Any other dog owners who use a dissued tennis court as a dog run? Anyone have an objection to it?

I have a young pointer who needs a lot of exercise.She is extremely gentle with man and animals alike but has been attacked by other dogs. Near my home is a tennis court with no net, a lot of rubbish but a secure fence.For 6 months i had taken her in there to train her and let her run off energy whilst keeping her safe.I only took her in there when no-one was using it, and got off if anyone wanted to, and i always walked the field until she did "her business" before entering.The only time it gets used is when a group of teenagers go in a kick a ball about on saturday afternoons. They said they had no problem sharing it with dogs as long as they had priority and the dogs didnt go in it.I was in there one day and a woman came and told me i was breaking the law and i had to give my name and address and told if i took her in there again i would be taken to court.Does anyone know the law about this and does anyone else take their dogs into a tennis court to run them? Whats your Opinion?

By "didn't have a problem as long as they had priority and the dog didnt go in it" i meant the dog didn't do her business in it.

Are the courts private property? Find out who owns the court, is it this woman? If it's the town's court I wouldn't worry too much, someone would probably just ask you to stop before they took you to court. If it's privately owned contact the owners and explain the situation and ask for permission to use them.

I used our town tennis courts in the winter to work with my dog and it was great.

www.fearfuldogs.com

I don't see where the law is broken in this case. As long as all was clean before and after your use should be now problem. Sounds as if the woman has a personal problem with it or has had experience with others not being responsible and keeping the court clean. Sounds as if it's a wonderful idea. We used to take our Danes to the high school fenced in track area and let them run. Had no problems with that. So I think you would be safe as far as the law goes. Talk with local law enforcement to make sure. If it's a public park area with no pet restrictions I think all would be well.
Hope this helps
Good luck

i guess it depends on who owns the tennis court; is it public property? if so, maybe there are rules governing its use. or maybe it's because you had the dog off leash in public. find out about this and next time you encounter that woman know your rights! it sounds like you weren't hurting anyone.

Call the local park district (or whoever owns the tennis court) and ask them what their policies on dogs and tennis courts are and if the lack of upkeep affects those policies. In my town, the ONLY approved use for tennis courts is tennis....any other uses are technically "illegal" (not that that stops other uses...including running dogs). But the next town over actually has a policy that dogs are allowed to run off leash in tennis courts when they are not being used for tennis or other uses. An agility group I used to belong to used to set up courses in empty tennis courts for this very reason...we could run the course off leash as long as it was inside the court.

Who did that woman think she was telling you all about her ideas of what is and isn't the correct procedure for a public area? Don't worry about it at all unless an official councilman gives you a warning, or, the woman herself takes you to court! WTF. please, just take a racket with you next time and explain that your dog helps with your quick reflexes to improve your game. Clean up after your dog and hit some balls around for him. What a load of c!!ap. The only priority on this court is for tennis players, and, without a net or regulars who practise thier tennis skills, it becomes a public area. Is there a sign that states NO DOGS? Nothing to even worry about.

Was the woman someone who worked for the park or just a nut case? I certainly wouldn't have been intimidated by her if she wasn't a park worker. I hope you didn't give her your name and address?

When my kids were little, I took them to the tennis court each afternoon to skate. It was paved, smooth, fenced and nobody was there during school hours.

Yes, after the dog has "been" and before any humans are about to see and complain!!

Our local tennis courts have been a great halfway house for recall training etc. and letting off a bit of steam in new dogs.

It might not be illegal but if the park keeper found me I don't think he would be too pleased so I keep a low profile and go either very early or very late!

As to the woman telling you what you were doing was illegal, who was she and what gave her the right to ask your name / address etc. I would have asked her this and not given the information. If this is a disused court I don't see what the problem is.

Ring the local council (or your equivalent) and ask what the legal situation is with regards to the space you have been using.

Ring your local village hall or council office and ask specifically if there's a law prohibiting your use of the tennis court when it isn't in use. There's a signs all over our public areas with and without tennis courts that dogs should be kept leashed. Good luck.