How to Design Dog Runs & Parks

When designing dog runs and dog parks, the property on which the facilities will be located will determine the size and cost. As with any business, you also should acquire all the necessary permits and licenses your city, county and/or state.

Things You'll Need

  • 6-foot tall chain link fencing
  • Double-gated entry
  • Covered garbage cans
  • Garbage bags
  • Pooper scooper stations stocked with bags, poop scoops, sink and paper towels
  • Benches
  • Tables
  • Watering stations and fountains
  • Shade trees
  • Shrubs
  • Pavilions
  • Survey
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Instructions

    • 1

      Get a survey of the property from local survey office. The survey locates the property's boundaries and also tells you how many feet the property lines are in each direction. Make a copy of the survey.

    • 2

      Determine whether you are going to have two separate runs in the dog park--such as one for big dogs and one for small dogs--and, whether the pavilions, tables and benches are going to be within the dog runs or outside the dog runs. Mark the locations of the items on the copy of the survey. Determine where the pooper scooper stations will be located and mark these on the copy of the survey. Mark the locations of the watering stations and water fountains on the survey.

    • 3

      Draw in the fence lines on the survey. Include fence lines for each separate dog run, if there is more than one. If you want the dog runs contained in a perimeter fence, draw the perimeter fence lines on the survey. Write down how many feet of fence will be needed for your particular fencing needs. Draw in the double-gated entries for the dog runs.

    • 4

      Purchase all materials needed to create the physical dog runs and dog park. Begin constructing the fences and pavilions, and setting up the tables, benches and pooper scooper stations.

    • 5

      Create a list of rules for the dog park. Rules should cover dog behavior issues, including aggressive dogs; human behavior, such as cleaning up after the dogs and no littering; vaccination rules for dogs; and other safety rules. Post the rules at the entrance to the park.

    • 6

      Determine whether the park is public or private, has a membership fee or is free. Set up advertising to run in conjunction with the opening of the dog park. Include membership fees in the advertising, hours of operation and other pertinent information that you feel the public should know about your facility.