The chain link fence has been installed and the trees are all planted, and the timing could not be more perfect for Robert Leck and his puppy Sky — who just got her final vaccination.
“Right after I got her last shot, I’m like, 'We're going to the puppy park,'” said Leck.
On Oct. 25 the small dog section of Lacombe Lake Dog Park unofficially opened and small-dog owners are pleased.
Leck said he and Sky — a three-and-a-half-month-old border collie and blue heeler mix — are happy the small dogs have a place to go now.
Leck has seen instances of biting and almost fighting in the big dog park.
"I'd say puppy parks are the way to go for little ones, especially her,” he said.
The only issue Leck, who has been going to the park since it unofficially opened, has had with the small-dog park is some of the sections in the fence are a bit higher on the ground and Sky almost snuck through when she was running and went belly up after seeing another dog.
“She like slid and half her body went through under the gate,” said Leck.
Two of the west-facing gates in the small-dog park have yet to be finished. In an email to The Gazette, Cory Sinclair, media relations for the city, said they don’t have an exact date for when the gates will be repaired, but it is expected to be completed within the next few weeks.
It’s the first time Lisa and Jill McGrath have brought their two-year-old American cocker spaniel, Eleanor, to the park.
Lisa said every other dog park they have been to has had a small-dog section and she likes the concept.
“I mean, sometimes it gets a little intimidating when bigger dogs are all rambunctious and they come around and want to play with [Eleanor],” Lisa said.
“You don't have to worry about your little ones getting trampled on,” added Jill.
Lisa said she is also scared of big dogs, so the space is perfect for her as well.
“When they start coming around, I'm just like, ‘Are they going to attack? or, ‘I can't breathe,’” she said.
Brian Kennedy never took his havanese, Mia, to a dog park before the small-dog section was opened in St. Albert because she is just too small.
“If there [are] big dogs around, we can’t have her out … because just a friendly bite is lethal,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy said he has not yet seen any issues at the park. He is, however, hoping the city gets more signs up outside the gate, as some people with big dogs have walked through the park without seeming to notice the park is only for little guys.
The small-dog area is for dogs 11 kilograms (25 pounds) and under.
“The dogs are loving it. They’re much safer here. The owners are really happy with it. We’re not playing a card against some big dogs,” Kennedy said.
Lorna Wiens, who brought her beagles Matilda and Mabel to the park, said she has seen the number of people showing up quadruple since the park unofficially opened.
In the past, Wiens took Mabel to the large dog park and had to take large dogs off of her because of heavy humping. She said there was always something going on.
“So here, it's a totally chill vibe on this side. And yeah, it seems like people pick up after their dogs better on this side, too,” she said.
Wiens is hoping more people find out about the park.
