Dog Facilities and Dog Parks
Written and photographed by Faith Holdsworth
There is nothing that brings me more joy than seeing people’s faces light up as they walk by my dog. Kenga is a three-and-a-half-year-old Jindo mix. As much as people seem to love seeing my pup, raising a bigger dog in Korea can come with some challenges. It is easy to only focus on the negatives when watching the news, but it is important to remember that in terms of raising pets, it is a relatively new thing in Korea, so some understanding can go a long way. I am pleased to note that in my time here, there have actually been some great improvements. Fewer small dog owners shy away, and many actually want their tiny dogs to meet my dog. People’s attitudes have definitely changed, and whilst you will still get the negative reaction, there are still many positive reactions.
Not only have people’s attitudes changed towards dogs but we are seeing a big increase in the number of facilities catering to both small dogs and bigger dogs. There are a number of trainers available, one of whom I saw on her social media account actually teaching about raising and interacting with pets at a school in Hwasun. Another thing I would highly recommend for dog boarding and training is MungSchool in Damyang, which is convenient if you plan to go away for a while. Kenga spent the summer there whilst I was away on vacation, and I was very pleased with their service. They provide scheduled outdoor playtime with the other dogs there and separate them by size. They are well monitored and even send you photo and video updates.
Recently in the last few years, there has been more demand for dog parks, and we have seen them popping up a lot more. Now there are at least eleven that I know of in Gwangju and the Jeollanam-do area. Most of these parks also provide dog boarding as well as daycare. They are, however, privately owned, so they do have an entrance fee that varies from park to park. Some will charge for both the owner and the dog, and some will charge for just the dog, but you need to buy a drink. Some will charge extra for pool facilities, while others do not charge extra. Despite the fact that you have to pay, I believe it is worth it, as they do provide facilities for you to use such as toilets, seating areas, and a coffee shop or café. For the cost of a cup of coffee, you can stay there for as long as you like. It really is important to socialize your dog as early as possible. These dog parks are the place for that.
Before going to any of the dog parks, do check if they have a size limit. Some parks are more restrictive, whereas others allow the dogs to mix or provide separate fields for big and small dogs. In my opinion, it is better to try and socialize with dogs of all sizes, so going to parks that allow them to mix is beneficial for training your dog. A great place for this is Gwangju Animal Theme Park, which is close to Naju. The owner is fantastic with dogs and clearly understands dog behavior. Another great café for mixing with big dogs is Soop in Hwasun. They own a German shepherd, a Labrador, and some smaller dogs. They also have a cat, so check that your dog is okay with cats before unleashing it; that way, if they need to take the cat away, they can. In Hwasun, there is another beautiful dog park called DodamDodam, which is my favorite; however, it is only open to bigger dogs on Thursdays. The owners are really good with dogs and actually raise a lot of small dogs there, as well as a pony. This is my favorite as it overlooks the lake and is a beautiful place to relax and for your dog to socialize. Vintage 399 also allows dogs to mix together and play. If you want to stay within Gwangju and have smaller dogs, there is a beautiful dog park in Bukgu called GaeguJaengi.
There is also another park in Namwon that is a free government-run park. All you need to enter is for your dog to be registered and to have the number of your microchip. Hopefully, with the increased popularity of pets, we will see more of these parks pop up in the future.
Obviously, the main problem with getting to these parks is transportation. One park called Country Mung Mung is near the subway line in Pyeong-dong, so that would be very convenient for those without a car. This park, however, has two separate fields for big dogs and small dogs. If this is still not an option for you, there are now at least two pet taxis in Gwangju, Gwangju Pet Taxi and Dog School Bus. Using pet taxis, however, can become costly, so if possible, I would recommend you get a car, especially if you have a big dog. Kenga was the reason I learned to drive, and I do not regret it at all. It is one of the best decisions I have made for her as now we are able to go to so many places together.
If you wish to find out more about these places, you can find a detailed list on the Gwangju Pets Facebook page where I created a list of all of the dog facilities that I have come across. If you have found any that I have not found, please feel free to edit and add to the document.
The Author
Faith currently lives in Gwangju and teaches English at Chosun University. She likes to spend her free time with her best friend and Jindo mix, Kenga.