Top 10 off leash dog parks Calgary
If you are looking for top off leash dog parks Calgary? You are in the right place!
Walking a dog is something every dog parent should be mindful of, and what better place to walk your dog than a dog park? If you’re a resident of Calgary, you’re already at an advantage. Calgary has more than a hundred dog parks, and some are off-leash ones.
In case you’re looking for an off-leash dog park in Calgary but can’t choose from so many, we have some great choices to show you. It’s not enough just to find a place where your dog can walk around without a leash, but there are other factors to consider as well.
In Calgary’s vast park system, about 3,000 acres are dedicated to off-leash dog parks. Whether you’re walking your dog yourself, or getting help from a dog walking service such as Mobile Dog Grooming Calgary, Some of these dog parks would be very beneficial for your canine friend. Let’s take a look!
Top 10 Off Leash Dog Parks in Calgary city
- Nose Hill Park
- River Park
- Rotary Park
- Sue Higgins Park
- Edworthy Park
- Bowmont Off Leash Area
- Tom Campbell’s Hill
- Roxboro Off-Leash Park
- McHugh Bluff Park
- Connaught Park
Nose Hill Park
Park features:
- Hiking trails
- Designated off-leash areas
- Native grassland
- Wildlife
- Washrooms
- Nose Hill Park improvements
Park Information:
- Address: 5620 14th Street NW Calgary, AB T3K 2P6
- Area: 1129 hectares
- Hours: 5 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Nose Hill Park is a municipal park that’s so big, it would take you around four hours to cross it. It has a lot of dog-friendly trails. Most importantly, about one-third of the park is off-leash. It’s an off-leash dog park in Calgary that offers many options and hours to look forward to.
River Park
Park features:
- Designated off-leash areas
- Home of the Cat Margetts Memorial Park “the park within a park,” dog water fountain
Park Information:
- Address: 5139 14 Street Sw Calgary, AB T3E 1P1
- Area: 21 hectares
- Hours: 5 a.m. - 11 p.m.
This dog park has a large off-leash area for dog owners who want their furry children to have fun. With 21 hectares of total area, it’s big enough to keep the possibility of dog fights down. It’s open from 5 in the morning to 11 at the night, so you can take your time walking your dog.
Rotary Park
Park features:
- Spray park
- Picnic tables
- Playground areas
- Washrooms (seasonal)
- Water fountains (seasonal)
- Off-leash area
- Tennis courts (independently operated by the Mount Pleasant Tennis Club)
- Lawn bowling (independently operated)
Park Information:
- Address: 617 1 Street NE Calgary, AB T2E 3B3
- Area: 25.9 hectares
- Hours: 5 a.m. - 11 p.m.
While Rotary Park isn’t as large as Nose Hill or River Park, it is charming in its own way, and offers many interesting and helpful features aside from the off-leash areas, so the dog owners can also have some fun after walking their dog. It’s a relaxing choice out of the dog parks in Calgary.
Sue Higgins Park
Park features:
- Fenced off-leash area
- Deux Chiens Assis – Public Artwork
- Picnic tables
- Pathways & hiking trails
- Adjacent the Bow River
- Washrooms
Park Information:
- Address: Deerfoot Trail and Southland Drive Calgary, AB T2J
- Area: 62 hectares
- Hours: 5 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Sue Higgins Park, formerly Southland Park, lies along the banks of the Bow River in the southeast and is home to the largest fenced off-leash area in Calgary. This park offers the largest expanse of a fenced off-leash dog park in Calgary. The park was established in 1994 and covers about 62 hectares.
Edworthy Park
Park features:
- Playground
- Picnic sites
- Picnic shelters
- Pathways
- Gazebo
- Fire pits and BBQ stands
- Picnic tables
- Benches
- Off-leash areas
- Seasonal washrooms (closed for the season)
- Parking lots (north and south side of river)
Park Information:
- Address: Spruce Dr SW Calgary, AB T3C 3B2
- Area: 169 hectares
- Hours: 5 a.m. - 11 p.m.
All 169 hectares of Edworthy Park are gorgeous and it includes a well-kept off-leash dog park. However, note that the rail tracks that cross the park are areas that you shouldn’t trespass.
Bowmont Off Leash Area
Park features:
- Hiking trails
- Picnic tables
- Designated off-leash areas
- Playgrounds
- Baseball Field (accessible off Silver Hill Rd. N.W.)
- Soccer Field (accessible off Silver Hill Rd. N.W.)
Park Information:
- Address: 8660 Bearspaw Dam Rd NW Calgary, AB T3L 1S4
- Area: 164 hectares
- Hours: 5 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Bowmont Park has off-leash areas across the whole area. If you look at the map, you’ll see that it makes up a long walking trail that you can follow easily. The trail includes benches for the owners and garbage cans so you can dispose of any accidents that happened along the way. With these features, it’s easily one of the best dog parks in Calgary.
Tom Campbell’s Hill
Park features:
- Hiking trails
- Off-leash area
- Interpretive exhibit
Park Information:
- Address: 25 St. George's Dr. NE Calgary, AB T2E 5E4
- Area: 18 hectares
- Hours: 5 a.m. - 11 p.m.
This park, like Sue Higgins Park, also looks over the Bow River. The off-leash dog park is a large part of this park. Some of the off-leash areas are fenced off by chain-link or post and cable fences. The park has a small, but a good example of Rough Fescue Grassland, which is one of this place’s major ecosystems.
Roxboro Off Leash Park
Park features:
- Off-leash area
- Interpretive exhibit
- Designated off-leash areas
- Playgrounds
Park Information:
- Address: 3010 Roxboro Glen Rd SW, Calgary
- Area:
- Hours: 5 a.m. - 11 p.m.
The Roxboro park offers plenty of open space for dogs to run around and play. Some off-leash areas are too narrow and pose the risk of dogs getting into fights with each other. However, there are fewer chances of that happening in Roxboro park. It’s easily one of the best off-leash dog parks in Calgary.
Mchugh Bluff Park
Park features:
- Off-leash area
- Interpretive exhibit
- Designated off-leash areas
- Playgrounds
Park Information:
- Address: Crescent Rd NW & Centre Street N , Calgary
- Area: 27 hectares
- Hours: 5 a.m. - 11 p.m.
This park is a popular destination for commuters, joggers and dog walkers alike due to the serene atmosphere it offers. Note that there’s almost always a crowd, so if your dog isn’t fond of other people or dogs, this might not be the dog park you’re looking for.
Connaught Park
Park features:
- Fenced off-leash area
- Benches
- Picnic tables
- Close proximity to cafes, restaurants, appartment buildings and downtown businesses
Park Information:
- Address: 14th Avenue and 11th Street SW, Calgary
- Area: .3 hectares
- Hours: 5 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Here’s a charming downtown park that also offers a large fenced off-leash dog park. What’s more, there’s a separate area for smaller dogs. If you’re worried that bigger dogs would harm your little one and look for fenced off-leash dog parks in Calgary, this is certainly the park you need to check out.
Dog Walking Benefit
Not only is dog-walking a good exercise for the dog, but it’s also good for the owner – in terms of health.
However, keeping your dog healthy and sprightly isn’t the only benefit that dog-walking offers. Reduces stress, prevents dog obesity, improves digestion, boosts mental and emotional health, strengthens the bond between dog and owner, and lastly, it also helps to tamp down unwanted behavior.
While the best course of action is to walk your dog yourself, sometimes that’s not possible. In those cases, you can at least ensure your dog’s good health by hiring a dog walking service to take your dog walking in one of the off leash dog parks Calgary.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Should I keep my dog on a leash at the dog park?
You should keep your dog on a leash at the dog park. Even when you’re at an off-leash dog park, you should keep the leash close in case there’s an altercation with another dog. If your dog hasn’t undergone basic training, you should keep the leash on even in an off-leash dog park.
How do you introduce a dog to the dog park?
To introduce your dog to a dog park, you need to first make sure they are used to being around other, stranger dogs. First, you should introduce your dog to others via smaller playdates. Then, introduce them to new things and new routes when you walk them.
After than, you can take them to an off-leash dog park in Calgary of your choice. The first time, you should keep your dog on a leash and keep a careful eye on them. Take them off the leash after they’ve been to the dog park a few times and have become comfortable. Try to do this whole process when your dog is relatively young.
How do you introduce a dog to the dog park?
To introduce your dog to a dog park, you need to first make sure they are used to being around other, stranger dogs. First, you should introduce your dog to others via smaller playdates. Then, introduce them to new things and new routes when you walk them.
After than, you can take them to an off-leash dog park in Calgary of your choice. The first time, you should keep your dog on a leash and keep a careful eye on them. Take them off the leash after they’ve been to the dog park a few times and have become comfortable. Try to do this whole process when your dog is relatively young.
How do I stop my dog from fighting at the dog park?
The first step is to make sure your dog is trained and is capable of staying calm in the vicinity of other dogs. Next, make sure you don’t let your dog stay in one place and get into a fight while in the dog park.
Keep your dog moving and move his attention away from other dogs. It’s also good to make sure you’ve picked a large park, as it has more space for a dog to feel comfortable. I would suggest picking one of the fenced dog parks in Calgary to prevent fights.
When can I take my dog to the dog park?
The best time to take your dog to a dog park is when they’re around four months old. That’s when a puppy would usually have all their vaccination done. Make sure the dog has had basic training done by then.
Dog Walking Calgary
Once your dog is properly vaccinated and trained, it’s time to take them on a trip to the dog park. But life doesn’t always go the way you want it to, and you might not have the chance or the time to take your dog walking.
What would you do then? Easy. Hire a dog walking service for Calgary off-leash parks.
While MDGC’s main service is grooming your furry friend to perfection, they also offer dog-walking services. They can take your dog on a walk to any off-leash dog park in Calgary of your choice, like the ones mentioned earlier.
If you’re worried about your dog’s safety, know that Mobile Dog Grooming Calgary’s service is both affordable and professional. Their staff are passionate about dogs and are trained to handle emergency situations. Whether it’s a leash or off-leash park you prefer, they’ve got your back.
Wrapping it up
Now that you know about some of the best off leash dog parks in Calgary and also about a service that can walk your dog for you in these locations, you know how to give your dog a great time! Walking your dog a few times a week is essential for their health, so don’t skip it!