Hello everyone,

I am new to this area and just moved here with my wife and our two dogs (and two cats). We came from Pittsburgh and lived in an area where we had some dense woods near us where we always took our dogs for walks since puppies. We had a single family home in Pittsburgh and almost never put our dogs on leashes. Now it is the opposite story since moving to Columbia. Does anyone know any dense wooded areas where you can bring your dog and let them off the leash? I know Howard County has a leash law too. I am looking for an area that people don't walk often where I can bring the dogs. The dogs are about 55-60lbs each and energetic. I am never worried about them hurting people, but if you dont' know dogs that are that big and they run up to you, it can be scary. The one is also a mix of terrier and might be pitt bull, so people tend to shy away from him in the first place (and he gets so excited around people he jumps on them). He also has a nervous agression around highly energetic dogs, but is fine with any dog after about 10 minutes of being around them.

Also, can anyone reccomend dog parks in AA or Howard county? Which one seems to be the best?

Thank you!

Hi,
There are a couple of places that are very wooded that many dogs are illegally off leash. Those places include, but are not limited to Wincopin Park, off Vollmerhausen Road (there is a meetup there this weekend, I believe), behind the ballfields of Rockburn Branch Park (go to the elementary school and follow the road ALL THE WAY BACK to the last parking area--near ballfields--and go back into woods behind there); and Schooley Mill Park---all county parks. Schooley Mill is a place that is relatively empty, and where you might get started. There is also an offleash dogpark at Worthington. All these parks can be found by googling "howard county parks".

As far as Federal Land Parks goes, there are several parks within about a 20 min drive of Columbia that are fabulous. Patuxent Wildlife Preserve ---NORTH TRACT--is virtually empty (not the side where the visitor center is, but a little known expanse that is known mostly by hunters).

And don't overlook the Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources Parks. Their listings can be found online. The larger the park the more likely it is for you to have your privacy.

In essence, you have really hit the jackpot, moving here. There are SO many wooded areas and natural resource preservation parks in the area that it is hard to choose the walk of the day....


Maybe we'll see you out there.

We take our golden retriever early every Saturday morning to Patapsco State Park (Avalon area I think?) and follow a relatively quiet trail not frequented by many people. We've also been on the ocassional weekday and it's very quet. Also check out Big Gunpowder Falls SP in Kingsville near Perry Hall -on weekdays or early weekend mornings, and Little Gunpowder Falls SP off Jerusalem Mill road is quiet even on weekends. Also, Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis has a great dog park and dog beach you can spend a day there easily since it's a bit farther for you. Good Luck!

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I hate to sound like a crabby old so-and-so, but please don't bring a nervously aggressive dog off leash to Schooley Mill Park. Truthfully, almost every time I go there I do see off-leash dogs, and can tell you that you are not always going to have the luxury of a 10-minute introduction before there is trouble. All it takes is one nervous/slightly aggressive off-leash dog bounding up to one reactive dog (on or offleash) to incite an unpleasant kerfluffle - if not an actual fight.

Besides, and again I apologize for sounding crabby because I know you have good intentions... but there are signs all over the place at Schooley Mill admonishing people to keep their dogs on leash. I would really hate for the park to be closed to all dogs at some point, if there is enough problem with off-leash dogs.

There is a beautiful off leash dog park on the border of Frederick and Urbana at the Greenbriar Animal Hospital on Thurston Rd. It is not wooded, but there is lots of room to run around, water bowls, a gazebo for the dogs to play on, dog toys, a pick up station complete with bags, a bathroom for people, and a separate small/large dog area if necessary. Everyone that I have ever seen go there also keeps a pretty close eye on their dog for aggresive or inappropriate behavior. I don't know the web site, but you could google it. Good luck.

Kim

Hi ,
We take our Aussie to a nice off leash puppy park in Laurel Maryland off of Vanduesn Rd.
It is nice and there is a nice group of people that go there .
Allison

That's where I go to but haven't been lately. Do you know if it's muddy there? I'd love to go there on Saturday. Let me know.

Hey Lauree-

Have you been to Daniels area at Patapsco state park? It's off Rogers Ave, and has a gorgeous path that runs along the river. Although it is illegal to let you dog run free, this is the place I always go with Tanner and I've had no trouble (as long as you leash your dog when you encounter another dog).