Older reviews are good, so things must have really gone downhill the last few years. Posting this in September 2024. This dog park has so much potential but like so many other things, the humans ruin it. So many neglectful and ignorant dog owners. I've been coming here off and on for quite a few years and I'd say about 75% of the dog owners either ignore their dogs, or don't know how to distinguish between dog signals for play, nervousness, and aggression.
I've seen people yell at their own and other's dogs for barking while they're playing, completely ignoring their play bows, wagging tails, left sided ear flicks and eye winks, zoomies, and frequent changes in play styles. No hackles raised anywhere. All of these are meta signals that play is happening, and that the growl or bark is essentially trash talking. I've seen people force their dogs to interact with other dogs when they are shaking and hiding between the owner's legs. I've seen people let their dogs h*mp other dogs even though the other dog is snarling and trying to get away. I've seen people crowd together talking so then the dogs crowd together and get nervous because they don't know the other dogs and humans well enough to trust them and then a dog fight ensues. I've seen people bring their takeout and try to eat at the table and then seem surprised that the dogs are interested. I've also seen dogs jump on that table and pee on it. I saw one guy threaten to shoot someone's dog because he didn't like how it played with his dog (no dogs were harmed) and then wait in the parking lot for that dog and their owner. I stayed with the other dog owner until that guy left.
I've essentially stopped taking my dog here because of all these things. Bummer because it's a nice park and it's very close. My 8 year old dog with cancer would love to play with some dog friends with the time she has left, but it's not going to happen here anymore. Is there a friends of Bakerview Dog Park group? Would love to see some signs with QR codes or URL's that link to videos on dog play behaviors. If people are going to stare at their phones instead of observing their dogs anyways, they might as well learn something about how to be a responsible dog owner. read more