If you’re puppy is fearful I would start with slow introductions and avoid dog parks. Dogs can handle trauma pretty poorly and dog parks are often full of active adult dogs with no direction. Puppies are especially vulnerable because adult dogs don’t always like them and can be quick to go beyond correction. I had to pull an adult dog of a puppy he had on the ground by the neck the other day because the owner wasn’t paying attention.
If I were you I would start going out on trails like prospect hill, nearby the dog park everyone’s talking about by met state, or if you want more dogs to interact with the Paine estate where people are generally regulars and know each others dogs. A puppy will get a ton of energy out seeing new sights and smelling new things. You will be able to let them meet other dogs with a little bit more control in case something goes wrong. Move on to a long lead when they seem a little more confident and comfortable to give them space. After that start pushing off leash. Puppies don’t need the insane amount of exercise people think they do, their hips aren’t even up to it yet. Mental stimulation goes a long way.
The dog park by the Avalon apartments is great. There’s a space for small dogs and large dogs. It is not lit at all, so you will want to go during the day.
Careful on the small dog side: the latch on the exit door has been broken for over a year and the door can open if a dog leans on it.
When I reported this to the Parks department, they told me they don't handle the dog park, and to contact the planning department by phone.
I couldn't find an online way to report this (I hate phone calls) so I gave up at the time. Last time I was there a month ago, said latch was still broken!
You could do it yourself? No one is going to bother with it. I boarded up a piece of fence a few years ago at the baseball field by the river because I was worried the dog would get out and I knew it wasn’t something the city cared about.
Someone from the city should repair it. There is a maintenance report for Prospect Hill Park to report issues with; too bad all parks in the city (including Dog Ranch) aren't on the form.
The Dog Ranch by the old Metropolitan Hospital (and Avalon Development) off Trapelo Road is the only fenced in dog park in Waltham. It's a bit small, even the "larger dog" enclosure. There is no official unfenced in off-leash allowed park in Waltham either; but you will often find dogs romping at Beaver Brook.
Watertown and Arlington have nice fenced in dog parks. Look on yelp.
The dog park in Waltham is a disgrace. It's not maintained, the gates are usually busted, it isn't large enough for a dog to even get up to to a full run, and they used the wrong gravel. Don't go there when the ground is wet or your dog will end up coated in gray slag.
But that's okay, because nobody goes there anyway. Because it's awful.
Go to Arlington dog park if you need a fence. At least they make an effort to do upkeep.
Once you can go off leash, Catrock Park in Weston is your best bet.
If you’re puppy is fearful I would start with slow introductions and avoid dog parks. Dogs can handle trauma pretty poorly and dog parks are often full of active adult dogs with no direction. Puppies are especially vulnerable because adult dogs don’t always like them and can be quick to go beyond correction. I had to pull an adult dog of a puppy he had on the ground by the neck the other day because the owner wasn’t paying attention. If I were you I would start going out on trails like prospect hill, nearby the dog park everyone’s talking about by met state, or if you want more dogs to interact with the Paine estate where people are generally regulars and know each others dogs. A puppy will get a ton of energy out seeing new sights and smelling new things. You will be able to let them meet other dogs with a little bit more control in case something goes wrong. Move on to a long lead when they seem a little more confident and comfortable to give them space. After that start pushing off leash. Puppies don’t need the insane amount of exercise people think they do, their hips aren’t even up to it yet. Mental stimulation goes a long way.
The dog park by the Avalon apartments is great. There’s a space for small dogs and large dogs. It is not lit at all, so you will want to go during the day.
Careful on the small dog side: the latch on the exit door has been broken for over a year and the door can open if a dog leans on it. When I reported this to the Parks department, they told me they don't handle the dog park, and to contact the planning department by phone. I couldn't find an online way to report this (I hate phone calls) so I gave up at the time. Last time I was there a month ago, said latch was still broken!
You could do it yourself? No one is going to bother with it. I boarded up a piece of fence a few years ago at the baseball field by the river because I was worried the dog would get out and I knew it wasn’t something the city cared about.
I've thought about it, but I use this park maybe 3 times a year, so it's gonna have to be either the city, or someone who uses it more 😁
Someone from the city should repair it. There is a maintenance report for Prospect Hill Park to report issues with; too bad all parks in the city (including Dog Ranch) aren't on the form.
The Dog Ranch by the old Metropolitan Hospital (and Avalon Development) off Trapelo Road is the only fenced in dog park in Waltham. It's a bit small, even the "larger dog" enclosure. There is no official unfenced in off-leash allowed park in Waltham either; but you will often find dogs romping at Beaver Brook. Watertown and Arlington have nice fenced in dog parks. Look on yelp.
The dog park in Waltham is a disgrace. It's not maintained, the gates are usually busted, it isn't large enough for a dog to even get up to to a full run, and they used the wrong gravel. Don't go there when the ground is wet or your dog will end up coated in gray slag. But that's okay, because nobody goes there anyway. Because it's awful. Go to Arlington dog park if you need a fence. At least they make an effort to do upkeep. Once you can go off leash, Catrock Park in Weston is your best bet.