Members-only dog parks?

I think it would be worth it if the membership fee ensured that the other owners were responsible about their dogs' behavior. Have you been by to check it out? What's the dynamic like?

a dog park just opened up near us that is kinda like that. they charge a fee to use it. but you can just pay as you go no membership required. or you can buy a month or several month pass.

this is what i liked about it...
1. they have staff patrolling the play areas.
2. there are separate areas depending on the size of your dog.
3. they have a "redneck area" for dogs who dont play well with other dogs.
4. sydney had a lot of fun their and i wasnt worried about his safety.

what i didnt like...
1. the cost. it is alright once in a while, but would get expensive after a while.
2. they just started up the day we went...so they have a few "bugs" to work out.
3. their hours and location arent doable during the week. so we wouldnt save any money with a monthly pass.

I have considered joining one like this, primarily because they have agility equipment available to use, but it is also the only one remotely close to me. The fee is similar, like $20 a month, and it is my understanding that you have to present a shot record and your dog has to pass a temperment test. I think the fee would be worth it just for the agility equipment. My boys and I need to work on their recall a bit before I let them loose on 20 acres though.

I use a members only dog park.  I am more than happy to pay, because dogs are screened before you are allowed membership.  You are pretty much guaranteed to have a pleasant dog park experience, as opposed to having to worry about what may happen at a public dog park. 

I think it sounds wonderful -- especially if dogs/owners are screened prior to being accepted.  I also think that the average irresponsible dog owner that shows up at public dog parks wouldn't be inclined to pay the fee for a private park, which would (hopefully) mean that the people who frequent this place are pleasant & responsible people.
 
I agree that if there was agility equipment available it would be even more worth it.  You wouldn't be able to keep Luke and I away.  I wish we had a place like that around here!  Our dog center is a half hour away and we can only get there once or twice a week.

It says "Special events area for agility training, obedience classes and community events; birthday parties!", but I don't know if that means is opened for everyday use.

http://www.shaggypines.com/aboutUs.htm

I think it is a great idea. The dog parks near me ( I live next to one), are all county parks and free and unsupervised and can be problematic if your not very carefull.  There is a  supervised dog park about 20 miles from where I live, but they charge $12 per visit ( too much in my opinion).  

without looking at the link, I will say this as a general thought about privately owned (or pay for use) places.

Generally, privated owned places have the funding to hirer the staff to take care of things. They also have the ability to make sure their places are top notch.
If dogs are screened, then *maybe* they screen owners as well?

This is where you will be able to tell that by the type of owner that goes in, that's the type of dog you're going to get.

Would they allow you to take a tour and observe the people and dogs in there BEFORE you bring your dog?

Yes, you can go for free anytime w/o a dog.  The only part that annoys me is that you still have to pay to use the grooming stations, even as a member.  That would really be a big draw, b/c I have a big dog and I'm not about to be buying a tub and dryer for a single dog.  Also, the swimming area is a big draw b/c I have no clue where else I could let Chop swim.  We go to a cottage for two weeks, but we don't own the place so it's a once a year thing.  As far as I know all of the other beaches I frequent are no-dogs and they are patrolled by the DNR.

These are the requirements:
- Male dogs over 6 months of age must be neutered
- Dogs must be on leash to enter the Shaggy Pines Club House, dog wash and specialty shop areas
- Children must be at least 10 years of age to enter the off-leash park
- Children of all ages are welcome in Shaggy Pines Club House, dog wash and specialty shop areas
- All puppies must have their second round of the distemper vaccination series before entering the park - All members and visitors must present current proof of the following:
Bordetella vaccination
Rabies vaccination
Negative fecal exams (within the last 6 months)
Distemper vaccination - We also strongly suggest that your dog(s) be on heartworm and a flea preventative


Now, the free dog park which is much farther away and FREE is self-policed and has these requirements:
1. Always clean up after your dog.
2. Dogs must be current on all shots and display proper tags including current identification information, license and rabies.
3. Supervise your dog closely; never leave your dog unattended. Dogs must be under your voice control at all times.
4. No dogs younger than four months allowed because of inoculation requirements.
5. No more than two dogs per owner.
6. All dogs must be spayed or neutered.
7. If your dog becomes unruly or plays too rough, please leash him/her and leave immediately.
8. Fill in any hole your dog digs.
9. No smoking or food in the off-leash area.
10. For safety reasons, please remove pinch and spike collars before entering.
11. No children under 10-years-old allowed inside off-leash area. Please supervise children closely at all times. Owners are liable for any damage or injury inflicted by their dogs.

Our city is in the works of putting in a members only dog park. I'm quite excited about it since it will ensure that all the animals there are S/N and vaxed, plus there are only a certain number of passes sold to control over population of the place. The fee isn't as expensive as the other ones I've heard of - I think it's planned to be just $25 or $30/year. We'll see how it actually turns out though...

I don't have one around here, but my sister does in Indiana.  It's a monthly or per visit fee, but the dogs must be preapproved.  There is one person "on duty" at all open hours.  It's actually very nice.

I'd give that a try, particularly if you can pay month to month without a huge processing fee.
 
I've had some unpleasant experiences at dog parks. Some with aggressive dogs and one with an aggressive owner. A Pommy bit Floyd in the private parts and Floyd snapped but didn't touch the dog. Problem solved until the owner decided that she was going to pull pepper spray out of her purse and nuke poor Floyd for snapping at a smaller dog. I had my own pepper spray and threatened to nuke her, but never went back to the dog park.
 
My feeling is that dogs need to run and I'm not really able to run/roller blade etc. the amount a healthy herding breed dog requires. Fortunately we have access to a couple of places, though I have to time it just right. Floyd needs a minimum of five miles running per day and does better with ten. He's had a couple of sprains that made that impossible for a week or so and by the time he's spent a few days on the disabled list, he's a pain in the butt.

I'd totally do it if there was one near me (our local dog park is public). There is one like this in the area but it is waaaaay out in the burbs. I've always wanted to visit it but the only time I'm ever out there is to attend my temple and it isn't practical to have the dogs with me at those times (as dog-friendly as my temple is, my dogs aren't really temple material).

We are members at Shaggy Pines (have been for three years) and love it. Its worth every dime. When Bodhi was a puppy it saved not only my house but my sanity! We'd spend an hour out there and he'd come home completely wiped out. The staff does a good job of screening dogs and is pretty proactive about handling any situations that come up. New this year out there is an agility pass. They have a separate area with Agility equipment set up and once you've participated in a clinic or class you can buy a punch card that allows you use of the equipment during clubhouse hours. The owner/staff are extremely active in rescue and support a number of community groups (including HSKC).

My best advice if you are considering a membership is to go out there during club hours and walk around. Humans w/o dogs can come in for free, talk to the members, see how the dogs interact, then decide.

If you have any other questions about it, pm me and I can send you more info.
M.