Where to walk your dog in Nashville this fall

October is the month Nashville dogs have been waiting for. The pavement has stopped being a griddle, the air smells like leaves, and the squirrels are busy and distracted. If your dog has been giving you the look since about July, now is the time to make good on it.

Here are a few places we like for a fall outing, along with the rules that trip people up and a short list of things to check before and after you go.

Warner Parks: miles of trail, one short leash

Percy and Edwin Warner Parks are hard to beat when the leaves turn. Dogs are welcome across the parks, with one exception: the Burch Reserve, which is closed to dogs.

The rule to remember is the leash. Dogs need to be on one, no longer than six feet, everywhere outside the fenced dog park. That means the long retractable leash stays in the car. A short leash is also your friend on wooded trails, where a deer or a very confident squirrel can turn a calm walk into a tug-of-war.

If your dog needs to run, the fenced off-leash dog park is at Edwin Warner, off Vaughn Road. The parks are open from sunrise until 11 p.m., and the dog park runs dawn to dusk.

Radnor Lake: yes, but only on the road

This one surprises a lot of people. Radnor Lake is a state natural area, and dogs are not allowed on the trail system or around the lake itself. Where you can bring them is Otter Creek Road, the paved road that runs through the park, as long as they stay leashed.

It is still a lovely walk, flat and shady with plenty to sniff. Just know before you go, so you are not standing at a trailhead explaining the sign to a very disappointed beagle.

Metro dog parks for the off-leash crowd

Metro Parks runs fenced dog parks all over town, including Shelby, Centennial, Two Rivers, Pitts, Fair Park and the Edwin Warner one mentioned above. Several have separate areas for large and small dogs, which is nice if your ten-pound terrier is not looking to wrestle a Great Dane. Most are open dawn to dusk.

A few of the posted rules are worth knowing ahead of time:

• Dogs need to wear current rabies and ID tags.
• Puppies under four months old are not allowed.
• Leash your dog on the way in and on the way out.
• Two dogs per handler, at most.
• Leave dog food and treats outside the fence.

Dog parks are great for the right dog. They are also a place where lots of dogs share water, toys and germs. If your dog is shy, older, or new to the family, a quiet weekday morning is an easier first visit than a packed Saturday afternoon. And if your dog would honestly prefer a long sniffy walk with just you, that counts as a great day out too.

Before you go

A little prep makes the whole thing more fun:

• Check vaccines. Dogs who mix with other dogs may need a few vaccines beyond the basics. Which ones depends on your dog and what they get up to, so give us a call and we can look at their record with you.
• Stay on parasite prevention. Ticks here do not clock out when summer ends. Some species actually like cooler weather, so fall hikes in Middle Tennessee are still tick territory. Year-round flea, tick and heartworm prevention is the simplest way to stay covered.
• Bring your own water. A bottle and a collapsible bowl beat a shared bowl or a murky puddle every time.
• Make sure the ID is current. Tags should have a phone number you actually answer. A microchip is good backup, as long as the contact info registered to it is up to date.

When you get home

Take two minutes for a once-over. Run your hands over your dog and check the spots ticks like best: in and around the ears, under the collar, in the armpits, between the toes and around the tail. Look at the paws for burrs, cuts or cracked pads while you are down there.

If you find a tick and are not sure how to get it off, or a spot looks red or irritated afterward, call us and we will help. Same goes for limping that does not ease up after a day of rest, or a dog who seems off after a big outing. For anything that looks serious after hours, head to an emergency hospital.

See you out there

Fall in Nashville is short, so enjoy it. If your dog is due for vaccines or you are running low on prevention before your next adventure, you can request an appointment online or just give us a call. We would love to hear where you two ended up.