Think Outside The Fence

Written By Jack Sommer

Many dog parks today still resemble the traditional fenced-in spaces established almost 50 years ago. However, our understanding of how dogs think and the number of dogs in American households have grown considerably in the last few decades. Humans have also become increasingly isolated due to the usage of digital technologies and the decline of public spaces for real-life interactions. Through it all, dog parks remain one of the few enduring third places that attract all types of people. It’s more important than ever to build out from the dog park paradigm, to strengthen community ties and raise appreciation for the beauty of nature.

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About the EPISODE

Dog parks are a staple of society today. They’ve become normalized, and anyone you ask – in the United States at least – will know what it is.

However, how many people know that dog parks officially started less than half a century ago?

When looking back at their evolution, we should consider the larger historical context of the human and dog relationship.

Native Americans had special relationships with dogs, seeing them as both working hunting partners and friendly companions of the tribe.

For the most part, dogs served in working roles – like herding and hunting – until the early 20th century. With an economic shift away from agriculture, there was less need for dogs’ assistance in the fields. They started to live as human companions instead.

After World War II, with the rise of the suburbs in the 1950s, dogs became even more prominent. They were central to the idealized American dream with a house and white picket fence.

This was exemplified by the Kennedys, most notably while President John F. Kennedy was in office. Their dogs often played with the kids and were truly seen as part of the family. The dogs still did not sleep in the White House, however, but rather outside in a kennel. This was a common arrangement for suburban families in the ‘60s and ‘70s, typically having a doghouse outside the home.

Dogs in cities did not have the luxury of a backyard and faced challenges living in small apartments. However, when dog parents went outside for necessary walks, other city residents started to grow annoyed at dogs roaming off-leash. Cities eventually cracked down on leash law enforcement, causing residents to feel their furry friends no longer had enough freedom.

The town of Berkeley, California – known for its political activism and fighting for civic justice – played a key role in figuring out a new paradigm. After residents won a hard-fought battle to reclaim the local land of the “People’s Park” for community use in the late ‘60s and ‘70s, a two-block annex of the park became an informal gathering spot for residents to bring their dogs.

In 1979, a group of these residents petitioned for this space to be recognized by the city as an experimental dog park. It took a few years to be officially recognized, but soon they got their wish.

With the name updated to the Ohlone Dog Park, a name nodding to the original Native American tribe on the land, the Berekely experiment had a positive impact on bringing together dog owners in the community.

It was the first official dog park on record.

Now, the United States is home to over a thousand such dog parks.

The demand for many parks is there, given that nearly half of the American households now own a dog. But is the innovation sufficient to match that growth of scale?

Since that first park in Berkeley, we’ve gotten to know a lot more about dogs, their behavior, and our relationship with them. Programs were created to focus on this canine research at schools like Duke University, Yale, and other well-regarded institutions.

While we have learned a lot, we have hardly put this knowledge into practice at our dog parks. Most are still just simple fenced-in spaces, and many are also small. There are some exceptions of fantastic parks, but there is still room for more wide-scale innovation.

Our heavy increase in digital interactions and the isolation from the COVID pandemic have factored into an ongoing decrease in public spaces where people can come together. So now, more than ever, community spaces like dog parks are essential for dogs and humans. Let’s make them the best they can be.

It’s time for us to reimagine the approach and transform the integration of dog parks into our society.

About the Narrator

Jenna Blum is a New York Times bestselling author of the memoir Woodrow on the Bench. The book focuses on the time that Jenna spent with her ailing black lab in a public park and the community they found. Jenna is based in Boston, teaching at Grub Street Writers, where she has been running master fiction and novel workshops for over 20 years. She is one of Oprah’s Top Thirty Women Writers with her books published in over 20 countries. Her other novels include Those Who Save Us, The Stormchasers, and The Lost Family. You can follow Jenna on Instagram.

About the Company

As It Should Be is a production company and creator behind the Dog Walk Meditation and Dog Save The People podcasts. The company develops original shows for self-release and produces commissioned podcasts for select companies. Content specialties and categories under development include animal advocacy, sustainability, mental health/wellness, and more. The production company also serves as a content studio for SOVRN STATE artist management.

Jack Sommer
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