Wheaton Regional Dog Park

we visited this dog park on ⁸⁄₁₅ with reasonably high expectations — however, because of one irresponsible dog parent — we left disappointed. the park is small — and had about 8 dogs — who seemed to be doing well… however just as one bad apple can spoil the bunch … so it is with dogs.
our dog, who is known for her ability to play with many different types/​sizes/​and personalities was continually barked and snapped at by one dog — relentlessly.
our dog defended herself adequately but was clearly being harassed and unable to enjoy herself.
when the owner of the snapping/​barking dog failed to intervene and instead made the comment — «my dog does this, and it exhausts her — so she can sleep all afternoon» — we had had enough. clearly this park belongs to this negligent dog parent and to no one else.
we feel sorry for his dog.

I came with both my rottweilers and they had a blast i havnt been to many dog parks but this is my favorite so far. Everyone was friendly dogs were all nice we had a great time.

I frequented this park for a while and can say that some days it’s fantastic, and other days it’s just stressful.
CLEANLINESS: I think the hygiene must be better now than in previous years when people reviewed it and said it smelled. I didn’t see lots of dog poop and owners were considerate about picking up.
SAFETY: Many owners are VERY thoughtful, looking out for their dogs and your own, and gently suggesting ways that new visitors could keep everyone safe. For example, there was a woman who brought two un-​neutered pittbull «puppies» to the park (!) She wanted to get them neutered but couldn’t afford it. We all put our heads together and came up with three different places where she could get her dogs neutered safely and cheaply. Other owners are considerate about leaving if their dogs are starting to get too aggressive with a smaller dog, and some people there are quite knowledgeable about dog behavior and can help diffuse any problems. However, it just takes a few people who aren’t thinking to create problems. In one case, the owner thought her dogs were so well trained and wonderful that they could walk from the park door to her car off leash, though this is against the posted rules. This makes entering the park very stressful, and they were all over my dog as we tried to enter. In another instance, a woman brought her large pitt mix with her as well as an infant. She had the infant on a sling on her chest when her dog attacked my young dog. I had to risk getting bitten to get her dog off mine. We have not returned to the park since then — it was absolutely devastating and frightening. She was a nice lady, just had no clue that she had set her dog and mine, not to mention her child, up for potential danger.
THE BEST PART of the park is the trails surrounding it, where you can take Fido for a nice walk in the woods.
OVERALL: I’m so disappointed that I don’t feel safe taking my dog there anymore. There really are some kind and helpful owners there, as well as dog friends, and I miss them.

Three stars because of the space my dog has to run, the beautiful surround is, the supply of poop bags, the hose, and kiddy pools. What I can’t abide by is the amount of smoking that some owners do. Also the loose, «crushed» gravel has torn my dogs paws and gets kicked up when the dogs run. I take my dog there because it’s the closest «enclosed» dog park to my house. I really wish they’d put down some turf!

Gave it two stars instead of one because it has huge potential. Unfortunately, the people who have been involved («Friends of the Wheaton Regional Dog Park, et al) have been, and continue to be, idiots.
Look to the Proposed Pilot Urban Dog Park in Ellsworth Park in DT Silver Spring as a possible alternative (see in photos).
I have not brought my big but gentle and well-​behaved black Lab back to this «dog park» in awhile, partly because nothing has changed. It’s dirty, dangerous, full of dog crap, and again, the idiots.
You can’t blame the dog for the dogshit or the occassional bite: the owner is responsible. And I’ve seen lots of irresponsible owner/​operators (including the one-​time head of the Friends of the WRDP (see above) who brought in 3 Great Danes, even though one of the rules (which he co-​wrote) stated no more than 2 at a time for each owner/​operator. Moron. But I’ve seen worse, a lot worse.

Found the people friendly and dogs well-​behaved during my first visit (aSaturday, 9 – 10 am). My previous experience was with the S Street Dog Park in Dupont Circle, so this was a world’s difference better — more space, non-​snobby people, waste bins that aren’t overflowing. Dog did end up majorly dusty and needed a bath when we got home, so definitely only bring your dog here if it’s to be bath day.

Nice spot to meet dogs on a cool morning before the crowds. It is close but I can’t give it a three or more paws up. It is just not all that inviting even for the dogs although it IS well visited. I’ve just been to many others that are nicer. Maybe we should have kept the fee to use the dog parks and used the money for their upkeep. They felt that more people would use them if there was no fee. Why did we need more people to use them? They were already well used. I have a Great Dane and he’s a big lover but having a separate area for small dogs and large and GREAT dogs would be awesome because everyone is afraid of him and it isn’t warranted for the most part. He is absolutely NOT mean but he is HUGE. If you are a little or teeny dog and a giant dog wants to play, it can be dangerous. I’d like to see some grass (yes, I know it’s hard to maintain). And why is it that people don’t feel they need to pick up after their dogs which are essentially children that never grow up???

I had read the reviews to this place so I was hesitant to take my pup. It’s very close to my house so I decided to give it a try this past weekend. The first time was GREAT! He was a bit scared but he played for 2 whole hours and socialized. This place isn’t the nicest but it isn’t the worst either. Everyone there are regulars and very kind. I thought this is great I can come here to let my dog play. Day 2 came my dog was playing and out of no where a dog came running after him bit him and ran off. The owner did correct her dog but did not say sorry about her dogs actions. I let that slide. Then I took him back a few days later again my dog was hanging out minding his own business and a dog came and attacked him. The people there were very nice to try and pull this dog off my 5 mth old pup that was screaming bloody murder. Anyways my pup lost a few loose teeth due to this incident and has bite marks on his face. I’m a little upset that the dogs owner didn’t seem sincerely sorry about this incident. Most dogs at this park are friendly but there are a few that are aggressive. So please make sure to watch your beloved dogs while at this park. My dog will not be going back for a long time. For now ill use doggy day care.

Many dogs there are too rough and there was a pit bull who would not stop bothering my dog. My dog is the submissive type, where he’d let others chase him. This pit bull would try to bite at my dogs neck, and the owner just stood there like nothing was wrong. My dog was obviously hurt and his tail was under his legs. I had to move the pit bull away multiple times and it was just scary having to make sure that he wouldn’t grab onto my dog’s neck. Other dogs are too dominant. There are still some dogs and owners that are friendly with friendly dogs as well, but that is not often the case. I am disappointed as this is the closest dog park near me and I have to drive a good 30 minutes to get to Cabin John, which is so much more superior. Also, on a side note, there is no water in the winter so bring your own for your dog.

Wheaton dog park is like the black sheep of Wheaton Regional Park. Everything else in the area – from Brooksides Garden to the children playground – is fantastic.
The biggest problem with this park is the owners. While many are fine, I’ve seen everything on the ‘what not to do at a dog park’ list all happen here. Some of the folks are very, very regular. They all congregate into one circle (usually at the table) and talk, ignoring their dogs, and often start smoking. It’s a dog park for goodness sakes, I don’t want to inhale your nasty tobacco exhale nor do I want my dog playing in it!
There are many dog fights that break out here. When this happens, the other owners usually do not intervene despite seeing that the fights have gotten serious. Some even laugh and shrug it off. There were numerous fights where a bigger adult dog would not leave my pup alone. The other owner would just stand there. My dog has left this park with minor bloody tear marks from bites twice: once on her belly and the other time near her eye. I can only do so much by myself; breaking up a dog fight takes two people at the very least. As a result of this, the bf and I try to go together in case fights happen.
There are owners who are standing around, yet do not pay attention and refuse to control their dogs. I’ve had a huge dog leap up and lunge at my face, then moments later, at my bf. The owner stood there without a word of apology or correction to the dog. That same dog later came after my dog to start a fight, and the owner did nothing while my bf and I tried to break up the fight. Another situation: a person saw his pit bull puppy following me and jumping up for a bottle in my hand. Despite it being a puppy, it could leap pretty high and even bit me in the arm (I had a thick jacket on). He never even once thought to restrain his dog.
Aside from the smokers, there are also people who bring tiny unvaccinated/​unlicensed puppies to this park. The fact that there is alot of dog poop just shows how people here do not care enough to pay attention. In the cold days, the water hose is turned off to prevent bursting. You have to bring your own water. It’s been this way for at least two months and most people still don’t bother to bring water for their own dogs. All you see are empty bowls and poor dogs who bum off my water since their owners are irresponsible.
If you’re fortunate enough to choose your dog park, I do not recommend Wheaton. Unfortunately, the other dog parks are far drives for us so we have no choice but to come here on the weekdays when traffic is bad. Cabin John dog park, and two others in Germantown (on the weekend) has been much better experiences.

This is a decent dog park. Not the best, but not the worst.
It’s fairly large, but not very well kept. Not very clean.
Every time we come here, I find huge amounts of dog fecal all over the place. The owners do not do a good job on picking up after their pups, and it doesn’t get cleaned up very often. Because it’s still there the next day. The dogs that come here are usually medium and large dogs. This park doesn’t attract the small dog crowd. (My dog is a small dog). The people that come here are not the friendliest. I’ve been bringing my pup to dog parks for years, and this is probably the only dog park that I’ve been to where people don’t talk to you unless they already know you.
I agree with a previous Unilocaler’s review that this park is very dusty. My pup goes home covered in dust.
My partner and I don’t bring her anymore. I’m looking to explore other dog parks that are more friendlier and cleaner for the pups. Even if it is a hike, it will be better than this place.
The parking is easy here.

My dog loves this place but as Libby F noted, it is pretty smelly — especially on warm days. It all gravel but has nice shady spots with picnic benches. The dogs play well together and some play on their own; never had a problem with any of the dogs or the owners. My favorite dog park in MoCo is at Cabin John but Wheaton is so much closer and I can get there more often.

LOVE this dog park!!! We go nearly every day! The dogs and their owners are so nice. My dog loves playing and I love socializing with their owners who have now become my friends! Don’t forget to bring water with you in the winter months because the hose is turned off to prevent frozen pipes.

This is the smelliest dog park I have ever been too!
I was here for Opening Day in January of 2003. It had a lot of potential back then. I think it was Montgomery County’s first official dog park. At that time it was a grassy enclosure, but with time the grass was worn away and they replaced it with crushed gravel. The gravel is dusty and traps the smell of urine, especially on a hot and sunny day.
I only came back b/​c I heard they were planning on making renovations to be more like the dog park in Cabin John, which is beautiful. This morning there were only three other dogs there and they were laying under the picnic table while their owners, two men in their sixties continually smoked cigarettes and discarded the butts on the ground. As I walked briefly around there were several mounds of fresh poop from large dogs buzzing with flies. Also there were several disgustingly dirty tennis balls laying around.
My little guy was so ready to get out of there. Me too! Don’t come here, especially if you have a little pooch since there is not a separate play area for them.

When we first moved here, we were so excited to have a park where our dog, Dexter, could run around and socialize. For a while, we went to the Wheaton Dog Park every weekend. Yet, every time we felt on edge, like something was about to go wrong. No one obeys the rules. Food is brought in constantly and people bring leashed animals in (which only makes them defensive and surrounding dogs overly curious). The gravel causes so much dust that we leave with a fine coating everytime. The final straw was when a leashed doberman attacked a nearby cocker spaniel and tore the bottom of its ear off. After many weeks of overly aggresive animals (whose owners go «don’t worry, he’s friendly» as the dog bares its teeth at you and has it haunches raised…), it was only a matter of time before this final scene sent us packing. Cabin John, here we come.