If your dog has resorted to unrolling all of your toilet paper and leaving puddles of toilet water in your bathroom again, it could be a sign.
Treat their boredom and help them expend all of their extra energy with a trip to a local dog park.
When dog owners are respectful and mindful, dog parks can be a great way for pets to socialize and exercise. Be sure to bring extra bags to clean up behind your dog, as well as water for when you and your pet get tired from playing.
RELATED: Fun day, fun play: dog park etiquette from your dog
Whether you’re looking to explore a new dog park or hoping to explore one in your own backyard, here are seven must-attend dog parks from throughout metro Atlanta:
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Piedmont Dog Park
Piedmont Park’s open fields, concrete trails and lake make it a beautiful intown park for humans and dogs alike. Your pet must be on a leash in most of the park, but don’t let that discourage you from bringing your fur baby along and going on a walk while taking in Atlanta’s beautiful skyline.
The park also features small and large breed sections when you’re ready to relax on a bench and let your pet roam leash-free for a while.
6 a.m.-11 p.m. Free. Piedmont Dog Park, 1320 Monroe Drive, Atlanta, 30306 (Note: this is the address for the Monroe Dr. entrance to the Piedmont Park parking garage. In this map, the parking garage is the rectangular building at the end of Evelyn St.). Piedmontpark.org.
Canine Crossing Dog Park
South Fulton County’s first dog park, Canine Crossing, splits more than 5 acres into two small off-leash areas, a walking path and a covered pavilion.
The area designated for dogs over 25 pounds features a covered swing for humans, fire hydrant-covered tunnels for pets, and more. Unlike the area for smaller dogs, this section features a gravel-walking path around its perimeter.
Dogs under 25 pounds can still have their fair share of fun catching tennis balls, chasing their tails and running through tunnels created with their size in mind.
The Dalmatian-spotted fire hydrant located in the small dog area might not spray water, but there’s a water bowl and a faucet located outside of a faux doghouse for when your pet gets thirsty.
Dawn-dusk. Free. Canine Crossing Dog Park, 4951 Camp Drive, South Fulton. Cityofsouthfultonga.gov.
Credit: Bob Andres
Credit: Bob Andres
ParkGrounds
Here’s a dog park that is just as fun for humans as it is for pets. Located in Reynoldstown and open seven days a week, ParkGrounds is a coffee shop with all-day breakfast and a dirt field for dogs to roam around without a leash. In the middle of the gated area is a tree with wide-reaching branches that ensure you and your pet will be shaded from the bright sun during playtime. Bridging the restaurant and dog park is a covered patio for humans. Order a sandwich, coffee or cocktail and it will be brought outside to you.
Credit: Bob Andres
Credit: Bob Andres
The dog park is for paying customers only.
7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Free (with purchase). ParkGrounds, 142 Flat Shoals Ave., Atlanta. parkgroundsatl.com.
RELATED: 24 Atlanta Restaurants Where You Can Dine With Your Dog
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Newtown Dream Dog Park
It might seem arrogant to say your park is a “dream dog park,” but in this case, it’s just a fact.
Newtown Dream Dog Park is a dog's dream. In fact, Access Atlanta readers named the dog park Atlanta's best in 2016 and 2017. What a good dog, um, dog park. The park got a major facelift in 2011 after winning the Beneful Dream Dog Park Contest.
Ramps, tunnels and a seasonal sprinkler are located in the area designated for larger breeds.
The small section doesn’t feature a sprinkler or the large ramp with a giant milk-white decorative dog bone, but the space is still adequate for a rowdy game of fetch. There’s plenty of seating in both sections for humans. Both the large and small breed sections utilize artificial turf.
The dog park also features a walking trail.
8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays-Tuesdays, Thursdays-Saturdays; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesdays. Free. 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek. www.johnscreekga.gov.
MORE: Best north Fulton parks for dogs
MORE: Best Cobb County parks for dogs
Woofstock Dog Park
Pet owners who are hoping to be active with their dogs will love Woofstock. With this park located conveniently near the Noonday Creek and Town to Creek trails, dog owners can go on a run with their pets across a wooden bridge and into downtown Woodstock, as long as they’re willing to keep their dog on a leash.
Off-leash dog parks are separated by a gravel parking lot, which was created to minimize flooding. Both the small and large breed sections feature enough space for dogs to run around or stretch out in the sun while humans lounge in the shade on nearby benches.
6 a.m.-11 p.m. Free. Woofstock Park, 150 Dupree Road, Woodstock. Woodstockga.gov.
MORE: 6 running trails near Atlanta’s best dog parks
Chattapoochee Dog Park
Woodstock isn’t the only city that can come up with a memorable dog-themed park name. Duluth’s Chattapoochee Dog Park is equally as clever.
The small and large breed dog parks don’t have many of the bells and whistles like some of the other dog parks on this list, but we get the feeling most dogs don’t need much more than an open field and a companion (or toy) to have a great time.
Outside the gated dog parks, pets and their owners can walk on a concrete trail located just before a playground for kids.
Dawn-dusk. Free. Chattapoochee Dog Park, 4291 Rogers Bridge Road, Duluth. Duluthga.net.
Rabbit Hill Dog Park
Located just before the children’s playground in Rabbit Hill Park, this dog park is split into three gated sections. The separate areas designated for small and large breeds both feature objects that encourage your pet to run and jump. While most of the park is uncovered, there is a small section in both the small and large breed areas that feature a cluster of trees. Both sections also feature covered seating.
In addition to those areas, the park also features another fenced area that allows dogs of all sizes to run around together. There’s nothing special about “Dog Run.” It’s simply a grassy enclosed area. That’s what makes it perfect for a game of uninterrupted catch.
Sunrise-11 p.m. Free. Rabbit Hill Park, 400 Rabbit Hill Road, Dacula. Gwinnettcounty.com.
5 MUST-ATTEND DOG-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS
(In all cases we’re talking patios, people.)
Ladybird Grove and Mess Hall
11 a.m.-late Tuesdays-Sundays. 684 John Wesley Dobbs Ave., Atlanta. ladybirdatlanta.com.
Lucky’s Burger & Brew
Roswell: 11:30 a.m.-close Monday-Sunday. 1144 Alpharetta St., Roswell. luckysburgerandbrew.com/roswell.
Brookhaven: 11:30 a.m.-close Monday-Sunday. 305 Brookhaven Ave., Suite 1250, Atlanta. luckysburgerandbrew.com/brookhaven.
Einstein’s
11 a.m.-11 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Fridays; 9 a.m.-1 a.m. Saturdays; 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Sundays. 1077 Juniper St., Atlanta. EinsteinsAtlanta.com.
City Winery
6 p.m.-late. 650 North Ave., Atlanta. citywinery.com/atlanta.
Shake Shack
Buckhead: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays. 3035 Peachtree Road, Suite A146, Atlanta. shakeshack.com.
Dunwoody: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays. 4400 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Suite 3025, Dunwoody. shakeshack.com.
