Single? Divorced? Empty Nester? What better companion to come home to than your loyal canine? Married? Kids? What house is a home without the family dog? So eager to greet us and always happy, no wonder over 50 million American households have a dog. Our dogs make us smile and they brighten our days, so let’s not forget to reward them. By reward, I don’t mean a treat. Treats are great, but what a dog really needs is exercise, companionship, and social interaction. Just like us!
There are lots of fun things on the Shoreline to do with your dog, and this column is dedicated to just that. As a professional dog walker and owner of For The Love of Paws, I’m always on the look out for new places to take my clients’ dogs, as well as my own two canines.
2nd in a series: “5 Places To Take Your Dog,” – East Haven and Branford, Connecticut.
Agway of North Branford hosts a costume contest and parade for pets every October, sponsored by ProPlan. Sign ups are going on now, and judging takes place in their store at 1pm on October 17. The top 5 best pet costumes will win up to six bags of dog food or cat food, and all contestants receive 10% off any store purchase the day of the event. Photos taken the day of the contestants remain on display for further judging by Agway customers. Announced on November 1st, the People’s Choice winner will receive a $50 Agway gift certificate!
This is a very popular annual event. Don’t delay! Make a costume for your pet and sign up now. I’ll be voting for the People’s Choice!
The North Branford Agway is located at 11 Whitewood Lane off Rte 80, 2 miles east from route 139.
Dog Parks
Most dog training experts agree that dog parks are not suitable for every dog. They are certainly no place for dogs that are aggressive, overly rough, or excessively shy. Dog parks are a fun place for dogs that know basic obedience, and already well socialized with people and canines. It is best to exercise high energy dogs prior to a trip to the park. Always carry a leash and pick-up bags and keep a close eye on your dog. As your dog’s pack leader, it is your job to protect your dog from danger and to reel in your dog if he is misbehaving.
Our Park – Located at 421 Shore Drive in Branford (behind The Orchard House), “Our Park” is a somewhat small but well enclosed dog run. Volunteers maintain the park and there are chairs and benches for humans to relax on while their dogs romp. The downside is the lack of grass. The park is mostly dirt and mulch which makes playtime a bit dusty.
Young’s Pond – According to the Branford Land Trust, Young’s Pond is a 48.57 acreage town park consisting of a softball field, dog run and walking trails. The park requires that dog owners “carry a leash” and pick up after their dogs. The “dog run” is an open grassy field and not fully enclosed, so best for dogs that return when called, stay close by, or leashed. You will find other dogs and their owners here most any time of day, with weekend mornings and after work hours being the busiest. The trails are easy to walk but the woods can be very “buggy.” The pond attracts water dogs, but be cautious – it is not the cleanest pond for a dog to swim in or drink from. Bring bottled water.
Trail Walks
Trail walking is wonderful exercise for your dog and an easy way to “get back to nature” without leaving town. We are so lucky that our shoreline has a large number of parks, trail systems, and preserved open space for public use. Dogs love to explore the woods, and Branford and East Haven have some wonderful hiking trails.
Farm River State Park in East Haven – The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and Quinnipiac University manage this gorgeous 62-acre Connecticut state park. The trails are accessible from both Short Beach Rd. and Mansfield Grove Rd. Well maintained trails lead to the waterfront or “marina” portion of the Park. Keep your dogs on leash and enjoy a beautiful walk.
Stony Creek Quarry Preserve – Just off Route 146 at the end of Quarry Rd, is the old Stony Creek Quarry. Mainly used for hiking, you can still view a working quarry from some of the trails. The granite quarried here helped erect New York City’s Grand Central Terminal and other famous buildings. You will still find excellent examples of pink granite along the trails. From the parking lot side of the road, follow the white dot or green rectangle trail. These trails are not for beginners and some trails are not marked well. However, if you are looking for a clean place for your dog to swim, you only have to walk in a short way.
Next week: “5 Places To Take Your Dog,” in Madison and Killingworth, Connecticut.
Related posts:
Excellent and informative article. Makes me wish I lived there! Keep the articles coming Tina!