Published in Animals (MDPI), this review analyzed research published under the PRISMA systematic review framework to assess how dog parks influence canine welfare, owner satisfaction, and community relations. Dog parks have become vital recreational outlets—particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic—providing both exercise opportunities for dogs and social benefits for owners. Yet, they also present management challenges, from conflicts among dogs to tensions between pet owners and non-owners within urban environments.
Chen and colleagues summarized findings across 85 references, categorizing insights into three main domains: benefits, conflicts, and strategic interventions. Benefits include improved canine physical health, socialization, and human social connectedness. Conflicts often arise from space design flaws, inconsistent rules, overcrowding, and inadequate owner supervision. The review highlights that successful dog parks depend not only on design but also on behavioral management and education—ensuring owners understand canine communication and etiquette in off-leash environments.
The authors propose design guidelines emphasizing zoning, spatial separation, and vegetation buffers to prevent overstimulation and conflict. Management strategies include clear signage, rotational maintenance, waste control, and rule enforcement. Importantly, they advocate for integrating environmental sustainability and community participation into park design to foster harmony among users and the surrounding ecosystem.
By framing dog parks as multispecies urban systems, Chen et al. argue that successful management depends on balancing canine behavior, human psychology, and ecological design. Their synthesis calls for evidence-based planning that enhances welfare, mitigates conflict, and promotes sustainable coexistence between dogs and people in modern cities.
Source: Chen, S., Wu, Z., Sleipness, O., & Wang, H. (2022). Benefits and Conflicts: A Systematic Review of Dog Park Design and Management Strategies. Animals, 12. Published August 31, 2022.
