Nation’s first indoor dog park opens

The nation’s first indoor dog park — the size of a football field — is now open in Dallas, Texas.

Cody and Kelly Acree of Unleashed Indoor Dog Parks came up with the concept three years after adopting a very active lab mix named Lucas.

“It was born out of our own necessity,” Cody recently told me.

Back then the couple regularly visited local dog parks but was frustrated by the lack of maintenance and monitoring at the city run facilities. And on some days they couldn’t go at all because it was raining or just too hot outside.

Seeing room for improvement, the Acrees decided to create a dog themed recreation facility that not only addressed their concerns but offered a variety of services and amenities.

The jewel of their two story facility, located minutes from downtown, is the indoor artificial turf field. It’s divided into two areas: one for big dogs; the other for small. Experienced handlers roam the park overseeing play and diffusing any problems before they turn into a scuffle.

Unlike outdoor dog parks with permanent fencing, a mobile partitioning system allows for quick reconfigurations of the area to accommodate an increase in usage on busy holidays, for example, or special events such as adoption days, training classes or private birthday parties.

On the first visit, owners are asked to bring their dog’s vaccination records and to fill out a simple registration form. An electronic collar tag (tied to your records and credit card) is then given for your dog to wear. From that point on, the electronic tag triggers the park’s gate to open, and automatically charges your credit card the daily fee.

“We try to make it as easy on people as possible,” says Kelly.

An outside play space is also available. The 2 ½ acre fenced-in park is filled with shade trees and waterfalls that flow into splash ponds. You don’t have to worry, though, about bringing home a wet dog. Drying stations stocked with super absorbent towels and forced air dryers are nearby.

Other services available at the facility include a supply center, grooming shop, doggie daycare center and a café –similar in feel to a gourmet coffee shop – that offers free wi-fi. Best of all, next to each table is a fluffy dog bed. (You won’t find that at Starbucks.)

The company hopes in the near future to open other indoor dog parks nationwide.