The Shelby Park Dog Park opened in 2004, and was the first Metro Dog Park in the city, with the price tag of $12,000. It's immediate success made it obvious one dog park could not fulfill the needs of the entire city, and prompted the other dog parks we would later see. There's a small paved section, and some seating. The landscape was well maintained, and the land size was fairy average, compared to other Nashville dog parks. There's not a lot about this park standing out, overtly amazing or horrible. It's average. One should see this park out, either if you live in the neighborhood, or you are taking advantage of everything Shelby Park has to offer, anyway. read more

See all

Shelby dog park is a great one to take your pup to!! They have a big open area for the dogs to run around and play, water fountains during the warm seasons to get your pups water and there's always friendly people there as well. One of our favorites so far! read more

My dog does not love the dog park. Not because of its shape, size, or what have you, but because my dog does not like dogs. I can see it in her eyes. She's saying, "Mom, this place would be awesome if there weren't any dogs in it!" She loves humans though. If there is not a dog in her way she will head over to the nearest human for a pet. With that said, this park works for my non-dog-loving dog. We walk in and she heads immediately toward the fence. Then she canvases the perimeter looking for rabbits or other small wildlife outside the confines of the park. She's a hound if you haven't already guessed. For you dog-loving dog owners, this is the park for you! Dogs of all different sizes come to play, fetch balls, and mingle. The owners tend to watch their dogs, and overall I would say it's a happy-go-lucky place. read more

This is a sweet little dog park on the East Side of Nashville. I like this dog park because it has a little bit more grass and trees than the dog park on Vaughn. There are lots of tennis balls on the grounds, but most of the time it is just a bunch of dogs chasing each other. I didn't see any aggressive dogs and people were really great if their dogs seemed a little snippy. It was a good mix of small dogs to large dogs, however, if you are worried about little pooches, I would go to the Dog Park on the West End because they have a separate section. read more

Shelby Dog Park - Dog approved and YELP approved via Lucy. - Dog Parks Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

My dog loves this park...it's flat, it's green, and it's a lot closer to our place than Centennial. It's laid back... the people are thoughtful owners who hold their pets in high regards and clean up after their dogs. It's a safe park and a welcome break away from the daily grind of life. read more

Shelby Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

This place is GREAT! my dog and I both love it! It's clean, plenty of parking, tons of room to roam and play. (Plenty of benches for parents too) everyone there is so friendly. There's water for your dog too! There's even squirrels around. It's a dogs dream. read more

I'll start by saying it's super hard to find if you haven't already been. GPS took me to a completely different section of the park. Also I have a super tiny dog she's only 5.6 pounds and full grown, so I was very disappointed to find that they didn't have a small dog area. The dog park is huge, so there would definitely be enough room to add a section for small dogs to play without getting hurt. The park itself has a lot of space for all the dogs to run around, but again my dog got hurt a few times because she's so tiny and all of the other dogs were at least thirty pounds larger than she was. It would be cool if owners were more aware that their dogs are being overwhelming and not gentle with small dogs, but you really can't expect that from everybody. Also since it's so large, some people think they don't have to pick up their dog's poop, and my dog kept stepping in it. There was dog poop everywhere toward the back of the park. I would come back because the park itself is beautiful, but either super early or late when no one else is there, just for the sake of my small pup. I guess we'll keep going to centennial where they separate sizes. read more

Shelby Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Not a fan. While it has all the other amenities of other metro dog parks and is decently sized there is only one area for all dogs. As the owner of a small dog this doesn't work well for me. On my first visit there seemed to be quite a few aggressive dogs some of which appeared to be pit bulls or pit bull mixed. I'm not against pit bulls at all, they are beautiful animals however I was under the impression they are strictly forbidden in metro parks. Unfortunately today I saw a gruesome fight break out. It would be naive to assume this isn't a common occurrence however it wasn't a good first impression so I packed up and went to centennial. Another complaint is I had a hard time finding it. I didn't see any signs and it wasn't exactly visible from the Shelby park entrance. I suppose if you have a bigger dog this park might be adequate. read more

This park is well-maintained. The grass is keep at a walkable length, there is rarely trash or dog remains to be found. There is a constant water source (always good to have an extra water bowl in the car (but usually there are a few here. Sundays and after work (4-6p) are the high-traffic times. I like mid-days and Saturday mornings. It is tucked back by a school and urban garden. There are usually random tennis balls around. However, lot of folks bring Frisbees, etc... There are about 10 benches scattered around that can be moved into the shade if you are looking to take it easy while the four-leggers sniff and run. There are also doggie doo picker upper baggies at the door. Be sure to get them as you walk in. There are only there at the entrance with the garbage bags. This is a very nice urban dog park. read more

Nice big dog park with a water fountain for drinking and plenty of shade on hot days. The leash hooks are a nice addition instead of carrying a leash around. There are plenty of free poop bags and people are pretty good about picking up after their dogs. There isn't a small dog area and it's usually occupied by medium and big dogs so If you have a small dog that doesn't like to play, this isn't the dog park for you. That said, they humans tend to be pretty attentive here and there were a few "tussles" that humans broke up (even if it wasn't their dog involved) and everyone went back to playing. The lack of helicopter dog parents was refreshing as it is normal for dogs to bark when playing! I especially love that this park doesn't discriminate against pitties or other bully breeds. read more

This is our neighborhood dog park that we bring our Yorkie and our 35 lb. mutt to. Our dog definitely have a good time every time we visit. We very rarely see bad fights between dogs. There has been an occasion or two where dog owners have gotten worked up at each other over careless watching of their dog or their dog being too aggressive. I got turned on the Chuckit dog ball thrower here and now that's something my mutt loves. Overall its a pretty dog dark with benches and trees scattered throughout its spacious fenced in area. Over time it goes though spurts of them allowed buckets of water to be out or not. Some other dog owners usually bring a bowl in that case so its hasn't proved to be a problem. It's definitely worth a look if you are in the market for a dog park to take your hyper active pooch to or just for proper socialization. read more

It's free, there are friendly dog people, and lots of room for the pooch to run around without a leash and play with other dogs. All you have to do is pick up their poo. What more can you ask for? Open from dawn to dusk. read more

I have only been to this dog park but I will speak to my favorite things about it. For one thing, there are clearly a lot of regulars here so the dogs and dog owners are all delighted to see each other. It's just fun to watch a dog walk in to the area and see the pets get greeted by other dogs and owners alike. The area is large, most everyone seems to keep their pets in check. There is water, poo bags and a few benches. My only hang up is that I think there could be a little more seating and perhaps a small pavilion or gazebo because it can be brutal in the summer and there is only a couple of trees. As a side note, this is located in the same area of Shelby Park as the community center with a playground so if you have kids and want to exercise your pet and kids at the same time, you have access to both options. The dogs can't go in the play ground area so if your kids are younger, you will need an extra adult to tag team with. read more

My dogs are just not dog park kinds of pups. Chico my chihuahua prefers to lounge, listen to Zepplin, and read Vanity Fair to read the umpteenth story about Bernie Madoff while my Blue Heeler mix Bellini prefers to flirt with human men and women instead of her furry kind. Trust me when I announce that she has sexually harassed all of my friends.... With that being said, I brought Bellini (Chico was at home watching a documentary on Basquiat) to Shelby, she had a decent time sniffing other pups. The area is large enough for pups to chase and play in a safe environment and all of the owners really seemed to be friendly too. This is a nice option to bring your pup to once or twice a week to keep them socialized! read more

Ready cute, clean, and decent sized park! My only con is that it's behind a school and we saw parents bring their small children into the dog park. This makes me nervous as my dog is big and I worry he could knock a little kid over while he's running free in the off leash area. It's not safe for kids. read more

Type of Park: Fenced off leash park Location: Shelby Ave, Nashville TN (located behind the school) Maintenance: Dawn to Dusk Membership: Free to public Separate Area: One area for all Surface Areas: grass and mulch Stimulating Activities: none Cooling: a few shade trees and water fountain located inside dog park Greenage: doggy waste station at entrance Human Comfort: a few benches The time we visited there were lots of pups to play with. read more

I take my girl, Star, out here all the time even though I live an entire hour away! This is most definitely my go-to dog park. There is so much room for your pup(s) to roam and usually everyone understands dog body language and behavior. The only complaint I have is that the fences aren't too terribly high, so if your dog knows how to jump fences you may need to watch them more carefully. Overall, I would highly recommend trying this park out. read more

Another reason yet again to help us fall in love with Nashville. We brought our Charley dog and 2 year old son here. What great fun was had. There was plenty of dogs of various sizes and our cockerpoo really enjoyed himself. Dog owners were all friendly. Plenty of doggy waste area's for waste removal and there were several buckets for your pooch to drink out of. I personally would rather bring my own, but to each their own. We can't wait to check out some of the other dog parks, this one is just so convenient for us as we can walk a trail through Shelby Park and get to our destination! The Urban Garden, Community Center and Playground are all big pluses for us. it's a one stop shop for a morning of fun with the whole fam. read more

Nice little park that our puppy loves. He's been going since he was 3.5 months and rarely has an issue. Dogs of all sizes are usually out to chase around one of the 50 half eaten tennis balls... There's a covered area for the rainy days and lots of shaded benches. Enjoy! read more

Shelby Dog Park - Battle of the GSPs - 9mo vs 5mo - Dog Parks Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Nice and big open space that is well maintained. Better for larger dogs since there is no separate space for the tiny pooches. My dogs love it. Bug dogs aren't picky! Little shade, so in the summer I wouldn't go in the middle of the day. People are people and don't always pay close attention to their pets, so I avoid busy days/times - like lunch time on the weekend on a pretty day. read more

It's a winner. I have a Great Pyrenees mix and a shepherd-mix pup. My favorite thing about this park is that it the owner culture seems a little more play tolerant than Centennial or Warner. At the other parks there have been times when my pry was playing rough with other rough-housers and he's made people uncomfortable--"that mean white dog". It may help that it's less crowded than Centennial. Look at the map, the entrance is tricky. read more

Nice big dog park. Everyone is friendly and i have never had a problem there. Well maintained as well. read more

Shelby Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Love this park. It is for dogs of all sizes as long as their owners are agreeable to allowing their dogs act like dogs. Our dogs are not human children. They are domesticated animals. They have their own language, one in which few humans understand. It is appropriate to pay attention to your dog's whereabouts and behavior, but please avoid having a conniption every time another dog comes near yours. If this is you, do the rest of us a favor and stay home. read more

I love this park for it's green grass, wide open spaces and proximity to my neighborhood. However, they need to fence off a corner of it for small dogs. I've taken my Chihuahua mix there a few times and he loves it; however, today a fella with Sitting Dog dog walking service had 3 dogs there and one of the Pit mixes in his care jumped my dog (he was unconcerned and focused on his phone conversation). Luckily no harm was done, other than terrifying my little dude, but in the future I will stick to the parks in the city with separate areas. While the park is beautiful, It's just not worth the potential for a little vs. big scuffle. read more

I liked Shelby Park, but the drive is killer from the West End area. It much smaller than Centennial dog park, but better maintained. The one advantage of Shelby, is that the majority of the park is grass. There's nothing worse than putting a muddy dog in the back of your car. For all you East Nasty folks, this is a solid choice. read more

Right down the street from me, so A++ on convenience! The park itself is pretty large, so there is plenty of room to chuck tennis balls for your furry companion. My little guy is still trying to figure out that the fundamental purpose of this park is to socialize with other dogs, so right now it just serves as prime marking territory. Ugh. ...On the upside there's no shortage of free plastic bags! read more

This is a HUGE dog park! Lots of space to run around and get tired! The reason I'm rating 3 stars is this place seems to be very busy and yet does not have a small dog park. When you have that many big dogs running around, the smaller dogs are sometimes too timid to play but there are enough of them that I think they would be comfortable if they had there own space. read more

I decided I needed to find a dog park to socialize my dog. She is quite skiddish and figured she needed to meet some new doggy friends. Take an hour out of your day, watch your dog run out all of his/her energy, and take them home so you can both nap. Sounds like a good deal for me. :) read more

I like this dog park much better than the Centennial dog parks because it's on an easier to navigate piece of land, the dogs are all in together, and there seems to be a really friendly atmosphere there. I'm not much of a dog person, so if I happen to go, it's with someone else and their dog, but I've always enjoyed it here. It's a relaxing spot with benches and plenty of water for the dogs. It's a good place to go to wear out the dog after walking at Shelby Bottoms. read more

We love this dog park! So much space for my pup to run around and there is a nice paved path for humans to walk to go get to the benches to avoid dog poo or mud! This is a beautiful area we really enjoy read more

We love this place! I have a Great Dane and whenever we go here there is always another big goofy Dane for him to play with. He can really stretch his goofy legs here compared to some other local dog parks because of the layout. The people are mostly nice too, but who goes to a bark park for the people? Well there might be a few freaks out there that do..:0 read more

Best Dog park ever. Have seen some dog scuffles but never anything bad. The people not paying attention seem to be more problem than the pups. I have made great friends there, so have my 2 boys. I always take a bowl for water, not crazy about the water dispenser but filling a bowl from it is easy. If you go you won't come home without making a new friend, neither will your dog. read more

A great place to take your dog. Its big enough for dogs of all sizes and nice and secluded tucked back behind the community center. People and pooches are friendly and there are very few restrictions. They even have a water fountain for the canines. read more

The dog park is really nice and the people there are friendly, it is just a shame that the first time we took our dog there, we had to take her out yelping in pain after being run over by a pitbull! read more

This dog park is fantastic! Large areas for the pups to roam as well as security that they won't get out you can count on. Compelled to leave a five star review because there are a lot of reviews on here of people "passing through" Nashville who seem to have a problem with the dog park's concrete middle area. For regulars this is a tried-and-true park you can count on! read more

We stopped here on a road trip through Tennessee for a little mid-afternoon exercise. The dog park is beautiful, well-kept, nicely landscaped, and very spacious. I especially appreciated the shade structures and benches scattered throughout. We also loved the special dog water fountain! So cool! I wish we had something like this in Durham. read more