A Dog's Life! Should I Go to Laurel Canyon Dog Park?

Laurel Canyon Dog park is the perfect meeting place for city dogs and valley dogs to meet. They get their masters or doggie parents to drive them up a curvy road till it peaks then valley dogs turn right and city dogs turn left. Keep an eye for the sign it is on the left and then you have to make a sharp left to head down into the mini valley called Laurel Canyon Dog park.

Check out the video. You can see it is a large dog park. There is a very small, timid and small dog section off to the right as you enter. The park has some great shady spots to keep out of the sun. The park is large enough that the human can walk laps with his/her dog if they want to get joint exercise. The park is unsupervised. The limit is 3 dogs to owner.
Laurel Canyon Dog Park, 8260 Mulholland Drive Los Angeles, CA 90046 (818) 769-4415
www.laparks.org/dos/parks/facili...

This dog park has a reputation. I have to be honest.

The negative:

• I have seen over 15 dog fights there. The problem is the owners that go there (some not all) just don't pay attention. So the dogs do what dogs do. I have even seen a greyhound have it leg ripped to shreds by a black Lab that no one seemed to claim after the incident.
• My dog was attacked by a Husky-Shepard mix. The dog picked up my Terrier mutt and shook her by the neck. Not a play move that is a kill move. The owner told me through his thick French accent, that it was my fault. (Because she is a 20 pound dog) He did not apologize and just went back to the picnic tables. I walked up to him took his picture and his dogs. I did so because a number of people told me that his dog had a history of being aggressive. He left. I never saw him or the dog again.
• There are a good number of "wanna be" Hollywood types. You can tell because they are on their cell phones usually yelling their success into the phone for all to hear. There are also real celebrities and Hollywood folks there, too and they usually are quiet and to themselves - not yelling in their cells.
• Some of the owners just stand around and talk. They are not there to play with their dogs but have their dogs play and play unsupervised.
• There is attitude. I won't lie. I have seen it, heard it and had it yelled at me. Here is my thought if you are so super special why don't you have your "help" bring the dog to the park or want don't you own enough property that you don't have to come to the "commoners" dog park.
• During the work week the dog walkers bring in 5 to 15 dogs. There is no way one or two people can watch all those dogs! Mind you the limit is 3.
• When it is hot there are bugs galore and the trash cans really give you a gift of what is in their cans.

The positive:

• There are some real nice folks and dogs there! Yes, it sounds like a contradiction but the are more positive people and dogs there.
• It is a large park
• Free parking
• It is in the middle so valley friends and city friends can meet.
• Great place to throw the bag and for your little pup to run his heart out.
• There are some very nice people and dogs there at the park. It depends on the hour of the day.
• My Terrier has made some very nice friends.
• I have had some really great conversations with some super people as we both watched our dogs play and played with them.
• In the morning it is just plain pretty up there.

My L.A. Now Tip: 1) Don't drink a lot of coffee there are not restrooms for people folk there. 2) Go to the park in the morning if you can. There are less dogs and the owners and dogs in the morning are more cooperative and behaved. 3) Try not to go during the week too few dog walkers with too many dogs. 4) Here is the Ranger's phone number for the park if you need it 323.913.7390. 5)Take doggie bags to pick up your dog's rear end business.