Prairie Oaks Dog Beach — Attraction in Brown Township

Our first trip! My senior bichon would only stand by me and sipped the water. I am glad I got to take him as he has a splenic tumor (and other ailments) so unsure how much longer he'll live. My 11 month old puppy goldendoodle was very timid of the water and would only walk along the edge and drink. Another dog wanted her to play in the water but she would not take the bait lol She did finally go out on the dock when I went. I am ever so grateful for the patron who gave me the run down on the lake. They showed me where the weeds are in the water to know where it begins to drop off. They told me the lake drops to over 100 feet because it's a quarry lake. They pointed out the life preservers which are hundreds a feet away. It would make more sense to have them closer (i.e., two hanging from either side of the dock) in the event there's an emergency and you're the only one out there. If your dog is not good on recall, I would definitely work on that because it's an off leash area with no fencing. The patron also told me the best days and times to come which will be perfect to get the puppy used to the water. The patron also recommended bringing my puppy's favorite toy to train her and also warned to not toss too far if by chance she doesn't go after it. I'll be researching balls on a long rope lol I did NOT like seeing that some patrons left their pets bag of poop lying under benches. People need to quit being lazy. There are disposal cans (with bags) on either side of the entrance so there is no excuse because you pass them on the way out. You definitely want to have towels and a seat cover because the dust from the sand pebble rocks gets everywhere. It would be nice if they had a hose attached to a faucet near the restrooms so you can spray them off before getting in the car. Once they dry, dust flies everywhere. Thankfully I keep my beach blanket in the trunk. Overall, it's peaceful and pretty clean (if people cleaned up after...

We are always looking for new venues to take our dogs to swim. I truly think that our 11-year-old boxer mix was a fish in another life, because she can still easily out swim her 4-year-old English lab brother. The Prairie Oaks Dog Beach is accessed through the Prairie Oaks Darby Bend Lakes entrance of the park. Once we parked our car, we walked less than a quarter of a mile to the dog beach. The dog beach is actually on a pond, and the dogs are free to roam, off leash in the area. The beach is a good size, offering an owner and her pet plenty of room to be as sociable or individual as they wish. The beach also is fairly shallow for ten feet or so off the shore, allowing dogs to wade, if they don't wish to swim.There is a jumping off ramp for the dogs, and a small shelter, with a bench, for any owners who wish to sit. The area is well maintained, and there are extra bags for those owners who forgot to bring some to clean up after their dog. We have gone many times to Prairie Oaks Dog Beach, and we (and the...

This place is a hidden gem (no signage) for dogs and their human escorts. The beach lacks any form of fence, but it's also a bit of a walk from the parking lot and road. This all works rather well, and it's worth a try.

Most dogs take to the water right away, and you'll usually see several dogs there to help show new dogs how its done. There's usually a few extra balls lying around, and most dogs will go after a stick. Then again, bringing a floating ball/toy can help. The beach is crushed gravel (doesn't really turn to mud), and the water is crystal clear...