 Barked: Tue May 1, '12 11:03am PST |
 | |  | | Okay..fairly safe, as nothing is ever 100% safe.
Someone on here had suggested a tennis court or baseball park for leash-free running.
The first tennis court that I thought of is in a pretty heavily wooded area where lots of deer roam with lots and lots of trees, many trees right up to the court and a few branches even slightly over the court. It would be very pretty and even very relaxing, but ticks around here are a problem..
Then the first baseball field I thought of, which is super-close, and gets LOTS of traffic whizzing by, and it is close to the road, so..no..plus it is in a pretty busy area in general.
I then remembered a small local park that not many people go to, and it is pretty secluded, yet still pretty close to us. It has/had a swimming pool and I was certain it alo had a tennis court. The swimming pool part has been closed down, but the tennis court is still open, and they also have a nice basketball court, and a few other features.
There was a father and his teenage kids playing tennis, so we went for the basketball court next to them (with about a 6-8 foor patch of grass between the two courts). The basktball court looked PERFECT--if anything--even better than a tennis court.
You can park practically 6-8 feet away from the entrance to the court, and I put Frankie leash on him so he could drag it around just in case. Slight scare tho right off the bat tho---as I got out of the car, doggie poop bag and treats in hand, the thin, slippery leash sliped out of my hand..BUT, the SMART little doggie seemed to know right where mommy was going, and he trotted right in to the basketball court. I was soo proud of him! There were still many things that could have caught his eyes ears and nose..nearby trees, parked cars, people, a babbling brook next to the court..but he went straight in to the court...
He also kept looking behind him as he trotted in to the court, just to make sure mommy followed the fearless little leader. 
I know, I know, some might say shame shame..
He got in the court and ohhmygoodness..HAPPINESS!!!!
I closed the entrance door (no latch), but I stood right at the door, and the fence was very well intact, no escape holes.
He trotted all over the court, smiling as if he had died and gone to puppy heaven....
There is another entrance door on the opposite side, and wouldn't ya know, the moment my cell phone rang and I picked it up the little bugger made a beeline for the other door, which was close to the father and kids playing tennis. He just casually trotted along, over towards the tennis court, sniffing the ground all the way...
Yes, it was a learning experience to take a wider leash and be waaayyy more aware of when he gets even remotely close to either door. He *is* a fast little bugger, but he/we is/are learning, and all in all he is a WONDERFUL dog!!!
It was just the prefect day..mostly sunny, a slight breeze now and then...PERFECT!!!
I am just so pleased that I remembered this small little park..and thanks again to the dogster, whoever it was that suggested the idea!!!
Again, I know in the end, dogs are dogs, no dog is perfect, and we still have a ways to go. I am just sooo happy to have made the day a special one for Frankie!!  Edited by author Tue May 1, '12 11:25am PST
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There is nothing better than allowing your dog free running exercise and seeing their delight in being free.