Oxbows Off Leash Dog Park — Attraction in Red Deer

This was a halfway stop for us and the dog while on a roadtrip to Canmore. The dog had already been 2-3 hours in the car and we needed a place for him to stretch his legs and do his business. When we googled for dog parks, this park was well rated and easy to get too, so it didn't add too much time to our overall trip.

My dog loved it. The entire area is fenced. There are easy walking paths that take you around or through the park. It has some historical fact stations as you walk along, which allows you to get more acquainted with the origins of the park. They even had a small tiny (non functional) hydrant for dogs to use , which I thought was really clever

You enter the dog park via a dog trap (two gates) to ensure no one else is getting out unnoticed. There is a public washroom here, but please be aware that it is a portable bathroom. When I was there (I really had to go or I would have skipped it) there was no hand sanitizer nor toilet paper. Also, once in the sun for a few hours, it is not the greatest environment. However, good enough for emergencies.

There were some picnic tables near the entrance but it seems like that also serves as the dog watering station and at the time I was there I didn't notice anyone sitting there.

There are not many places to sit down along the way, so if you have any mobility challenges, I'd stay close to the center of the park (mostly the area that you enter into) so you'll have options for sitting to rest as need be.

There is an awesome area in the park for the dogs to practise agility. With the circuit full of ramps, tunnels, circles to jump through, and other things, there is enough to keep a number of dogs interested at the same time.

We really enjoyed our time here, and will definitely make it a regular...

Pros: I really enjoy that there are walking trails and fun open space for dogs to run and sniff. Way safer than the other dog park as it's fenced with no major wildlife or hazards to be concerned about. It's a great space! They also have a small fenced off space for dogs that are fearful or if you want to do some training with.

Cons: Unfortunately, I have met a few unsocialized, untrained dogs (and humans) that concern me. While there are rules posted about having control over your dog and not bringing in an aggressive dog, these folks either don't care or are oblivious. They are still bringing in defensive/aggressive dogs that they have no control over. While they only make up a small percentage of the lovely people I've met, with my small dogs, it's not worth the risk or vet bills. There is no enforcement at a basic level anyway - many people don't feel the need to clean up their own animals, particularly over the winter. The spring is disgusting until the city hires a crew to come clean it up.

Unfortunately, the cons outweigh the pros for me, so I rarely ever go to the dog park anymore. Use it at...

By far the nicest dog park that I've visited. Nice job Red Deer!

What makes this a great place to take the pups?

-It's completely fenced in. -its large, I would guess at least 50 acres but I'm no land mathematician. -The entry is well marked. -There is a toilet for humans. -It's clean. -There is a gravel pathway for humans surrounding the entire place. -The whole place is essentially the crest of a hill so it drains very well. I visited one day after a storm and there were only 2 small puddles to speak of. (My lab found both 😅). -There is a large segregated area in case you require that for your pup. Large enough to easily throw a chuck-it. -There are several tables benches and naturalized features for humans and dogs. -There's also a small dedicated agility area which is clean and well maintained. -There are several garbage cans throughout the park, which are actually emptied ,clearly the maintenance to this area is being done diligently which is very nice to see!

Whoever is responsible for creating and maintaining this place should definitely be proud,...