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It’s a Dog’s Life: A Walk in the Park with Friends

Linden Beach Dog Park – Photo by M.E. Havlik

If you’re a dog owner you know that it’s important to socialize your dog. And if you live in Kingsville you may have discovered that a trip to the Linden Beach Dog Park is a great way to expose your pet to other people and their dogs.

The Linden Beach Dog Park is the first of its kind for Kingsville, located at 103 Golfview Drive. The area is accessible for those using bikes, strollers and wagons. Here, dogs  are allowed the joy of running without restraints.

You can go to the park between dawn and dusk. If you bring your dog to the park be aware that all users are subject to the Dog Owner’s Liability Act. You’ll find the list of regulations at the park entry.

The Importance of Socializing Your Dog

Linden Beach Dog Park – Photo by M.E. Havlik

Tracey Harris has an 11-month old dachshund/terrier. She brings her dog to the Linden Beach Dog Park at least twice a week. Coming to the dog park allows her pet the chance to play with other dogs which she says helps to socialize him.

Fern and Dave Walsh, owners and operators of Essex County K9 Services, told the Times that it’s important to socialize your dog at a young age.

Fern said that a dog which has not been socialized can develop fearful behaviours. While some people may think that socializing a dog just entails throwing their pet in with another dog, this isn’t the way to go, according to Fern.

Socialization might better be renamed “exposure.”

“When you socialize a dog you want to expose them to everything and anything you can, bring them everywhere you can, any stores that allow you to bring them in,” she said. “So they get used to all sorts of different things, people, noises, cars, all sorts of different things.”

Helping to keep your dog from feeling overwhelmed comes with exposure to their surroundings. “Unsocialized, an animal won’t be able to process the stress in situations that come up. Stress could be anything on a dog. It could be people, it could be cars, it could be any noises,” said Fern.

She explained that a timid dog’s body language may show its lack of socialization and confidence. “They carry themselves differently. A timid dog you’ll notice a lot of the time in their body language, you’ll see the tail tucked between the legs, whereas a properly socialized dog, they’re confident in their stance.”

According to Dave, pet owners should make a point of exposing their pets to the world at a moderate pace.

“Imagine being locked in the house all the time and then being thrust into the world, where there’s all these crazy sounds and cars and you have no clue what anything is. You’re going to be scared too, you’re going to be timid,” he said.

He compared it to what it’s like for humans. “It’s just like when your parents brought you everywhere when you were a kid. Now you’re used to different buildings, different things like that, it’s important to have a dog have the same experience.”

A New Dog Park is Coming

The Repko family – Photo by Max de Liberato

The Town of Kingsville has designated the site of a new dog park just off of Road 2 in the eastern quadrant of town. The land was donated by Paul Repko, and there are hopes construction can get underway soon.

“We’re currently looking at a second site for a dog park, which would be more centrally located just off of Road 2. We’re looking to prepare the grounds for future development,” Dan Wolicki, manager of municipal facilities and properties, told the Kingsville Times.

“We hope by 2021 we can begin constructing. It’s definitely on our agenda to offer that additional service to the community here.”

Repko receives no compensation from the town for the land. He does have a 2-year-old Catahoula Leopard Dog named Wrigley who he hopes to bring to the park when it is finished.

Paul Repko’s dog Wrigley – Photo by Max de Liberato

Wolicki said that the new site will be off of Jasperson Lane, in order to give residents a dog park which could be walked to rather than driving to the current one. The dog park maintenance funds come out of the ground or general park maintenance budget.

“The Linden Beach Dog Park is used quite frequently. We find it’s used more on weekends. It’s obviously used by those who reside in the town, but we’re finding those out of town are coming here too. It’s a good sign that they enjoy our set up,” he said.

Repko’s family started farming here in the 1930s and continued to maintain business until he and his brother Robert decided to downsize the farm in 2018.

Having worked alongside his father on the farm for 35 years, Paul Repko felt that donating the land for this was an appropriate way to honour his parents John and Carole, as well as relatives Andy and Sandy. It will also protect a portion of the farm from future development.

The creation of the dog park in its future location off Jasperson might also help to solve a problem with dog excrement being found in the soccer fields and baseball diamonds from people bringing their pets out to them.

The new park will feature a small and large dog area similar to the current dog park, according to Repko. It will span 2.5 acres, and there will be trees planted on the land. It will be fenced in for safety

What Some of the Linden Beach Regulars Had to Say

George the dog – Photo by M.E. Havlik

The Kingsville Times interviewed Della Johnston, Peggy Delaney and Carol Dover, who are some of the dog park regulars.

Della Johnston has three dogs. Smudge is a 13-year-old black male American Cocker Spaniel. Pantalaimon, or “Pan”, is a 7-month-old female brindle Bouvier des Flandres. Demic is a 3-month-old brindle male Bouvier des Flandres.

Peggy has one dog named Mylo. “He’s mostly a mutt. He’s a 7-year-old terrier mix.”

Over the last 44 years Carol has had a total of seven dogs — three Old English Sheepdogs and four Bernese Mountain Dogs. At present, she said, “We have an almost 3-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog named George. George loves going to the dog park. It is the highlight of his day.”

Della takes Smudge, Pan and Demic to the Linden Beach Dog Park daily. Sometimes twice a day. Peggy takes Mylo once every day, seven days a week, weather permitting. Carol and George go to the dog park every morning.

Demic and Pantalaimon – Photo by Della Johnston

The Times:

In your opinion, what are the benefits of pet ownership?

Della: “Benefits include companionship, exercise, mental stimulation through training. Their antics provide endless entertainment.”

Peggy: “Being a widow, I am never alone with my dog.  I get love, devotion and a wagging tail!”

Carol: “Neither my husband or I can imagine not having a dog. They are a handful but they keep us young and active.”

Demic and Smudge – Photo by Della Johnston

The Times:

Why do you use the dog park? What are the benefits to you and your dog?

Della: “We use the dog park to socialize the pups and dog with other dogs and people.  The dogs benefit from exercise and large place to run. This provides mental stimulation for the dogs.  I benefit from social interactions with other dog park attendees.”

Peggy: “We live in an apartment and off leash is so important for exercise and being in with other dogs .  The other benefits for me are I am also walking my 5000 steps in the morning and I’ve made some awesome new friends, who are pet lovers also.”

Carol: “George looks forward to meeting his buddies and being able to run off leash in a safe and clean environment. We get to chit chat with the people who bring their dogs to the park. I’ve learned so much about different breeds, how to train them, how to feed them and how to care for them. Most of the people who go to the park have had many dogs/cats and are just a goldmine of useful information.”

George relaxing after a play session at the dog park – Photo by Carol Dover

The Times:

Do you have any comments/suggestions about this dog park?

Della: “I would like to see more trees planted to provide shade and a dog ‘playground’ similar to what is in the Leamington dog park, like a ramp, a tunnel and hoops.”

Peggy: “My only concern is there are people smoking and dropping their butts on the grounds and that is so unhealthy if the dogs ingest it.”

Carol: “I would love to see more trees in the park to provide shade in the hot summer months and wind protection in the winter. We are so lucky to have this facility so close to home.”

Buddies Mylo and George at the dog park – Photo by Carol Dover

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