La Paws Dog Park — Attraction in Mission Viejo

I love this dog park. I have a few suggestions though. I have been there about 20 times and every single time, their are dogs walking the trail between the small dog area and the "alone dog" area without leashes. Any sane person would understand that a dog in the "alone area" is a dog that doesn't do well with other dogs. We rescued our dog off the side of Ortega highway and don't know her past, but we know that she was abused and she is afraid and defensive around other dogs. When I cautiously walk her from my car to the "alone dog" area, it seems to be the busiest area for dogs off of their leash! Just because your dog is sweet with others doesn't mean it's ok to let your dog run free. It is endangering both of our dogs safety and I wish the leash law was enforced. Lastly, if future parks are planned in the community, please have designated parking spots for the alone area right next to the entrance. Parking on Felipe and nervously walking by a million dogs on the sidewalk, to go wait at the gate where the other dogs are off leash is not a good idea and a recipe for a disaster. My dog is the sweetest thing with adults, kids and cats but has major anxiety with other dogs. I live in a condo and was fortunate enough to rescue her but she needs some free space to run. Better planning could help our "alone dog" areas of the park and really help some wonderful pets get exercise...

Outside of the aesthetically pleasing façade, I don’t recommend this place if you go on a weeknight after 5pm. I’ve seen and heard about more dogs attacking other dogs for someone who has only been here 3-4 times. Two days ago, my Labrador retriever heeler was picking up their own ball, and got attacked by a large poodle dog that bit his ear multiple times (drew blood on the inside ear and an outside puncture wound). The owner grabbed his dog, said that’s enough, and completely left the dog park without even checking on my dog and making sure he was okay. And I heard about a similar story of another dog that needed stitches and had a large vet bill for the same reason. I’ve seen a dog attacking other dogs every time I’ve come, though not always drawing blood. There’s no stopping these people from coming back and I haven’t seen anyone who actually comes by to check on the park outside of keeping it clean and looking good. I’d only recommend this place in the mornings or before 3pm, when all the crowds start coming, and not after 5pm when there’s no limit to how many dogs can enter this place at once. The shade and chairs around the park are really nice when it’s 80+ degrees out, and there’s lots of water and dog bags around, but for my dogs safety, I’m done...

Needs more shade, trees are thin.. more shade would be nice. The large dog are is big, grass is worn out but it’s better than all bark. The separated small dog area protects little dogs from big bullies. It’s not monitored by the city so owners neglect their dogs and form circles to talk while dogs do their business and owners don’t pick up poop. Plenty of big grade dog bags, but some owners stock up. It’s awesome that Dogs can run and play., but on a busy day it’s a frenzy of full speed dogs crisscrossing and someone and their Dog is going to cause an accident. Hence the Dod Run area, but is never used. Parking is limited and no street parking. Oh and the sign posted for Aggressive Dogs not Allowed is ignored, so stay close to yours, or the owner of the aggressive Dogs is too busy drinking coffee and on his cell phone to control his Dog.. it can and has been all out Dog Fights.. but bring water, sun block and sunglasses cause it can get hot and bright, because there is very little shade. Hint: large canopy’s of sun...