Cooper Dog
Usually, I loath dog parks because most are a small fenced in areas containing a shit-mud mix for the yard, a bunch of psycho dogs and overly protective owners. So, Winter and I always head for the hills (pun intended) where her and I can both run around off leash and not be bothered by unsocialized humans and their owners. 
At nine acres, including a beach and shy dog area, Magnuson Dog Park is a doggy utopia. The main area is a raised mound that allows water to drain out of the park, and everybody picks up their dogs poo, so it stays mostly mud free. Every dog imaginable romps around chasing balls and each other, most of the time minding their manners and their owners. It is one of the best places I’ve ever seen for socializing a dog. I highly recommend taking your dog there.Even Winter got a little lesson in socializing. She has a habit of greeting other dogs with her hackles up. She has done this since she was a puppy and has never picked a fight (except at home over her food). I feel as she ages she is getting crankier towards other dogs and I’ve been wondering how to tweek her socialization. But, ten minutes and 30 doggy hellos later she stops raising her hackles and enjoys doggy heaven on earth.
Magnuson Dog Park is equally good for watching people as urban eco-warriors, carpenters, grandmas, skaters and mad-scientists chit-chat with a chuck-it in one hand and a viente latte in the other. 
The Dog and I are slightly overwhelmed by all the sights, sounds and smells - our eyes slightly glazed, not knowing where to look. Winter has lived in Wyoming and Montana her whole life, usually within 15 minutes of a trailhead, so we never saw the point of going to a dog park. Now that we are city-slickers we will probably be visiting a dog park or two. In fact I’ll try to review all Portland’s dog parks. Stay tuned.
Prints and downloads of the above photos
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