dog with sign

Leaders of the Pack

In 2006, six residents of Whitefish, Montana, decided their town needed a spacious area for dogs to roam leash-free. Three years later, a park opened. And each year the nearly six-acre Hugh Rogers WAG Park embarks on a new pet project, from a dog beach to a fire hydrant–inspired washing station to an obstacle course.
dog in water

Shaggy Chic
Picture a fancy-pants country club complete with swimming pond, sunbathing deck—and giant sand pile: Welcome to Shaggy Pines Dog Park, a private estate in Ada, Michigan. Pet owners needn't even be present for their pups to romp. The staff-driven Shaggy Shuttle, a school bus with restraints designed for canines, picks up members' dogs at home and delivers them to the park. All aboard!
dog at counter

Photo: Summer Maulden Photography

Bone Star
It's a beer garden! It's a dog park! It's Yard Bar, a fenced-in outdoor pub in Austin. Humans enjoy hush puppies and sip craft brews while peckish pooches dig into Kobe-beef-and-veggie sliders and cool off in kiddie pools. All the while, "bark rangers" clean the grounds and keep the peace. Cheers to that!
Published 05/18/2018