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| Write a Proposal and Draw up a Plan |
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Once you've selected a site, it's time to write an official proposal that outlines the benefits of a dog run (not just to dogs and dog owners, but also to the community at large) and states how and by whom it will be maintained. Your proposal should also include a sample list of dog-run rules (to show that you take management of the run seriously).
Explain why your chosen site is ideal; but be sure to also include the pros and cons of any other options. Include rough budget expectations and a brief review of funding plans. (See the section, Find the Funds)
Create a simple drawing of your proposed run that shows how it will fit in the surrounding area and includes its basic components (this is the time to recruit any dog-owning architects or artists in your neighborhood). For ideas, visit other dog runs—the newly renovated runs at Riverside Park at 105th Street and in Madison Square Park (both in Manhattan) are excellent models.
Your plan should include the following basic elements: fence line, water location, a separate small-dog area (these are more and more common), benches, trees (with benches encircling them for protection), and entrances (two entries are recommended and they should be double gates with a vestibule to prevent dogs from running out when a single gate is open).
As well, you need to decide on your surface. In New York, wood chips and pea gravel are the most common surfaces in dog runs. Some people complain that wood chips smell; others say pea gravel bothers dogs' paws. Recently, crushed granite has come into fashion: it's more expensive than wood chips, but it's said to be a durable, well-draining surface that doesn't smell and is easy on paws.
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