Off- leash dog park where well-behaved canine citizens can exercise in a clean, safe environment without endangering or annoying people, property or wildlife. To develop a beautiful, well maintained space open to all dog lovers and friends who are willing to uphold the park's rules and restrictions. To view this park as a community project, in partnership with the Town of Derby, designed to satisf
y the needs of dog owners and non-dog owners alike. Park hours are: 7:00am-Dusk
Fee:We just ask that you read and follow the rules.
1. This is true for any recreational area in Vermont that is open to the public.
2. You are legally responsible for your dog’s behavior, and you alone are responsible for your dog’s well-being. If your dog bites someone or jumps and knocks a person down, Vermont law holds you responsible for any injury. Although others are equally liable for their dog’s behavior, you are the person responsible for your dog’s safety.
3. All dogs must be leashed until they are inside the FIRST GATE of the double-gated entrance to the Park. Before letting your dog out of the car, make sure his collar is snug and his leash is securely attached.
4. Gates must remain closed except when entering or exiting the off-leash area, and only one gate may be open at a time. Because our Park is located very close to the road, not keeping the gate closed could result in our four-legged friends endangering their lives.
5. No Puppies under 4 months old or sick dogs are allowed in the park. Young puppies’ immune systems are not mature until the age of 4 months, and the puppy’s vaccine regimen cannot be completed before then.
6. All dogs must be spayed or neutered. Females in heat are a notorious stimulus for fights and would leave smells in the play area that would arouse dogs well after the female left. Aggression tends to be higher for intact males.
7. Dogs must be properly inoculated, licensed, wearing a collar with ID and rabies tags and free of viral infections. Vermont law requires dogs to be vaccinated against rabies and licensed by the town, and any dog using public spaces should be vaccinated against
distemper, parvovirus, and other diseases as recommended by your veterinarian. If you suspect that your dog may have a contagious condition of any sort, please do not put other dogs at risk by coming to the Park.
8. Remove choke or pinch collars and head halters BEFORE OPENING THE SECOND GATE of the double-gated area. Dogs must be free of such collars or halters once they are off-leash and inside the Park. If this type of collar or halter catches on a fence or another dog’s tooth, it can cause panic and serious injury or death due to
strangulation.
9. Inside the fenced play area, watch your dog and have your leash with you at all times. The dynamics of dog play can change quickly, and you need to be prepared
to intervene quickly.
10. No aggressive dogs are allowed in the Park. If your dog has a history of aggression or fighting, do not bring him to the Dog Park. Doing so is likely to make your dog’s problem worse and cause trauma for others. If your dog is normally peace-loving but is behaving aggressively or hounding another dog who is trying to evade the attention, take her out of the Park. Fights can change a dog’s social outlook for life, and both people and dogs can be seriously injured in them.
11. Handle conflicts with respect, grace and good humor. We are all proud dog owners, and want to feel safe, both physically and emotionally. Be responsive to others’ individual preferences. ~ We’re all in this together! ~
12. You MUST pick up your dog’s waste promptly everywhere in the Dog Park, both in the parking lot and inside the off-leash area. This is basic to responsible dog ownership no matter where we are. In all areas of the Park people and dogs can step in waste, and dogs can roll in waste that is not picked up. The longer piles sit on the ground, the higher the
chance that they might transmit intestinal parasites or disease to other dogs. To help keep down the costs of maintaining the Dog Park, please carry your own waste disposal bags when possible. For days when you’ve forgotten a bag or need an extra, bags are available at the receptacles.
13. No more than three dogs per person may enter the group play areas. Handlers are responsible for watching their dogs at all times, and it’s impossible to closely monitor several dogs at once. In addition, some dogs who live together are prone to “gang up” and bully other dogs.
14. No children under 4 years of age are allowed inside the Dog Park. Children under 16 years of age must be with a supervising adult. Many dogs are not comfortable around young children, and kids’ high-pitched voices and quick motions can trigger predatory behavior in some dogs. In addition, young children often play on the ground where dog f***s may have
deposited parasite eggs. A dog park is not a safe place for toddlers. Older children should be reminded not to run inside the Dog Park and not to approach others’ dogs without first asking the owners’ permission. All children need to know that if a fight erupts, they should walk calmly and silently away. No one, of course, should tease any dog. It’s advisable for people of all ages to wear appropriate foot wear. Sandals and bare feet are not permitted.
15. Smoking is not permitted within the Dog Park or parking lot. Cigarette butts are toxic to dogs. Second-hand smoke is toxic to people and dogs.
16. Leave your dog’s favorite toy and all rawhide chews at home. Cherished toys and high-value chews, including bully sticks and pigs’ ears, also can trigger resource guarding.
17. If your dog seems timid, stressed, overly aroused, or aggressive please take her out of the off-leash area IMMEDIATELY. Each day poses different dynamics, even if it’s the same group of dogs playing. A bad day at the Dog Park can alter a dog’s social confidence for life. If your dog becomes irritable or skittish, it’s probably time to go home
for the day. Note: The small dog area of the Dog Park can be used by larger dogs as a training or separate play area, provided that there are no small dogs present and there is no “fence fighting” between dogs in the two play areas. Please yield to the owners of dogs who meet the criteria for the small dog area.
18. Fill in all holes that your dog digs. Digging is part of normal dog play, but holes endanger dogs and humans alike. So please refill any holes that your dog digs within the Park to prevent injury to other dogs or people.
19. Please do not allow children to run inside the Dog Park. Running can arouse predatory behavior in excited dogs.
20. Do not give treats to anyone else’s dog. Some dogs have food allergies and, again, some will behave aggressively in the presence of food. If you want treats at hand for training purposes, keep them out of sight, and don’t offer them to any dog but your own.
21. Any Dog Park user may remind someone who is not abiding by the rules to review the rules. Each person is responsible for keeping this park clean and safe for our dogs. Start by asking other Dog Park users for their cooperation. Persistent problems or concerns can be reported by calling the Derby
Town Office 802-766-4906.
22. In case of a dog bite or in the event of an emergency, call 911. Any serious dog bite to a human being should be reported PROMPTLY to
the police.
