degree of social ability around dogs and humans.  Our Dog Park will help you achieve that goal.

The Peachtree City Dog Park Association (PTCDPA) was created to operate and manage the park, and we want you to get the utmost enjoyment from the venue.  Here are some tips for gettin g the most out of your visits to the park.

Dogs Are Like People
Remember that dogs have different personalities just like humans.  Some dogs are extremely shy while others go around kissing and jumping on everyone in the park.  Some dogs cannot wait to play with other canines while others prefer only the human contact. 

A considerable percentage of the dogs at our park are shelter or rescued dogs, usually taking some time to adjust to the off-leash park environment.

The important thing is to understand what type of dog you have and take that into consideration when introducing your dog to the park.

Training: A Dog’s Best Friend
If you want a dog that is a joy to own and that others will admire, take dog training seriously.  The two key elements a family needs to properly train a dog is time and consistency.

In a dog park setting, it is important for a dog to obey its owner.  Obedience means the owner can issue a voice command for the dog to cease bad behavior and the dog will respond.  Obviously, puppies and adolescent dogs require patience and will come around eventually if the owner is consistent.

You can go to dog training classes or buy a good book on the subject.  Many park patrons pick-up training methods from other dog owners who use the park.

Big Dog, Big Responsibility
Training that big dog to walk on a leash will make your time with your pet more enjoyable.  Remember, those things you do not mind when your large breed dog is a puppy, the biting, pulling and jumping, can be a major problem as they grow larger.

We have seen some untrained large breed puppies who were amusing, but the amusement turned into irritation and exasperation when the dogs reached 40 lbs. or more.

If you have a pit bull that does not respond to your voice commands, please do not bring that dog to the park until you have complete control of the animal.

Many dogs that end up in animal shelters or rescue groups are pets that were simply never trained, causing owner frustration and pet abandonment.

Don’t Be Intimidated
It is important to remember that you will be in a park full of “dog people,” and they understand what you are going through. 

If you are having a problem with your dog jumping up on people, ask the other owners in the park to help you by saying “down” and keeping the dog off.  A little cooperation goes a long way.

On the other end of the spectrum, remember it will take shy dogs a little longer to feel comfortable in the Dog Park.  We have seen many dogs come out of their shyness as owners continue to bring them.

Communicate With Other Dog Owners
Sometimes a group of young dogs playing can get a little overheated.  The simple solution is for each dog owner to take responsibility for his/her dog, acting in a spirit of cooperation.

In nearly every instance, following owner intervention, the dogs will go back to routine play.

Spay And Neuter
Having your dog spay or neutered will help it safely enjoy the park. In males, neutering reduces male territorial instinct. Likewise, a female dog in heat will inevitably cause confrontation between males who have not been fixed.

Avoid Risks
Before even thinking of visiting our Dog Park, make sure your dog's vaccines are current. If your dog ever appears lethargic or ill, cancel the trip to the park.

No Food In The Park
Dogs have a strong sense of smell and those treats in your pocket are going to be noticed.  Once you have been identified as carrying treats, some dogs will constantly annoy you.  In some cases, introducing treats to dogs at the park can set off fighting amongst them.

When To Come On The First Visit
Generally, you will want to introduce your dog to the park at the times when there are fewer dogs.  Weekends are not the best time to familiarize your dog to the new environment.

Normally, early mornings or middle of the day on week days is the best time to bring your dog for the first visit.  Even if there are no other dogs present, the visit will allow your dog to get used to the park and take in the numerous scents.

Keep An Eye On Your Small Children
It is important to recognize the Dog Park is not your back yard.  Your dog is accustomed to having its head grabbed and ears pulled by your toddler, but that could initiate a hostile response in other dogs.

Always keep your small children close by and do not let them wander into groups of large dogs.

A pair of large dogs running and playing in the park, not paying attention to anything around them, can deliver a severe blow to an unattended small child wandering in the park.  We want your family to have a safe experience at the Dog Park, so watch out for your little ones.

Children should not run in the park as dogs will begin chasing them thinking it's play.

Children under the age of ten-years should always be within arms reach a parent or guardian.

Tennis Balls Only

Do not bring any stuff toys, squeaky toys, Frisbees or ball smaller than a tennis ball. Most of the previously mentioned items get destroyed quickly and then become a choking hazard.  The dog park is a "neutral" area so please leave your dog's toys at home.  If the park is crowded, playing fetch can cause some problems as multiple dogs scuffle over ball.

We Supply The Bags, You Pick Up The Poop
There is a large supply of bags available on site.  All we ask is that you pick up after your dog and discard the bag into one of the two blue trashcans at the park entrance.  If you do not pick up after your dog, you will be asked to leave.

Pay The Annual Membership Fee
If we fail to keep the Dog Park going financially, there will not be a park at all.

Let the park go without financing and when the tree falls and crushes the fence, with no funds to replace it, we do not have an off-leash park any longer.  Without an association to manage things like weed control (Yes, we spend 70% of our time on non-chemical weed control), mulch delivery/spread and maintenance, the Dog Park would quickly turn into a weed infested, run down mud hole.

If you use it, help pay for it.

You will be required to pay $1 per visit at the gate if you do not pay the annual membership.

Questions, Concerns or Comments
Always feel free to contact the association officers in the CONTACT section of this web site if you ever have questions or comments.

Enjoy!