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Connecticut
Dog
Resources
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Check for rules concerning dogs anytime
you visit parks, State Parks require dogs to be on leash at all times.
If you know of a good dog park not listed,
let us know and we will post it.
Click Here to add a dog park
listing
-A few good rules to follow at the dog
park-
- Immunized Dogs Only: Don't bring your
unvaccinated dog or puppy in a park full of other dogs. It's just asking for
the rapid spread of disease, some that could be fatal, especially to young
puppies. Some parks will prohibit the entry of puppies younger than four
months as well, the common age when the full range of puppy vaccines have been
given.
- Bring a Healthy Dog: Don't bring your sick
dog to a dog park! It's just common sense but it's amazing how many people will
bring a dog that’s currently suffering from kennel cough, or has fleas, or
mange, or other health problems.
- Clean Up After Your Dog: To further prevent
the unintentional spreading of disease and intestinal parasites, pick up after
your dog. Leaving piles for other dog owners to clean up is unforgivably rude
and could result in you being fined, and you and your dog being banned from the
park.
- Human Children at Off-Leash Dog Parks:
There are many good reasons to keep children out of off-leash dog parks, and no
good reasons to bring them in. The possibilities for accidents are staggering.
Be a responsible parent, and keep your small children in the parks designed for
them.
- Female Dogs in Heat: Taking a female dog in
heat out in public is unbelievably irresponsible, especially out somewhere where
there are dozens of dogs running loose, with many possibly unaltered males.
- Don't Bring Too Many Dogs: Many parks will
have a posted limit on the amount of dogs one person can bring into a dog park.
It's really best not to bring more than dog than you can handle, even if that
number is less than allowable limit.
- Don't Bring Other Animals That Are Not Dogs:
For the safety of all concerned, dogs, the other animal, and the people in the
park, do not bring animals other than dogs to a dog park.
- Be Responsible for Your Dog's Behavior:
If your dog digs a hole, be responsible, and fill it back in. If he can not play
nicely with other dogs on that day, then take him home.
- Follow The Posted Rules:
Following each park's
individually posted rules and regulations will help keep dog parks open and
available to all dogs. Failure to obey the rules can result in your local park
being shut down, or worse, cause a serious accident that could have been
prevented.
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Avon
Talcott Mountain State Park
Trail up to Heubelien Tower. Dogs should be on a leash. No
dogs allowed in tower.
Fisher Meadows Rec. Area
Large pond, trails through the woods along the banks of the Farmington River.
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Hamden
Hamden Dog Park at Bassett
Open daylight hours year round
Completely fenced, benches, tables, parking, handicap access,
poopbags, trash cans, trees. Phone and restroom at Bassett Park
across street.
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Berlin
Ragged Mountain
Trail starts at the entrance to Ragged Mountain Preserve on West Lane in
Berlin.
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Burlington
Sessions Woods
Forest, fields, bluestone/gravel/dirt trails, beaver pond, streams, bathroom
facilities available. Main trail is a 3 mile hike through a beautiful wooded
State of Connecticut owned property.
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Bristol
Bristol Dog Park
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Branford
Young's Pond
Directions: Exit 55 off I 95, take Rt 1 to Rt 146, there are several turns -
distance approximately 5 miles. You're getting close when you see the
L.I.Sound.
open sunrise to sunset,
great swimming pond for the dogs.
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Cheshire
Mixville Recreation Area
Notch Rd. Cheshire, CT 84 E to exit26, right off
exit , a couple miles go right on Mixville Rd ( there is a sign for
Consolidated Industries) Mixville Rd bears to the left, Go to stop sign and go
right on Notch Rd. 1/4 mile on left is the Park entrance
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Enfield
Enfield Dog Park |
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Essex
Viney Hill Brook Park.
“Paw Park” which
offers a place for man’s best friend to romp and play with other
four-legged licensed residents. It offers a one-acre area that is fenced
in with a separate area for small dogs, if they feel more comfortable.
Not easy to find. Look for sign off old route 9 just south of town towards
Old Saybrook. Directions: Go North on Old Route 9 from Old Saybrook, CT.
Turn left approx 1/2 mile past Essex town line. Follow brown park signs. |
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East Windsor
John H. Flaherty Field Trails
Trombley Road at Route 5
Open daylight hours
Trails and fields
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Farmington
Farmington River Trail - Rails to Trails
Lengthy paved trails (converted from old railroad lines) are throughout the
Farmington Valley. Go as far or as little with your leashed dog. Directions:
Starting points vary in towns of Avon, Burlington, Canton, East Granby,
Farmington, New Hartford, & Simsbury
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Fairfield
Mohegan Lake
open daylight hours, benches, poopbags, trees, parking, phones, trashcans
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Granby
GRANBY D.O.G.G.S. PARK
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Groton/Mystic
Bluff Point State Park
Bluff Point has wooded trails next to Long
Island Sound. The main trail can be crowded on sunny days, there are lots of
side trails that are relatively unused. Watch out for mountain bikers! |
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Hartford
Elizabeth Park
Large field, each day between 4 and 5:30 up to 16 dogs playing. Off Prospect St. in Hartford.
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Litchfield
The White Memorial Foundation
Great hiking, on wooded trails, on dirt roads. A 40,000 acre preserve. located on Route 202 in Litchfield, CT. Rt 8 north to Exit
38, left onto Rt 254, follow 254 to Rt 118 which connects to Rt 202. Follow Rt
202 for approx 3 or 4 miles, the park is on the left. (Great place for dogs,
we use it regularly)
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Mansfield
Bicentennial Pond
From 84: Take 195 exit towards UConn. Follow it through UConn, past Mansfield
Center. There will be a large white congregational church on the right. Take
that right. Follow that to the stop sign at the end. Make a left. Go through
one stop sign (bearing left with the road), about 3000ft from the
intersection, you will see signs for Mansfield Animal Control. Follow those
signs (turning left into what looks like the Town Works. Make your next left,
the entrance for Bicentennial pond should be directly in front of you. If the
parking lot for the park is not open, take the driveway to the right & park up
there by animal control .There's swimming at the pond for people during the
summer. Dogs should be leashed. There are trails through the woods, and some
open space to run on a long leash. Out-of-season, people will let their dogs
swim in the pond.
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Meriden
Hubbard Park and Castle Craig
1800 acres of woodlands, duck filled lakes and streams, flower gardens, picnic
areas, hiking trails, pavilion, playground, tennis courts, ice skating in
winter. Driving Directions: 84 to 691 towards Meriden, exit 4, take
right at end of exit. park on left.
Guifridda Park
Located on Bee and Baldwin (Hunter Golf Club); open sunrise to 1/2 hour before
sunset; Benches, trees, parking.
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Milford
Eisenhower Park
Located within Eisenhower Park at North Street; open dawn to dusk.
this is a large park that has a fenced area where dogs can be
off-leash -note: dogs must be leashed in all other areas of the park. Eisenhower
Park has 220 acres devoted to hiking trails, tennis courts, a playground, a
dog run, and other activities.
Beaver Brook
Dog trails through wooded area, poop bags, wooden walkways over marsh
sections. Directions: Directly off Post Road (Rt. 1) turn onto Erna Ave. park
is 1/4 mile on left.
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Naugatuck/Beacon Falls
Baummers Pond on Mill St
Linden Park - Rt. 8 north to exit
27. At end of ramp take a left and proceed under Rt 8 overpass as if getting
back onto Rt. 8 south. The entrance to the park is on the right just after the
overpass.
Seymour
Reservoir
The DEP purchased the old Seymour Reservoirs as part of Naugatuck State
Forest. There are four ponds and several miles of dirt road/trails.
Driving Directions: Access is off Route 42 in Beacon Falls. Park near the gate
about one mile off the Route 8 exit.
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New Haven
Off Leash Area
Small fenced off area on St. Ronan St. near Yale Divinity
School grounds. Maintained mostly by volunteers.
Right off exit 6 on 91, right on Whitney, left on Canner, left on St. Ronan,
about 100 ft. on right
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New
Canaan
Spencer's Run Dog Social Area |
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Norwalk
Cranbury Park
Grumman Avenue
open daylight hours, tables, trees, parking, restrooms, water, trashcans,
shelter
Trails and open fields.190 acres of public parkland. The park area includes
pavilion, Playground.
Taylor Farm
Open all hours, partially fenced, trees, parking. Large field and
trails, a lot of good dog owners who have well-socialized dogs.
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Norwich
Pawsitive Park
Asylum Ave. between West Main Street and Norwich/New London Turnpike
6 foot fenced in acre for larger dogs, small fenced area for smaller dogs and
a fenced area for small children. Leash free park with water, small pool and
water
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Ridgefield
Bark Park
Fully fenced, separate small dog area, running water, poopbags, double entry
gate. Benches, picnic table, great place with nice people and nice dogs.
Terrific place for greyhounds! Driving Directions: At the end of Governor
Street in Ridgefield (past the Police Station...go to the end, make a right
and a quick left into the parking lot.
Taylor Farm on Beach Road
open all hours, partially fenced, trees, parking
Large field and trails, allot of good dog owners who have
well-socialized dogs
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Rowayton
Off Leash Area
Open field, fencing on one side, but big enough to be away from the street.
Lots of dogs, two dog pools, a water bucket and hose to change the water - you
can't beat it!
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Simsbury
McLean Game Refuge
Consists of 3700 acres of forests, fields, and streams. Trails start at Rt10 &
202 parking area in Simsbury, CT
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South Windsor
South Windsor Dog Park |
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Southington
Mill Street Dog Park
The Southington Dog Park is a fenced in public area on Mill Street where dogs
can legally run off-leash and play with other dogs under the supervision of
their companions. The park is accessed through a double-gated entrance where
you unleash your dog after the first gate is closed and before you open the
second gate to enter. There is a separate fenced area that may be used for
small or timid dogs, dogs that need a time-out, or a place for dogs to get
acclimated to the park.
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Stamford
Stamford Dog Park |
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Stamford/Greenwich
Mianus River State Park
Exit 33 off Meritt Pkwy to Westover Rd. Follow signs. Lots of well socialized
dogs off leash. Calm river spots for swimming.
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Southbury
Southbury Off-Leash Area
chairs, stream, poop bags. Park is fenced in on three sides. Back of
the park has a river for swimming for dogs. Basket with toys for the dogs in
center of field. Benches throughout the riverside. Table and Chairs in the
center of the field. Driving Directions: 84 to exit 15. Take right off exit,
third light (Rt. 67) take left. About a half mile down, turn right into O&G
Industries. Park is on right, about a hundred yards down.
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Torrington
Sunnybrook Park
Newfield Road, Torrington. Forested trails, open fields, even some ponds are
the highlights of this State Park area in Torrington, CT. Not often visited,
so it's a great place to go to get away from it all even though it's not far
off the beaten path. Open sunrise to sunset. Trash cans at parking area. Route 8N to exit 45 (Kennedy Dr). Take a left
off of the exit; left at end of Kennedy Dr onto Winsted Rd. Follow to junction
with Main St and Newfield Rd. Take right onto Newfield Rd. Entrance to park is
about 1.5-2 miles down on the left hand side.
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Trumbull
Trumbull Dog Park
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Vernon
Valley Falls Park Trails
There are 8.5 miles of blazed trails in Valley Falls Park, as well as a
playground, picnic pavilion, toilet facilities and a swimming beach. Dogs must
be leashed but most people don't. Lots of trails and a great stream hike for
dogs to play in. Exit 66 off 84 east or west -- left onto
Tunnel Road, Left on to Valley Falls Road - Park is about 1 mile up on your
right
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Westport
Winslow Park on Route 1
open all hours, tables, poopbags, trees, parking, trashcans
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Wethersfield
Wethersfield Dog Park @ Mill Woods. Mill Woods Park, 154 Prospect Street.
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West Hartford
West Hartford dog park
West Hartford Reservoir
Located on Route 4 on the West Hartford/Farmington line. Also accessible via
Rt. 44 in Avon.
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Windsor
Northwest Park
Wooded trails, great place for dogs to swim.
Driving Directions: Take exit 38 from I-91. Follow Route 75 north to make left
onto Prospect and follow to rotary. Take first right onto Lang and follow into
park.
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