Top Tips for Happy Hounds

Do you have a partner who loves long walks on the beach trails, gazing into your eyes treat-holding hand and whispering sweet nothings into licking your ear? Here are some reminders to help keep your furry friend, and other humans, safe and happy.

Put a Leash on Your Pup…

Your dog is great. It loves you and is sweet and would never run away, nip a kid or ignore you calling its name. At least until it does. Locally, dogs are required to be connected to a leash when they’re out and about. Even if you’ve got the best boy, some folks, including other dogs, get nervous around dogs and need the space. As tempting as Centennial Park’s wide-open great lawn is, keeping your dog on leash helps keep them and others safe.

…Unless You’re at the Dog Park

Located at the bend of North Liberty Road, Red Fern Dog Park is built just for folks looking for a space for their dog to run untethered and play with other dogs. Memberships, which help support the park, are required. (Iowa City maintains two dog parks.) This year, the park will be closed starting June 1 while the North Liberty Road trail is completed.

Clean Up Poop

Picking up after your pup help limit the spread of diseases, since those poops are basically bacteria bombs full of E. coli, salmonella, hookworm and more.  Pet waste is also a source of phosphorous and nitrogen — two of the main components of fertilizer — that feed toxic algae blooms in our rivers, lakes and streams. We provide bags at many of our public spaces that are popular dog-walking site in case you forget a bag at home.

License Your Pet

You might consider a microchip, too, licensing your dog (and/or cat) helps up get your buddy back home quickly if they get loose in addition to documenting rabies vaccination and supporting other public animal services. North Liberty’s required pet license is $25 for the first year, with free renewals for spayed and neutered pets.