Upon arriving in Fort Collins last summer, we rented a teeny two bedroom while we were still paying a mortgage on our unsold house (sound familiar to anyone these days?). Just East of Hughes Stadium lays a land of rentals—affordable, but cramped, and without fenced yards. So, our pooches, pried from their home on a third of an acre in the country, were forced to spend their existence being walked. Can you imagine? Walked on leashes. Oh, the incaninity. Sure, they also got to (illegally) romp every once in awhile in the grassy “parking lot” of Hughes Stadium—like a few other brave dogs, but that was often cut short by Scout making a run for home (leash-free) toward the Frogger-like, massive street, Overland Trail.

Guilty dog owners, recognizing our folly of expecting Australian Cattle Dog Mixes to survive on walks alone, decided to drive Scout and Zooey to the dog park.

The Dog Park was a wake up call for these often-bratty mutts. All the rules they had learned in the “country” and in our home were scoffed at by the dogs of the dog park. Every dog bigger than Scout quickly informed him of the rules; “Hey, man, you think you can put your paws on my back just cause you’re so small? I don’t think so, buddy.” SNAP. To our surprise, it was not the other dogs that ultimately let us know that Scout was not really welcome or appreciated. Dog owners rarely found any humor in his approach to get to know their dogs. Many let us know, in not-so-subtle ways, that Scout needn’t teach their dogs any rules. He really wasn’t the cute class clown we found him to be. Meanwhile, poor little Zooey trotted around happily wondering why her brother was such a numbskull.

It should be noted that the Spring Canyon Dog Park is really quite a remarkable tribute to our canine friends. Adequately spacious, with all the amenities one would desire (poop bags, trash receptacles, benches, water fountain, good views). They even thought to include smaller pens for shy and small dogs. Two other dog parks, Soft Gold and Fossil Creek, also await your well-behaved dogs.

Alas, our old home sold and we immediately got into our midtown home—complete with a HUGE fenced yard.

Spring Canyon Dog Park
[where: W Horsetooth Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80526]

Soft Gold Dog Park
[where: 520 Hickory Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524]

Fossil Creek Dog Park
[where: 821 South Lemay Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80524]