Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Finsbury Park - Dog Walking Spaces
Are there are spaces in Finsbury Park left where you can walk your dog? On today's walk with my puppy (who I got for my mental health and wellbeing) I was again shouted at by a group of men exercising as she ran up to them to say hello.
I have signed her up for puppy training classes in Hampstead Heath and have been training her since I had her but as a 6 month old puppy she sees adults exercising as playing and gets excited. Dog training is a process but there doesn't seem to be anywhere in the park left to do this.
I usually walk the full perimeter of the park or half way round behind the pond so completely avoiding the children's playing area but every space has a gym or sports court or a playing field. Even the tree area by Manor House has groups of adults taking yoga or aerobics classes.
If I was to go to a more dog friendly park I would have to take public transport and don't have much time as I work full time. :(
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Shar on
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Dogs aren't specifically prohibited anywhere in Finsbury Park other than in the children's play areas I believe.
Some people exercising in Finsbury Park don't like even (human) children or for that matter any civilians being wny anywhere in their vicinity (in my experience at least).
It might not be about your dog...
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Permalink Reply by James H. on
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A person who shouts at a dog owner because their little puppy is being friendly and curious is a bit of a tosser, in my book.
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Permalink Reply by Donna FT on
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A lot of dog walkers use the baseball field at the north end of the park, near the New River Bridge and Endymion Road entrance but as others have said, I think only the two gated playgrounds are out of bounds for dogs. There's also a little square tucked away near the Manor House gate where puppy training sessions are run (not sure if they're back running yet?) if you wanted to do your own training exercises.
Sure, some people don't like dogs and I have to say despite my liking them, and my kids liking them, I don't love it when big dogs come thundering up to my quite small children unexpectedly but an excited puppy is just a part of park life! So many people walk dogs there and let them run free that I'd consider it a dog-friendly park (my youngest has now got a dog-buddy we arrange to meet in FP to throw balls for!).
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There used to be a fenced dog training area between the running track and the Manor House gate. As far as I know its still there.
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Thanks yes there is a dog training area by the Manor House gate but it is too small. My puppy can do recall in a small area but training is needed for further distances. However quite a few times I have passed this area and it is was being used by exercisers taking boxing or kick boxing lessons.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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I’m really sorry this happened to you. I’m starting to get pretty sick of classes, where the participants are paying a trainer, using the park as if it some private gym. It’s not and you have every right to exercise your dog there.
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The park is full of people walking dogs, not everyone likes dogs, it's inevitable some people will not want dogs approaching them.
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Permalink Reply by Carol Tennant on
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Can I ask - is your dog off lead? If your dog is off lead and doesn’t return when you call, then I would suggest that she should be on a lead, as technically, she is out of control and if a dog warden (were there such a thing) would be within their rights to fine you for your dog’s behaviour.
The best way to train a dog not to do something is to remove the opportunity.
I recommend Alpha Dog Training in the park, near Manor House. It’s cheap and effective training guidance. They’re open now, but you have to book a place as numbers are limited.
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Hi Carol - My dog is on the lead most of the time (many days now all of the time) but I like to let her off the lead in an area which is further away from people and in a more open space in order to train recall and let her play free. We are using dog whistles and regular whistles and she responds well most of the time; but the area which was previously ok has now become open to the gym. There used to be a fence around it and I could walk her along the side of Endymion road inside the park off lead for a run around with a ball. Now she sees all the exercisers on the open-air equipment and wants to join in the fun. My main point here is that there is nowhere left in the park that I can safely let her off. The Alpha Dog Training area is too small to train long recall and is often taken up by someone giving a gym class. I have signed up for further training in Hampstead Heath but as it is far cannot do this often. Sadly, I now fell ostracized from Finsbury Park. I just think there should be an area of such a large park which is more dog friendly.
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It’s the dog training area that is being used for exercise classes
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Permalink Reply by Ralph Foster on
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Hi Thea,
We regularly walk our Romanian rescue dog Della around Finsbury Park. We have been working on recall with her but due to food hunting issues we have reduced the duration of her off lead to a small portion of our walk. We had a long period with her on a long 15m training lead which led to good results but as her confidence grows, her cheekiness has also elevated and her recall has been getting worse particularly around people eating and discarded food.
The dog classes at the exercise square with Alphadogs are back on. This is the second dog that we have taken to classes there and have found it to be very beneficial. They do group classes, puppy classes and one to one sessions if necessary. Please see AlphaDogs website here for details of how to get in touch and book sessions:
When we first got Della we were also looking for fenced dog areas where we could train her for recall but there are few in North London. We did find one in Higham Hill Waltham Forest which we could get to on a nice walk from the River Lea:
I've only just found thelondog.com website so it seems there may be a few more around.
Also I read recently that when you train a dog, you have to perform each new skill in 100 different places before you and your dog have finally mastered the trick. Our recall worked when it was just us and a high value treat with nobody else around and no other food source, but now we have to work on that when there's a train going past, when there's an exercise class going on, when there's a discarded chicken bone in the bushes (or worse).... the list is endless. as you say it's an on going process.
I am sorry to hear that you were shouted at by the exercising men, I hope that you are not too upset by this and that you can once again look upon Finsbury Park as a dog and dog owner friendly place.
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