Fun times with dogs

Are you looking for fun things to do with your dog? Take them to the dog park. It's a cheap and fun way for your dog to socialize and play with other dogs.
One of the local dog parks is located at Sandy Bottom Nature Preserve. The Bark Park is open to members only. The park does this for the safety of your dog and the other dogs who frequent the park. All this means is that you have to sign up with them and pay a $10 fee for the year. I have the inside scoop on how to get in.



First you need to get your dog registered with the county. In York County the fee is $5 every year and they will send you new tags in the mail with a bill each year before it expires. After you have registered your dog with the county take your shot records and the tag number from your county tags to the Nature Center (pictured above). The staff will give you a paper to fill out which asks for your local address, when the shots expire and your dogs county license number. The staff will review your records to make sure your shots are up to date and then they will give you a tag. This tag allows you year long access to the park. All for the low price of $10. Take a quick look at the rules on the gate before you go into the park. This will save you trouble later when the park rangers come by.

There are some fun agility games to play with your dog. Such as the stairs and the crawl hut. There are always balls and other toys for the dogs to fetch and play with. The space is open and there are benches if your dog is more inclined to play alone or with other dogs while you relax. The trees keep the park cooler and the shade is nice especially with all the sun.

If your dog would like to stop in for a drink after hitting the trails there is a fountain in the park. There are a lot of trails to hike if your dog makes it to the park before others show up so have fun and explore! If you don't have a dog you can talk with Sarah about signing a dog out to explore the trails. The dogs love the time you spend with them and they love to get out. They may find their new owner while out on the town. So get out there and have fun!