Dog parks in Donegal

tatabubbly

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if there are any places around Donegal, preferably Letterkenny were dog owners walk their dogs??

I've exhausted my options where i live so just looking for some alternatives cos I want my dog training to go well!!!!

.17hmr

half expecting to see a dog driving

tatabubbly

Nah, I've been trying my hardest to get my dog socialised with other dogs but any time i go for walks i seem to miss all the other doggies!!

hootietootie

Dogs are allowed in a lot of the areas in the park out at Ballymacool-we've taken our boy out there quite a few times, but mainly when its quiet-he's a big dog and parents don't like to see him!! (Even though he is always on lead and wearing a halti)

tatabubbly

LOL I was out for a small wallk there with doggie and pup to my mum's house... These kids come running up behind me wanting to grab the pup by the tail.. Even though their mum was 5 meters away, i'm the bad guy cos i had to ask them to leave her alone..

I must try Ballymacool.. If parents know dogs are allowed i hope that they teach their kids manners like i taught my dogs!!!!

hootietootie

What you need to do is get a dog like mine-parents scream at their kids to keep away from me!!!:)

annascott

There isn't anywhere in Letterkenny to let a dog run. Rathmullan beach is your nearest place. There is a place called Drumboe Woods in Stranorlar, I haven't been there but have been told it is safe to let a dog off the lead - so away from cars. I think dogs must be on a lead in Ballymacool. It is all really frustrating. My dog is exceptionally well behaved and I like her to be able to run up and down with her ball, not have to plod along with me.

muffler

I suppose you forgot about the fact that's illegal to let your dog run around in a public place without a lead. :rolleyes:

Senna

Might be a bit of a drive away, but i walk our dogs up at the windmills behind Drumkeen, the area is huge and all fenced in so, they can run about off the lead and i dont have to worry about kids or other people. Its a nice walk as well.

There's other places too, like the hill up at Woodlands or Corravaddy Forest, seen a few people walking dogs through there.

annascott

muffler wrote: »

I suppose you forgot about the fact that's illegal to let your dog run around in a public place without a lead. :rolleyes:

I would not let her off a lead in a public place if she was a danger to people or other dogs! She has to be able to run and swim at a beach though. How else would she get full exercise?

muffler

annascott wrote: »

I would not let her off a lead in a public place if she was a danger to people or other dogs!

You mentioned above that Rathmullan beach and Drumboe Woods were 2 places where you could let a dog run about. I hate to rain on your parade but its illegal to have a dog running loose in a public place. The choice is not yours to make as to whether the dog is a danger to anyone or not. Its the law.

annascott wrote: »

She has to be able to run and swim at a beach though.

If you're prepared to run and swim with her while holding her on a lead then I dont see a problem.

annascott wrote: »

How else would she get full exercise?

As stated above you can run, swim, walk or whatever you wish to do or alternatively buy a treadmill.

dee o gee

muffler wrote: »

I suppose you forgot about the fact that's illegal to let your dog run around in a public place without a lead. :rolleyes:

Link to that? http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1986/en/act/pub/0032/sec0009.html#sec9 Under the control of dogs act dog's are required to be under effectual control, nowhere does it state that dogs have to be kept on a lead (unless it's a bye law of the area or unless it's a restricted breed). I agree that dog's should not be allowed run amoke out of control, it's dangerous for both the dog and other people, but dogs don't have to be on a lead to be under control. There's nothing wrong with letting your dog off the lead to run around provided you can call them back when you meet another person or another dog.

Durnish

A dog is an animal, it has no right to roam except on its owners land and if it's dangerous, not even that.

Dogs seem to have become the new "other people's children". You can't tell them off, exclude from your house, sitting room, kitchen, chairs or carpets and if they start fighting it's always the other dog's fault.

dee o gee

Durnish wrote: »

A dog is an animal, it has no right to roam except on its owners land and if it's dangerous, not even that.

Dogs seem to have become the new "other people's children". You can't tell them off, exclude from your house, sitting room, kitchen, chairs or carpets and if they start fighting it's always the other dog's fault.

Who said anything about allowing dogs to roam whether dangerous or not? Allowing your dog to roam unaccompanied and out of control is very different to allowing your dog off the lead but under control in a quiet area to do what dogs do, (but as I said already they should be called back when another person or dog is approaching, and common sense should be applied to not let them off the lead around traffic or livestock).

tatabubbly

My dog will not be off the lead, as i said i'm trying to socialise her more, and she can be a wee bit vocal so i'd have her on her flexi lead all the time!! I do recall with her and go to doggie classes with her, and she has a big enclosed garden to roam free in!!


Rathmullen beach is great but i take her there regularly for her doggy paddles!

Thanks for everyones suggestions, the numerous forests seem to be a good place to start!

SOOOO wish LK had a doggie park!!!

GetWithIt

Gartan Lake?

tatabubbly

Thanks!

It's only like i'd say 20 mins away from my house, maybe less. Many dog walkers out that way though?

GetWithIt

I've never gone there and not seen somebody walking a dog - but sometimes that's the only person you will see. Very quiet.

MissOfada

my house mate always bring her dog to a field just up from swilly drive on the business park road in the gortlee area. its on your right with a small roundabout thats close off. i've seen many people bring their dog there. its a really big field. letterkenny it crying out for a dog park if you ask me.

danniemcq

Can't believe there appears to be so much disgust to having dogs off leads here. I know Big dogs or ones that have been mentioned for being agressive etc if there are small children or lots of people around i'd put a lead on it. you have to see it from other peoples views. But wee dogs etc should have no problem

Oh and before anyone mentions dog poo and kids and health and safety i'd like to remind them that rats, birds, badgers and them evil cats have free roam over all these areas too and i'm sure they deficate and urinate as much as a dog would and if you are the type of person that lets your kids eat before washing their hands if they are outside or haven't taought them enough to not pick up and eat dog poo maybe its something else thats the issue.

OP have you a farmer/field nearby? i know the first thing i do when i get a dog is ask local farmers would they mind if i took it through an empty field. Whats the worse they can say?

tatabubbly

danniemcq wrote: »

Can't believe there appears to be so much disgust to having dogs off leads here.

I don't mind her having the lead on, in my own opinion it teaches her manners about socialising, when it's acceptible to say hello to people etc..

danniemcq wrote: »

OP have you a farmer/field nearby? i know the first thing i do when i get a dog is ask local farmers would they mind if i took it through an empty field. Whats the worse they can say?

LOL My granda owns a farm in the area but i wanted a doggie friendly place to socialise my dog, she gets plenty of walking anyhoo!!

Hav been to a few places.. like ard's park is €4 for parking, as i'm currently unemployed i'll not be going back there, i heard there is a friary downthere that leads onto the beach which is free.. Have taken Rusty and Rebel into LK a few times, as Rebel is older, she gets quite shy and then load if she thinks someones a threat. Not a bother to Rusty though!

muffler

tatabubbly wrote: »

as Rebel is older, she gets quite shy and then load if she thinks someones a threat. Not a bother to Rusty though!

Similar to homer_simpson and myself here in the forum














btw: I'm Rusty. How are you?

tatabubbly

muffler wrote: »

Similar to homer_simpson and myself here in the forum

It just baffles me theres no proper dog park, i worked in a pet shop and i can tell you that it's definitely needed!

annascott

I took my dog to Ballymacool Park for the first time this evening. Not a lot to it and she had to be kept on a lead but it is clean and nicely designed and was better than nothing.

One thing which really annoyed me though were signs that said something about "dogs carry disease and worms which can be passed on to humans" I am fully supportive of being responsible and clearing anything a dog may leave behind, however the sign is insulting and misleading. My dog and most dogs belonging to loving responsible owners carry neither worms or disease. The sign (if needed at all) should read "SOME dogs MAY..."

Some children carry lice and disease, I don't see a sign warning us about them...

muffler

No, its not offensive. Its just that the dogs cant read it.

annascott

muffler wrote: »

No, its not offensive. Its just that the dogs cant read it.

http://www.ippgazette.com/Issues/V4-4/DogsCanRead.htm

muffler

annascott wrote: »

http://www.ippgazette.com/Issues/V4-4/DogsCanRead.htm

Apologies. You are indeed correct.

tatabubbly

Bumping this to let people know how I got on this summer, I go to college in Coleraine, so it was nice to take them up there, college is really large parks so it was grand when security wasn't looking!

Ballymaccool park was nice and busy for my two, didn't find garten great as there wasn't very many dogs! The beaches around here are the best, rathmullen is great as well as rathmullen house where you can sit outside and have tea with the dogs! :P

Overall, I'm sticking to where I live, but if we could get a dog park in LK it would be fabulous

Cherry Blossom

Sorry for this late addition to this thread but only seeing it now

I walk my dog regularly in Drumboe woods, off-lead (yes you are allowed to). Ards forest park is also a great spot (must be kept on lead) and there are always a few other dogs around at the weekends anyway. Glenveagh is another dog friendly place (again on-lead) but very few people seem to avail of it as a place to walk their dog. There's also the woods Just outside Rathmullen on the Ramelton side is reasonably safe to let dogs off lead (not completely sure if it's allowed or not though!) but if you come across another dog there you'll be lucky. In Letterkenny itself quite a few people can be found walking dogs around the area of the IDA business park.

I realise some of this isn't what the OP is looking for here, but there are a lot of people that have trouble with finding a suitable place to walk their dogs in Donegal. There is a lot of intolerance due to a higher than average no. of idiots owning them here and folks don't understand that these are not the same people that are letting dogs run amok around the place.

I'd personally be delighted to hear of any more suggestions other people might have.

firemansam4

I have also gone to dromboe woods with our dog the odd time, it's a nice place to walk the dog. also I see on the back road from Letterkenny to Drumkeen that some people go up to some of the wooded walk areas up there, haven't been up there yet myself but might have a look sometime

tatabubbly

Its just a matter of finding other dogs, the dog classes are fine but they tend to be all the same dogs, and after that it's no real use...


Taking my big girl to the dog show on sunday in the st conals gardens opposite the hospital