Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Atlanta? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks and plan for your next adventure in the Big Peach.
This page is about public city dog parks and also includes Sniffspot private dog parks. Sniffspot is the largest network of private dog parks for rent in the world!
Each of the thousands of Sniffspot dog parks are hosted by locals on private land with 100% private bookings to maximize safety for guests and their dogs. Sniffspot offers various types of dog parks, including fenced fields, water parks, indoor dog parks, dog beaches, and more.
Click here to learn more about Sniffspots in Atlanta!
Here are a few things to bring with you when visiting any dog park in the Atlanta, Georgia area.
Keep your parks clean! Always pack a few extra poop bags in case you need to pick up after your pup — and consider scooping any left-behind piles you come across, too. This will make the environment safer for everyone who visits.
Some public dog parks offer water bowls or water fountains for your dog, but it’s a good idea to pack some of your own just in case. Never leave your dog’s hydration up to chance — especially on hot days during Atlanta summers. (Heat stroke is a real problem in the south.)
Packing your own water and bowls will also keep your dog safe from germs and parasites that can spread between pups on shared drinking surfaces.
If your dog will be playing with other dogs, it’s important to pay close attention to what they’re wearing. You don’t want anyone’s teeth or paws getting caught in loose fabric or buckles!
That said, it’s always a good idea to bring a well-fitted collar or harness along with your dog’s identification tags. Atlanta requires all dogs to be licensed with the county.
Along with a collar or harness, bring a leash, even if the dog park you’re visiting is a designated off-leash area. This way you can keep your dog under control while walking to and from the entrance. You might also consider packing an extra leash in case you need to grab hold of another dog or intervene if a conflict arises — and it’s a good idea to read up on leash laws in your local area before venturing out.
You can learn more about dog leash regulations in Atlanta here.
Read reviews and be on the lookout for any common issues, like unruly dogs or left-behind waste.
It can be hard to find reliable information about some public parks. (This is one reason Sniffspot’s private listings might be a better option.) When in doubt? Don’t risk it! Your dog’s safety and comfort are too important. There are many other ways you can fulfill your canine companion besides visiting your local fenced dog park.
Take inventory of the other dogs and owners.
This will help you make sure your dog is enjoying their time and keep everyone safe! Know what signs might indicate that your pup is stressed or overwhelmed — and be ready to step in if needed.
You can read more about interpreting your dog’s body language in this article.
Sniffspot conducted a 2022 survey of dog owners across the country to better understand the state of public dog parks. The south’s public dog parks (including those in the Atlanta area) came in second place on our survey:
The Atlanta area boasts multiple dog parks where it’s legal for your pup to run and play off leash. Outside of a designated dog park, your best friend will need to be kept under physical control with a visible tether.
Here are some top spots for Georgia residents and visitors to bring their dogs!
Brook Run Dog park is a fully fenced off-leash area featuring plenty of trees. You can walk around the park’s fence line (one loop is about a third mile) with your pup or head into the center wooded area for more exploration and play. There are no separate areas for small and large dogs here, so be extra mindful of keeping watch on your pet’s play style.
Sociability note: At four acres, this public dog park is larger than many in the area but still relatively small in size — which means your dog might not be able to make space from other pets if they aren’t interested in playing. You should only visit if you’re confident your pup is social and tolerant with unfamiliar dogs.
Chattapoochee Dog park has both a small and large dog area in an attempt to keep pets safe from prey drive related incidents as they chase each other around. Both sides of the park have interactive fountains where dogs can wade, splash, and play. Chattapoochee also offers plenty of seating areas for owners along with some dog agility equipment set in the green space.
Sociability note: This public dog park is small in size, which means your dog might not be able to make space from other pets if they aren’t interested in playing. You should only visit if you’re confident your pup is social and tolerant with unfamiliar dogs.
Oakhurst Dog Park has two off-leash options for you and your dog to choose from: one is a more classic, traditional dog park field and the other is a wooded trail. There are plenty of trees throughout the park to provide shade on hot summer days, along with water readily available for both you and your pet. Oakhurst also has benches and tables for you to rest.
Sociability note: This public dog park is small in size, which means your dog might not be able to make space from other pets if they aren’t interested in playing. You should only visit if you’re confident your pup is social and tolerant with unfamiliar dogs.
Newtown Dream Dog Park has been called one of the top dog parks in the country. Located at the front entrance of Newtown Park, the off-leash dog area is one acre of fenced space with artificial turf, sprinklers, agility obstacles, and water fountains both for people and for pets. There are two separate areas for small and large dogs to reduce the risk of prey drive related incidents as pets play together.
Sociability note: This public dog park is small in size, which means your dog might not be able to make space from other pets if they aren’t interested in playing. You should only visit if you’re confident your pup is social and tolerant with unfamiliar dogs.
Canine Crossing Dog Park has one small dog enclosure and one large dog enclosure to allow owners to gauge play styles and temperaments before letting their pets run loose. The areas offer some fun agility equipment and obstacles. There are also picnic shelters, public restrooms, and — best of all in the Georgia heat — a designated water area for dogs to enjoy. Canine Crossing Dog park is located between the South Fulton Tennis Center and the South Fulton Government Service Center, making it easy to find.
Sociability note: This public dog park is small in size, which means your dog might not be able to make space from other pets if they aren’t interested in playing. You should only visit if you’re confident your pup is social and tolerant with unfamiliar dogs.
Piedmont Dog Park offers three acres for pets to play off leash in the Atlanta area. There are separate areas for large and small dogs in an attempt to minimize the risk of prey drive related incidents as unfamiliar animals run around. The park also features new trails, landscaping, benches, public restrooms, and water fountains.
Sociability note: This public dog park is small in size, which means your dog might not be able to make space from other pets if they aren’t interested in playing. You should only visit if you’re confident your pup is social and tolerant with unfamiliar dogs.
Adair Dog Park is a small but functional off-leash space with a wood chip surface to help keep your dog’s paws clean as they play. It’s only open to residents of Decatur, but it’s a popular neighborhood spot.
Sociability note: This public dog park is small in size, which means your dog might not be able to make space from other pets if they aren’t interested in playing. You should only visit if you’re confident your pup is social and tolerant with unfamiliar dogs.
Kick back and relax while your dog gets to run wild through the (fully fenced) woods. The hosts of Chateau de Chien say they are a historic stone cabin set on a National Wildlife Federation Certified Habitat — it’s a little slice of nature right in the city! The yard is heavily wooded and at a steep incline, making for great exercise for both you and your dog. Think of it like a fully fenced, off-leash nature hike!
This private dog park is an open, shady space with plenty of critters for your dog to watch (like birds and squirrels) — and hose access for play time or to get a drink on a hot day. There are tables and chairs for owners to sit on along with a hammock if you’d like to relax further.
Clubber’s Canine FitClub is three acres of fully fenced property for your dog to roam, sniff, and get some much-needed exercise outside of the city. In the summer, there is plenty of shade along with a kiddie pool to offer a break from the heat — and year round there is a covered area with chairs and a shaded picnic table. Toys and dog waste bags are available as needed.
This private dog park boasts a whopping seven acres of fenced in property featuring a wide open field and some wooded trails that run alongside a creek. Your dogs can play and run freely through the woods in a true nature experience.
Rachel’s Dog Park is a well-kept backyard in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The host provides drinking water, toys, and seating to make your pup’s off-leash experience enjoyable for everyone.
This private dog park is a cute backyard with accessible deck seating, outdoor power, and a dog drinking fountain to make sure your pup stays hydrated. The host also provides a handful of toys and some dog waste bags to make clean up simple.
It is important for dogs to have off-leash exercise and plenty of opportunities to explore. But the free and open nature of public dog parks can have drawbacks.
Many dog behaviorists discourage visiting public dog parks and recommend Sniffspot's private dog parks. With Sniffspot, dogs can get their exercise safely — without worrying about other dogs, people, or potential disease transmission.
While the popularity of dog parks has been skyrocketing in the United States, so has the number of professional trainers who caution against their use. The top risks associated with public off-leash dog parks are that:
(Thankfully, private dog parks don’t have these concerns. Learn more about Sniffspot listings in your area here!)
Many owners are drawn to dog parks because they want to socialize their pets. We’re inundated with messages of the “perfect” friendly dog. Our social media feeds feature viral videos of animal best friends that echo the cutesy movies we loved as children — but they often show a false reality.
While dogs are social mammals, it’s typically not natural for them to regularly engage in play with strangers. Dog sociability can be viewed as a sliding scale:
Ultimately: It’s perfectly normal for our dogs to not want to play with other pets outside of our families. Renting a private dog park just for your dog and a few trusted friends might be the best option.
Owners have great intentions when they bring their nervous dogs to the dog park in hopes of building social skills. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much for that plan to backfire.
Because dog parks are often busy, chaotic environments, it can be difficult to ensure all interactions are positive. Uncertain dogs are easily overwhelmed by large packs — if the space is fenced-in without adequate space to flee, these pets can quickly feel trapped or resort to the “fight” option of fight-or-flight reactions.
After a few stressful experiences, previously shy dogs can lose trust in their owners and even become fear aggressive.
Sniffspot takes these risks seriously. That’s why all of our private dog park listings are carefully booked to make sure there’s ample time between arrivals and departures — and you can filter listings by whether or not your dog is likely to see any other animals at all, even from afar.
It’s not just nervous dogs who can be harmed by dog park visits — exuberant dogs might struggle in these environments, too.
Many social dogs struggle with excitement-based leash reactivity. When they see another dog, they want to say hi! When the leash prevents them from doing so, they experience something called barrier frustration. Eventually this boils over into an aggressive-looking display that makes it difficult to go on walks or explore public spaces.
While playing with other dogs can be an important part of a social pet’s fulfillment, too much unstructured off-leash time can have unintended consequences when they routinely practice running up to other dogs.
These risks are especially high when owners take their dogs to the dog park with the intent of tiring them out. Pets often arrive in an amped-up, energetic state of mind that impairs good decision making.
Even a previously social dog might develop a behavior issue (like fear reactivity) due to a negative interaction with another dog at a public dog park. Perhaps they get subtly bullied, feel overwhelmed, or are even bit — and they decide to preemptively try to keep other dogs away from them. Now your social dog is selective or even aggressive toward others.
While some dogs seem to let those negative interactions roll off their back (especially if they’ve been well socialized since puppyhood) others are affected in lasting ways. Each dog and situation is different.
Public dog parks also increase the chances of pets sustaining injury or developing infection.
While many dog-dog injuries at dog parks are accidental — canines can be mismatched in size, inadvertently break skin while wrestling with untrimmed nails, or simply come on too strong without realizing — others are overtly aggressive.
Even friendly dogs can start fights by failing to recognize another pet’s signals of discomfort. Resource guarding over food and toys can turn into a dangerous scuffle. Sometimes heightened arousal from being in a large social group elevates even a typically clear-headed dog’s prey drive.
No matter how hard Atlanta works to keep their parks clean, it’s impossible to fully eliminate all infection risk. This is especially true in dog-designated spaces that see dozens, or perhaps hundreds, of different canines each week.
There’s no way to confirm that every dog entering an off-leash space has been fully vaccinated — and bacterial diseases like leptospirosis often thrive in wet, muddy terrain that’s been torn up by paws.
Young puppies and elderly dogs have the greatest chance of getting sick.
While dog parks certainly come with their risks, it would be unfair to claim they’re always a bad idea. Public dog parks do serve an important community service in cities.
Some areas lend themselves to safe interactions better than others — large plots of land with acres to maneuver are less dangerous than fenced-in city runs, for example — and responsible owner involvement can make a world of difference.
Well-maintained off-leash dog parks can provide dogs and owners with:
If choosing to use a public dog park, you can do a lot to manage your dog’s safety:
While public dog parks have a number of safety issues, such as potentially aggressive dogs and disease transmission, Sniffspot dog parks are much safer.
Sniffspot bookings are private for just you and dogs you bring. We require every dog to be vaccinated (or have equivalent titers). All Sniffspot locations are vetted and reviewed by guests so you can find the perfect safe place for you and your dog.
You can filter Sniffspot dog parks by fencing and distractions.
We recommend reading reviews and reaching out to the host with any questions.
Sniffspot has fully fenced dog parks in and near the Atlanta, Georgia area. You can filter through all options by their fencing status (and even height) at this link!
There are plenty of Sniffspot fields in or near Atlanta where dogs can be off leash. Take a look at listings and filter by size and flat field space at this link.
Yes, Sniffspot has dog parks with agility equipment and/or dog obstacles in or near Atlanta! You can filter all Atlanta listings by the presence of agility equipment here.
Traveling with your dog can be a rewarding experience, but what do you do when adventure calls you to a place that’s a bit too far for a drive? If you're a pet-owner who want to jetset with your pup, then you’ll want to find the best dog-friendly airlines.
Discover the Great Pyrenees, a breed celebrated for its affectionate, loyal, and independent nature. Recognized as a large dog, the Great Pyrenees have their origins in France where they were initially bred as livestock guardians starting in the roots back to 3000 BC century.
Discover the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a breed celebrated for its loyal, playful, and friendly nature. Recognized as a medium-sized dog, Staffordshire Bull Terriers originated in the United Kingdom, where they were initially bred for bull-baiting and later for dog fighting starting in the early 19th century.
Discover the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, a breed celebrated for its friendly and affectionate nature. Recognized as a small dog, Pembroke Welsh Corgis have their origins in Wales, where they were initially bred for herding cattle, sheep, and horses starting in the 10th century.
Discover the Boxer, a breed celebrated for its playful, friendly, and alert nature. Recognized as a large dog, Boxers have their origins in Germany, where they were initially bred for hunting large game starting in the late 19th century.
Discover the Great Dane, a breed celebrated for its friendly, affectionate, and curious nature. Recognized as a large dog, Great Danes have their origins in Germany, where they were initially bred for hunting and guarding starting in the 16th century.
Does your dog ever growl when you walk by their food dish? Maybe they get possessive of treats, carrying them far away and giving you side-eye when you start to approach — or snarling at your other pets or children if they get too close.
As almost every dog owner is aware, the nose of a dog is an amazing thing. Just as they can pick up sounds we can’t hear, their sense of smell and ability to pick up scents is well beyond ours. In fact, dogs have 40 times the number of olfactory receptors as humans.
More than 80 million Americans rely on their service dogs to help them navigate the world. Task-trained assistance animals perform a huge range of life-changing—in many cases, life-saving—services: These dogs act as eyes for visually impaired handlers, provide mobility support, alert to seizures and blood sugar crashes, interrupt anxiety attacks, remind their people to take medications, and so much more.
You thought your dog was house trained. Your home was clean from puddles of pee, those dreaded middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks were behind you, and you loved every minute of dog ownership… until your four-legged best friend started using the bathroom inside again. What’s going on?
Ah, poop. We humans think it’s disgusting… but many of our dogs seem to love the stuff. If you’re wondering why your canine companion tries to eat feces (either their own or that of other animals) you’re not alone!
Do you have a water-loving dog looking to burn some energy? There are countless dog parks to visit throughout our country — but some of them become far too hot in the midday sun to be safe for your pets to play. That’s why we’ve put together a list of some of the best dog water parks throughout the United States! At these locations, your pup can frolic, splash, and swim to their heart’s content.
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
Does your dog destroy every toy you give them? Is your house littered with remnants of fabric and stuffing of all different sizes? Are you tired of investing in “indestructible” toys only for your pup to still dismantle—or worse, get bored of—them in just a few days?
You’ve been told your dog needs regular exercise. There’s a reason “walking the dog” is a classic daily activity: Frequent excursions give your pup a chance to experience the world, maintain a healthy weight, and — most importantly — spend time with you! Consistent physical activity can also improve their strength, muscle tone, coordination, and mental ability over time.
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
Many dogs have gotten a bad reputation over the years for being "dangerous breeds." Rottweilers are among them. Like pit bulls and other large, blocky-headed types of dogs, these powerful and beautiful animals are often assumed to be aggressive.
Your dog is reactive. They’ll see another dog, person, or other stimulus in the environment (like a car or bike) while out on a walk and suddenly go crazy at the end of their leash. The barking, lunging, and growling feels embarrassing for you — and it’s clear that your pup isn’t having a great time either.
Does your dog display reactivity to other pets or people? Maybe they’re a new rescue pup and are still settling into your home. Or they were sick growing up, so you missed their critical socialization period. Possibly they’ve had a bad experience after being raised as a normal puppy.
Do you have a reactive dog or suspect you may have one? You’re not alone!
Does your dog ever growl when you walk by their food dish? Maybe they get possessive of treats, carrying them far away and giving you side-eye when you start to approach — or snarling at your other pets or children if they get too close.
From 2009 to 2020, there was a 40 percent increase in the development of public dog parks. Designated spots for canine exercise have become commonplace in every major city in North America — many pet owners won’t even consider renting an apartment that doesn’t have its own fenced-in pet area for their canine companions.
Thousand Oaks, California has been a safe haven for Sniffspot host, Jen, since childhood. Having grown up in busy Santa Barbara, Jen, an introvert from an early age, would seek out solitude and serenity away from tourists attractions and droves of people visiting from elsewhere. “My grandparents own 60 acres about a 30 minute drive from here, and I grew up spending every summer and every holiday visiting them on the ranch,” Jen explained. “In Santa Barbara, we wouldn't go to the beach on the weekend because that's where everybody was, so you'd find places off the beaten path where the tourists weren't. For me, the ranch was just my happy place.”
Ellen is the host of Country Pasture Getaway, one of Sniffspot's most popular sniff spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great sniff spot host.
Just 20 minutes outside of the busy city of Portland, Oregon, and settled right on the banks of the Columbia River, you’ll find what countless visitors have flocked to the area in search of – mountain views, crisp, clean air, and running water for miles. What you might not expect to find, however, is a hidden oasis designed just for dogs and their people, owned and operated by a farming couple and enjoyed by visitors on two legs, and four.
Fran is the host of Ranch Setting, one of Sniffspot's most popular spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great Sniffspot host.
Looking for a space to play with your dog no matter what the weather’s like outside? Look no further than our list of the best indoor dog parks in the United States! These climate-controlled spaces are growing in popularity as pet ownership increases throughout the country. As a bonus, many of them also offer dog training, boarding, grooming, or daycare services on the premises.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered! It’s hard to narrow down, but we’ve put together some of the best off-leash dog parks throughout the country so you can plan your next adventure — along with a checklist of what to bring, what to know beforehand, and some frequently asked questions.
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Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered!
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