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Here are five reasons why Fido makes the best date this Valentines Day!Valentines Day will come and go but the love you have for your furry family member will last fur-ever. Kick Cupid to the curb today and show how blessed you are to have an ever-loyal dog that showers you with affection 365 days a year. - No fights, no arguments, no breakups… just pure unconditional love. Your dog will even adore you if you don’t bother showering! It’s more than just puppy love. Once you have their heart, you have it fur-ever! - Dog slobber is soooo cute. Trust us, human slobber is not! - You don't have to share dessert with your dog (perhaps, you shouldn’t anyway). There's no way you'll feel guilty about cramming all the Valentine’s Day sweets in your belly, It’s bad for your Fido anyway! So that tempting torte is all for you, all the wine too, its perfect! - When your pup follows you around, it’s the cutest thing you’ve ever seen. Am I right? Do you know what’s not cute? If a date becomes clingy and tags along with you… you know that what it is …stalking. - Did we mention dogs don’t talk? We could elaborate, but we can all agree that this is a good thing. Valentine’s Day means more than just romance for dog people. It’s a chance to celebrate the love of all kinds, together with the love you have for dogs. Posts Tagged ‘bark park’Pawty Time: Dog Park FundraisingWednesday, September 11th, 2019 Whether you’re raising money for a brand-new dog park or would like to make improvements to an existing park, there are tons of fun ideas for dog park fundraising! All pet owners want a safe place for their pups to socialize and the right kind of event can rally an entire community. Here are some ideas sure to get tails wagging and people smiling…and donating! Costume ContestsWhat’s better than a dog in a costume? Lots of dogs in costumes! No matter what time of year, costume contests are a fun way to get involved and dress their pups in wild outfits. You can monetize the contest by suggesting a donation upon entry and giving away prizes donated by local businesses. Add to the excitement by inviting notable people in your community to judge! Dirty Dogs!Ask any pet parent, and they’ll tell you bath time can be a challenge. Not many of us like to get sudsy with our dogs, even though we love having a clean pooch in the house. Why not capitalize on this and include a dog wash at your event? Contact mobile groomers in your area and ask them if they would like to volunteer their services or be an event sponsor. This idea is of course geared for warmer months, so nobody gets the post bath shivers! C Is For CookieOne thing that humans and dogs have in common is our shared love of food! We can’t get enough chocolate chip cookies, and our pups go bananas over liver and other stinky treats. Please everyone at your fundraiser with goodies for humans and dogs. This gives you two sources of revenue for your new park! You can either call on talented bakers in your organization or recruit human and dog bakeries to donate. Make sure to keep the dog and people treats separate to avoid any unexpected vet bills! Ruff RaffleA dog themed raffle or silent auction is a great way to get fundraiser attendees to open their wallets for your dog park. For a silent auction, you can offer goods and services (dog walking, grooming, photography, pet massage, etc) donated by local businesses and sponsors. It’s a good idea to have items at different price points so anyone can participate regardless of budget. Gift baskets are also a popular choice, and they can be filled with gourmet food/wine, pet-specific products, event tickets or spa/hotel getaways. Tags: bark park, community event, dog costume contest,
dog costumes, dog grooming, dog park, dog park event,
dog park fundraising, dog treats, dog wash, event planning,
mobile grooming, pet grooming, pet treats, pet wash,
raffle ideas Fido Fun: Dog Park Events for Apartment CommunitiesFriday, May 11th, 2018 Fido fun! It’s true – apartment communities have gone to the dogs. As the trend towards pet friendly housing continues to grow, property management companies are going out of their way to feature both dog friendly amenities and housing offers to attract families with pets. Here are some great dog park event and “pawty” ideas that your four-legged and two-legged residents are sure to love. Yappy Hour: People are busy, and sometimes it’s not easy for residents to meet each other. Yappy Hours are a fun way to get human and dog residents mixing and mingling. Dogs are the perfect conversation ice breaker, which helps even shy residents come out of their shell. Hosting is fun and easy, and best of all, this event will have a ton of interest. Hold your Yappy Hour at your bark park (or community room if you don’t have a bark park). Offer wine and other traditional happy hour beverages along with appetizers for the humans, and dog treats and water for the pups. You may even want to partner with a local pet store who would attend and serve their own dog treats for free! Pet stores would love to spread brand awareness to potential customers at your community. Yappy Hours give a lot of bang for the buck when it comes to forming lasting friendships among your human and K9 residents. Doggy Olympics: If your apartment has dog agility equipment, you know how much fun pooches have playing on it. Why not host an agility contest to see who’s top dog? Give your residents enough time to practice with their dogs and then set a date to show off their skills. You can even rearrange your agility course with our portable Eco Dog products. Judging the agility contest doesn’t have to super serious – consider having medals for “Most Enthusiastic”, “Most Creative”, and “Most Distracted”. And if you really wanted to have fun with it, you could have a very special medal for the pooch who just can’t hold it…like this champ! Puppy Pool Party: If your apartment community has a pool, there is most likely a “NO DOGS ALLOWED” sign nearby. But that could change for one, glorious day of the year. Many municipal pools allow dogs right before they’re drained for winter closures or regular maintenance. Apartment communities can do the same thing! If your community has a seasonal pool, invite your doggy residents for a dip the day before closing. It will be an event pet parents will look forward to all year! Make sure to supply lots of water resistant dog toys and balls for an extra good time. It’s good idea to advise pet owners to bathe their dog after swimming in chlorinated water to ensure healthy skin and if you might need a pet wash station to prevent bathing in bathtubs or sinks, we’ve got you covered! Classes: Healthy pets make happy pets, which is why dog CPR and first aid are so important for pet owners to be familiar with. Many guardians have never had the opportunity to learn animal CPR from a professional and would be thrilled to attend one held in their apartment complex. Use your community room as ground zero for these classes; dogs don’t need be in the class but will benefit greatly from their human companions attending. You can find dog first aid and CPR professionals in your area by searching on Pet Tech. Another wonderful class to hold in your bark park is basic obedience. An apartment community that is populated by dogs with good manners will make life easier for everyone. Residents will be so happy to attend with their dogs, teach them new tricks, and achieve better puppy manners. You can find certified trainers in your area who would love to come and share their knowledge through The Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Need more ideas? Check out our Pinterest page. Tags: apartment living, bark park,
dog, dog agility, dog behavior, dog CPR, dog
grooming, dog park events, dog park tips, dog safety, dog training,
multifamily, pet health, pet wash, pool party,
yappy hour Ode to a Fire HydrantMonday, January 29th, 2018 Have we mentioned before that we really love what we do? If not, here goes: We love dogs. We love dog parks. We love being able to help improve the quality of life for people and their pets. Seriously pinching ourselves over here. That being said, we also think dog parks are fun, so designing dog parks and pet products is pretty darn fun too. That’s why we launched our “Ode to a Fire Hydrant” poem contest last month. We asked our customers and fans to put on their creative thinking caps, and write some prose about the relationship between a dog and a fire hydrant for a chance to win a FREE custom Fire Hydrant. We refer to a Fire Hydrant as the “office water cooler” of the dog park and were curious if there were any other analogies. Sure enough, everyone delivered! Read on for some dog park-themed poetry… Winning Poem from Burton Carol Management: Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, Residents with four legs, truly matter too. That is why we create, an area to play, So our furry loved ones, can enjoy the day. Complete with fire hydrants that are red, causing people to smile Our fenced in Bark Parks, keep pets happy for awhile. So choose one of our properties, where our furry pets rule. And visit one of our dog parks, which are incredibly cool! ___________________ Runner Ups: Roses are red, Violets are blue, I am Scruffy, I eat, sleep & poo! Our dog park needs a fire hydrant, So I can piddle too! If we win, We’d definitely say thank YOU! ___________________ Roses are Red Violets are Blue Dogs need to run Pups need to play Isn’t that their job? Just to make our day! By: Friends of Ellicott Island Bark Park ___________________ Roses are Red Violets are Blue Dog-On-It Hydrants Are better than Scooby-Do’s _________________ Roses are red violets are blue My dog chews on everything, Especially my shoes. She really can’t help it, As soon as she’s smelt it, That shoe she must have, Good luck trying to grab. She runs and she plays, My shoes I must save! She’s fast and she’s wily, My silly girl, Riley. ***Disclaimer, this is based on the true story of our shoe snatching shelter dog.*** ______________________ If you’d like a chance to win free dog park products, be sure to follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, and sign up to receive our monthly newsletter! Tags: bark park, dog, dog park, dog park fire hydrant,
dog park fun, dog-on-it, dogs, fire hydrant,
four-legged, pet, pets, pups, replica fire
hydrant The Essentials of a Good Dog Park – Guest Blog by ResManTuesday, July 19th, 2016 While multifamily properties are high in demand for a wide mix of renters, they have an unexpected demographic to cater towards. As more residents move into these developments, their pets are coming with them. Residents in the multifamily setting enjoy convenience and helpful amenities, but when looking for a new community, a good dog park is quite the deal breaker. To accommodate residents and their furry friends, properties must adapt to be more pet-friendly. Making this shift will make your development more attractive to renters and keep current tenants (and their beloved pets) happy. We sat down with Nora VandenBerghe, the Sales & Marketing Manager of Dog-On-It Parks to learn just how to set your community apart with pet-friendly playgrounds. Why Are Dog Parks Essential in Multifamily?Dog parks have the versatility to entertain all age groups, making it the perfect meeting ground in the multifamily arena. In 2015, the millennial generation surpassed the baby boomer generation as the largest cohort in history with 75 million members. This generational shift means a shift in lifestyles, attitudes, and mindsets. Since millennials are waiting longer to have kids, they in turn, become parents to their dogs and are willing to spend more money on their dogs than ever before.
The point? This is a gold mine industry your development can take advantage of. According to Pet Food Industry, 57 percent of millennial households own a pet and 39 percent plan on owning a pet in the future. Dog parks have an incredible experiential value for residents that rival other popular amenities. In addition, there is a great social aspect associated with pet parks since dogs act as great icebreakers and conversation starters. What’s your puppy’s name? How long have you had her? Is she a social dog? It’s a great way to meet fellow neighbors and build a connected community. How Can a Dog Park Fit Into My Property?Avoiding the 15-minute drive to a local dog park and simply walking outside to play with your dog is a definite luxury, but most developments have limited space to build a full on park. This is where you can get creative. Dog parks are a lucrative investment for developers. VandenBerghe points out that it’s actually cheaper to build a dog park than a children’s playground… and it serves a larger audience. Companies like, Dog-On-It Parks, work with developments from start to finish when creating a dog park. Either they can help to build one from scratch or implement one after the complex is already built. By working directly with property managers, they find the best place to build a park, and they can get pretty innovative. VandenBerghe says she has seen it all. Communities are beginning to convert tennis courts, parking lots, parking garages, and open green-belt areas into dog parks. What We’re Seeing in Dog Park TrendsPlanning a good dog park is just as important as planning well-developed apartments. You must think of safety and how to accommodate dogs and people of all shapes and sizes. The best dog parks are those that provide amenities and equipment that make it fun for both the dogs and their owners. Every dog park is unique to the community, so capture the atmosphere of your development and reflect it in the park. This is the fun part. Dog-On-It Parks manufactures all equipment within the U.S. and customizes the equipment to each customer. They strive to reinforce your brand on their products by customizing the products, creating a color theme to match the community, and engraving names and logos on the equipment. The tail-friendly equipment is endless, but the most popular equipment pieces are one that incorporate agility. This gives residents something to do alongside their dogs, instead of sitting in the background on their phones.
Along with agility equipment, water features are always a huge hit in parks. Try to find a water line nearby to build your park around. This adds a fun and convenient element. According to VandenBerghe, “We build pet fountains to play in, spray fire hydrants, and water stations so residents don’t have to lug water to the park.” Get as creative as you want with your dog park, but keep in mind these fundamental aspects all dog parks should have:
How Dog Parks Benefit Property ManagersInvesting in a dog park offers many benefits to your property, but the biggest are new potential residents and increased resident happiness — leading to retention.
An apartment with pets can be chaotic if property managers do not provide ways to accommodate the pets. Providing an outlet for pets to exercise on a daily basis reduces the chaos sprung from restless animals within the units. In other words, less noise complaints caused from neighbors annoyed by the barking dog next door. VandenBerghe stresses that there is also a lot of responsibility placed on the property manager. Managers need to do their best to educate owners about dog park rules and city regulations. Just like a playground, liability falls on the manager. Be proactive about possible issues that can arise and know how to handle them. For example, waste clean up is the top issue in dog parks. VandenBerghe suggests providing waste pick-up stations around the park stocked with bags for residents to easily use. Ultimately, it is up to the pet parent to know if their dog is a good fit for a park, but some owners may not know what behavioral signs to look out for.
Since a dog park is a great socializing scene, take advantage of this as a property manager! Create monthly socializing events centered around the dogs, such as puppy playdates or Yappy Hours. Dog parks are a great way for property managers to build a strong community. Everyone loves to bond over common interests and this is especially true for pet lovers. Tags: agility equipment, apartment living,
bark park, dog, dog agility, dog obedience,
dog park, dog park advice, dog park design, dogs,
good dog, multifamily, pet trainers, pet-friendly,
property management, property managers, puppy, puppy playdates,
yappy hour Dog Park Etiquette: The Do’s and Don’tsTuesday, May 3rd, 2016 As dog park enthusiasts, we know that running and playing off-leash improves the quality of life for our furry friends. Here are some etiquette tips to help ensure a fun, safe, and happy visit.
Most importantly, do a little research before you go to the park. Does your dog need to be spayed or neutered? Are kids welcome? Are there breed restrictions or any fees or license requirements? Make sure you know the rules beforehand, so combined with your new etiquette knowledge, you and Fido can make the most out of your time together. Thank you for reading! If you have any more questions about dog park etiquette, please don’t hesitate to ask. Woof woof! Tags: agility equipment, bark park, dog,
dog agility, dog behavior, dog breeds, dog health,
dog obedience, dog park, dog park equipment, dog park rules,
dog park tips, dog play, dogs, off-leash,
off-leash area, pet health A-Frame: A Dog Agility ClassicThursday, April 7th, 2016 The A-Frame is a traditional piece of agility equipment; it’s fun for dogs of all shapes and sizes. Now, not all dogs are natural climbers so it is important not to push them past their comfort level. Using treats, praise and positive reinforcement to encourage your dog can also be helpful! According to Pet Expertise there are four types of treats that work best and are healthy options for your dog. They recommend using regular dog kibble, cheese, chicken, and chopped veggies as healthy alternatives to dog biscuits or cookies. There are several important differences between our A-Frame and others. First of all, ours is not as steep. We think all dogs should be able to safely and comfortably play on our equipment! When an A-Frame is too steep and/or too narrow, it’s not only unsafe, it will discourage dogs from using the equipment again if they lose their footing or feel they need to jump off the side. With that in mind, our A-Frame is only three feet high at the peak with an extra wide width of 38”. Another important consideration is the angle of the ramp; traditional (professional) dog agility requires it to be a very steep 98 degrees for large dogs and 104 degrees for the smaller pups. By design, our A-Frame is only 43 degrees, so about half as steep. This helps to ensure that any pooch, whether an agility champ or a novice, can feel like a top dog once they conquer the ramp. One last word of warning, if a dog park company says they are using AKC or USDAA standards for their equipment, be careful! It’s always a much safer bet to install recreation level equipment in a public park. Our A-Frame is also coated with PawsGrip™, our exclusive highly textured material designed for maximum slip resistance. Other products may have rubber or textured polyethylene. Neither of these are really suited for the use a dog park sees, and the surface can crumble, degrade or crack quite easily. However, PawsGrip™ is made from the same materials used in truck bed liners, and provides a more stable and sturdy texturized surface that is super durable and holds up under frequent use and all weather conditions. So remember when comparing dog park agility equipment, we don’t just offer the widest range of products you will find, but also the safest and highest quality. Dog parks are essential in bringing your community together and sourcing safe equipment with a lifetime warranty will guarantee a long lived (and loved!) place for all the pooches and their people to play! Tags: a-frame, agility equipment, bark park,
dog, dog agility, dog biscuits, dog kibble,
dog obedience, dog park, dog park equipment, dog parks,
dog play, dog training, dog treats, PawsGrip,
pooch, positive reinforcement, recreation Pet-Friendly HousingFriday, March 6th, 2015 There’s been a huge trend with multifamily communities becoming more pet friendly, but what about the pet guardians who are renting? We thought it might be helpful to create a list with some tips for pet parents. 1. A Healthy Pup is A Happy Pup: As with any public place where dogs interact with one another on a regular basis, it is important for pet owners to ensure that their pups are all up to date on their shots. Oftentimes multifamily communities can have pretty tight quarters when it comes to designated pet relief areas. Keeping your pup properly vaccinated can help prevent the spread of disease or illnesses through pet waste and/or coming into contact with other resident’s pets. Many communities now require proof of vaccination with the rental agreement, but even if your community does not, your pup’s long term health is important too, right? 2. Scoop Your Poop: As mentioned above, failing to pick up after your pet can result in the spread of disease from a neighbor’s dog to your furry friend. Although your coprophagic dog might convince you otherwise, poop from the new French Bulldog next door does NOT make the best treat in town! Pollution issues aside, it’s just not neighborly to leave your pet’s waste behind for Tammy in 3B to step in on her way to work. So make sure you know where the pet waste pick up stations in your community are located and even better? Carry extra bags with you – your neighbors will appreciate it! 3. Mind Your Manners: Mark Twain said it best, “Heaven goes by favor; if it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in”. But…only if your dog is well behaved! A little obedience training can go a long way in not only strengthening your relationship with your dog, but also lets your neighbors know you’re a responsible pet owner. Dogs, much like humans, need parameters around acceptable behavior. Once they know what’s expected (positive reinforcement with praise & treats can help!) and can behave appropriately, everyone benefits. 4. Respect Thy Neighbor’s Sleep: Even if you are a dog owner yourself and understand occasional barking, it’s never fun to listen to a dog singing you the song of his people while you’re trying to catch up on much needed beauty sleep. Making sure your pup is entertained during the day (doggy daycares or dog sitters/walkers are a great solution!) and giving them plenty of exercise in the evening will help to burn excess energy and reduce nuisance barking. Woof! 5. Pet Friendly Perks: In today’s competitive housing market, many communities are offering some great perks for both you and your pup! Keep an eye out for a community that truly welcomes your pet and offers features such as dog grooming stations, pet relief areas, water fountains and best of all, a dog park on site. 6. Dog Parks Are A Must: Finding an apartment community with its own dog park is a win-win. You have the opportunity to meet other residents you might not normally have connected with and if the park has some fun agility equipment, your dog can get some much needed exercise! Having easy access to an off leash area will make life much more enjoyable for your pup and if your community plans events at the dog park such as Yappy Hour, Howl-O-Ween or even obedience training, it can be just as much fun for you. We hope these tips help make apartment living even better for both you and your furry family members! Feel free to contact us anytime for expert guidance on all things dog park. Tags:
apartment living, bark park, dog, dog agility,
dog health, dog obedience, dog park, dog park advice,
dog park equipment, dogs, multi-family, multifamily,
pet health, pet-friendly Dog Park Design Considerations: Large & Small Dog AreasTuesday, February 10th, 2015 As dog parks continue to grow in popularity, the debate on whether or not the dog park design should separate the little guys from large dogs has started to gain a lot of attention, so we’d put in our two paws, err, cents worth. Here at Dog-ON-It Parks, we have designed and outfitted dog parks in all shapes and sizes. Our verdict? Space permitting, we feel it’s safer all around to have separate large and small dog areas. The separation helps ensure that both the dogs and their owners are able to enjoy their time at the park and also provides an opportunity to meet the needs of all park users, regardless of the size of their pets. This alleviates the need to have requested time slots for big or small dog play time and can also help to maintain the peace, so to speak. An important consideration in establishing separate areas is also providing clear communication in regards to the size restrictions for each area. Posting dog park rules and signs like these is an easy and affordable way to help make sure everyone is on the same page.
The magic words “Go for ride?” are sure to excite any pooch, especially if they know where they’re going and sometimes that excitement may be too much for a dog new to the park, or just a dog that is a little less confident. And when you add size to the equation? It’s even more challenging. Large and small dogs often have different play styles and different breeds have distinct (and often humorous!) personality traits which can factor in as well. Even unintentionally, big dogs can end up injuring a smaller pup because they just aren’t aware that there’s a little guy running around with them. Also, if a scuffle does happen to break out, having a more even playing field from the get go can possibly save a dog’s life. This concept is also ideal for shy or timid dogs. The smaller area is often calmer and less overwhelming than the larger area would be with four big dogs hurtling towards you and your pooch to greet you. Starting out in the small and/or shy dog area of the park is a great way to introduce your pup to the dog park in a more neutral environment, so they can have a positive experience. Sometimes due to space or budget considerations, it isn’t feasible to separate the pack so here are some suggestions to promote a safe and fun environment for everyone: 1. Always supervise your dog. Interested in more dog park design tips and expert advice? Sign up for our newsletter, follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook. Woof! Tags: bark park,
big dogs, dog agility, dog breeds, dog park, dog park advice, dog park design, dog park equipment, dog park expert, dog park rules,
dog park tips, dog safety, dogs, large dog area, off-leash, off-leash area, pet park, pet safety, pet-friendly,
pooch, shy dogs, small dog area, small dogs Pet Parking 101Monday, January 19th, 2015 Have you ever seen someone tying their dog up to all varieties of objects such newspaper dispensers, chairs or café tables? Often times, these aren’t exactly the safest way to secure your pet (if you’ve seen Marley & Me, you’ll know why!)…especially when they’re not meant to hold a 70 pound dog who just spotted the cutest little squirrel across the street that they just have to play with – right this second. One of our favorite solutions at Dog-On-It-Parks is our Pet Parking Post, specifically designed to give you an extra hand while you juggle your coffee, sweatshirt, ball thrower, bag or just a wily canine. The vibrant colors and laser cut paw print offer a fun pop of color and the two hitching arms accommodate both standard and retractable leashes. Even better? It’s manufactured with heavy gauge (and rust resistant!) aluminum that is secured with concrete so you can feel confident knowing your pooch won’t pull it over if that pesky squirrel happens to run by again. Our Pet Parking Post is compact and can be easily installed almost anywhere. It’s perfect for tying up your pet while you make a quick run inside the grocery or pet store, community center, property management office or even at the bank. From being a cute talking point that people notice on their way into your business or dog park, installing Pet Parking Posts throughout your community helps to create an environment where everyone is welcome, either with two or four legs. Tags: bark park, dog agility, dog health,
dog park, dog park equipment, dogs, pet park,
pet safety, pet-friendly |