Jacque (saw your intro also - have I collected freecycle stuff from you with the dog beds?!)

I think its a great idea to have dog parks. The ones in America work very well and are so well used. Its great to see pits and other large dogs running around with each other really happily. I think as long as there are clear rules for OWNERS (!) I would love to take my staffy to one because he loves playing with other dogs. And dogs generally are better off lead. The one I went to in the states you went through a gated area where leads got hung up and by the time you got to the 2nd gate your dog needed to be offlead before going into the park. It was lovely.

I knew it was American straight away, far too clean and sunny to be Essex.

I think you may have, were you collecting for the dog rescue, there were some leads and a doggie cage as well.
The reason i've thought of maybe starting up a doggie park is because i'm walking a gsd x collie at the moment and she doesn't appear to have , had much socialisation , she just doesn't know how to behave around other dogs and often when i'm walking her we don't really meet other dogs, so when we do her hackles go up and she'll have her nose down and be curious but then she'll get to within 2ft and turned round and almost but not quite run off, she is getting better as i have been encouraging her to say hello to other dogs that we occasionally meet (all of them have been social), and the other day we actually continued on a walk with a lady and her two jack russells, and by the time we said goodbye , the doggie i was walking was behaving normally as dogs should do.
I just think what a fantastic thing it would be if i could get a doggie park up and running so that dogs could have a secure socialising place.

likewise........ did you find any in essex uk

Hi Tracyjgiles,
Wow so much has happened since i posted this. not sure where to start, i've been involved in animal rescue for a little over a year now, so not had anytime to do much about a doggie park unfortunatley. But have saved plenty of doggies though, lol. (and rabbits and chickens, lol. ).

i rescued a malamute last august and since then have become heavily involved in rescues to....... Tala isn't too good with other dogs so I was hoping to find an enclosed area for her to stretch her legs of lead........ like you i tend to take in anything that needs rescuing

Did anyone ever find a secure dog area in Essex please

I have just joined this site tonight as I was looking for a dog park in Essex. I got caught with the Essex, New Jersey quote when I googled it. I have a huge Forest Park near me but I am finding it more difficult to let them run off lead with the weather improving and more people turning up to the park. My sons dogs are only 7 months old but the German Shepherd is likely to run up to people out of excitement.

I walk at hainault forest country park and apart from weekends hardly ever see a soul.
I think there's an enclosed field over there too, haven't been that way lately but if you follow the cinder path down towards havering atte bower there is a fully fenced field on your left.
I'll check it out next time I'm over there to be sure.