Park Rules

For the health and safety of our dogs and everyone who enters the dog park gated area, we have developed the following rules.

Please do not let people or dogs in without key fob. This protects our park.

Owners are legally responsible for their dogs and any injuries caused by their dogs.
Dogs must be leashed prior to and upon leaving the dog park.
Dogs with a history of, or who have exhibited aggressive behavior are prohibited. Immediately leash your dog and leave the park if aggressive behavior is observed.
All dogs must have current rabies shots and all other vaccinations as required by the City of Royal Oak and should be healthy and parasite free.
Puppies under four (4) months old are prohibited.
No people food or dog food is allowed in the park.
Owners must clean up after their dogs and dispose of waste in designated receptacles. No fecal waste may be left in the park.
Anyone under sixteen (16) years old must be accompanied by an adult. Younger children must be closely supervised. For the safety of your children, we do not recommend bringing small children and infants into the dog park.
Each person sixteen (16) years and older may bring no more than three (3) dogs in the park at any time.
Dogs must be supervised and in view of their owner/handler at all times.
The dog park is open from sunrise to sunset, year round.
Female dogs in heat are prohibited from entering the park. Spayed/neutered animals are recommended
Only dog owners or caregivers and dogs listed on an approved CITY OF ROYAL OAK DOG PARK APPLICATION for user privileges may enter the DOG PARK.
Failure to abide by the park rules may result in loss of privileges or owners may be ticketed.

PASSES

One pass is issued per household application.
Passes cost $50.00 for Royal Oak residents and $75.00 for Non-Residents (this includes a one-time $10.00 fob fee).
Replacement for a lost pass is $10.00.
One pass is good for up to three (3) dogs.
Passes can be revoked for any Code of Conduct violation.
Passes must be renewed annually.
Passes are valid until September 30, 2010.
After September 30, 2010 your pass must be renewed.
Pass fees remain the same all year, regardless of when the pass is purchased.
Documentation not indicating the required immunizations or expired dates are not accepted.
The dogs' birth dates are required to verify minimum age requirements.
Owners receiving new or renewed memberships prior to their dog's licenses or shots expiring are responsible to update the above items prior to their expiration.

CODE OF CONDUCT

One of our primary goals is to socialize our dogs to have good manners. We should proactive what we preach and always be considerate of others and YOUR dog park will be an enjoyable, healthy, educational experience for handlers and dogs. In addition to the official dog park rules, here are some other things you should consider to help make your visit to the dog park a success.

Entering the Dog Park

Dogs must be kept on a leash until they have entered the fenced area.
Always open and close the dog park gate carefully.
Do not enter the bull pen area if there is already someone in that area. This will eliminate the possibility of both gates being open at the same time.
Place your dog leash in the bull pen area before entering the unleashed area. Some dogs can feel threatened if they are leashed in the presence of unleashed dogs.
Quickly move away from the bull pen gate as you enter so that your dog will not feel cornered or threatened. This will lessen the problem caused when other dogs, already in the park, come to greet the new arrival, perhaps overwhelming the arriving dog.
Call your dog away from the gates as other dogs are entering or exiting the park.

Children and Dogs - Focus on Safety

While it is recommended, children are welcome - however, child's play is not. Please understand this area is provided for dogs to interact with dogs and that your child could be considered an interruption in dog play.
If you choose to bring your child within the park, you should SUPERVISE VERY CLOSELY!! Playful, unsupervised children and playful, unleashed dogs mixed together could result in injury.
Children should not run, scream or pick up and wave sticks. Running may trigger a dog's natural "prey" response, and it could begin to chase. Even a dog only intending to play may cause harm inadvertently.
Instruct your child NEVER to try to take a toy or food away from a dog. Dogs are very territorial; trying to remove a prized possession could provoke the friendliest of dogs.
Explain to your child that it is unacceptable to grab at a dog. Even the best trained dog can react unfavorably if handled roughly.
Teach your child never to run up to a strange dog, but to approach the dog and owner calmly. Always ask permission of the owner before allowing your child to pet the dog.

General Interaction and Courtesies

Extend common courtesy to all other users.
Dog parks can be a great place to interact with a wide variety of canine friends - however, this also means a variety of temperaments.
Pay attention to your dog's interaction with other dogs. Learn to read and respond to your dog's behavior.
As a part of their normal socialization, dogs will bark, snarl, or even snap at each other. Interfere and stop the behavior if it appears to be escalating.
Immediately stop any aggressive behavior towards humans.
Keep human food out of the enclosure. Dogs may become overly protective or aggressive. A normally well-behaved dog can jump or lunge for food, especially tasty human food, when hungry.
Small dog treats are acceptable (as often used to train a dog); however, long-lasting dog chews should not be brought into the off-leash area.
Please check with the dog's handler before giving the dog a treat. Many dogs are on diets to control their weight and many dogs have food allergies and that treat might make a dog ill.
Please remove choke, prong, or spiked collars once inside the off-leash area. Each of these collar types can result in injury to its wearer, another dog, or a person depending on the situation.
If a choke collar gets hung on something while running, its wearer can become choked.
Some dogs, while playing, like to softly bite the back of another dog's neck. Dogs wearing prong collars receive a much stronger bite during this type of play while dogs wearing spiked collars can inflict injury.
Stay alert! Keep your head on a swivel at all times as groups of dogs will be running around having fun. People standing around are obstructions.
If your pet has a contagious condition, stay away until a Vet has said that there is no danger to other dogs. This includes parasites, influenza, and/or fleas. The "Golden Rule" applies here.
Keep in mind that everyone at the park wants the same thing - socialized dogs that can have fun together.
You'll find that some dogs will never get along. Don't worry. Let's face it, not all humans get along either!

Dog Waste and Care of the Park Space

ALWAYS SCOOP YOUR DOG'S POOP!!! This is the complaint heard most often from opponents of dog park proposals. Bags are provided, use them!
Please help with "Orphan Poop." You will occasionally miss some of your dog's poop and our continued use of this type of public amenity will depend on our control of this issue!
Prevent dogs from digging, chewing or otherwise damaging property.
Dogs should not be allowed on benches or tables; these are for people, not dogs.
Please clean up YOUR park! Trash, cigarette butts and anything else on the ground may end up in a dog's mouth. Before you drop something on the ground, ask yourself, "Would I want my dog to eat this?"