Think Outside The Fence about Dog Parks
A new podcast about the importance of dog parks as public space. While exploring the concpet through our relationship with dogs, each other and the land.
Stay up to date with new episodes: Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. The show is developed by Sovrn State and produced by As It Should Be.
Strengthening our CONNECTIONS
The dog population has significantly increased in recent years (~46% of US Households). Dogs are now treated like family, having moved from backyards to bedrooms in many homes.
Giant leaps have been made in our understanding of dogs in the last 10-15 years, driven by an explosion of academic research on dogs’ behaviors and their relationships with humans. However, dog parks haven’t innovated much since their establishment nearly 50 years ago.
This show will explore the current dog park paradigm and suggest improvements. Through expert guest interviews, it will also discuss how dog parks may strengthen our relationships with dogs, neighbors, and the natural world around us.
Season 1
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Introduction
Welcome to a new narrative series about the importance of dog parks as public space. Through expert guest interviews, the podcast will reframe the concept of dog parks through our relationships with dogs, each other, and the land.
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Think Outside The Fence
Many dog parks today still resemble the traditional fenced-in spaces established almost 50 years ago. However, our understanding of how dogs think and the number of dogs in American households have grown considerably in the last few decades. Humans have also become increasingly isolated due to the usage of digital technologies and the decline of public spaces for real-life interactions. Through it all, dog parks remain one of the few enduring third places that attract all types of people to strengthen community ties and raise appreciation for the beauty of nature.
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Guided Play
Guided Play is a learning approach borrowed from child education that may be applied to dogs, too. It involves ongoing observation and interaction to understand the subject's needs and preferences. As dog parents, we should actively pay attention to our dogs at dog parks to ensure optimal engagement. Some dogs may love socializing or only want to play catch with you. Some dogs may prefer wide open, unfenced public land to explore and express their natural instincts.
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Common Ground
Dog parks provide a chance for us to meet strangers we might not otherwise. Through our shared love for our dogs and the inherent trust of meeting another dog parent, we can foster new relationships with those around us. These interactions can allow us to widen our perspectives, increase our sense of empathy for others, and come together in greater unity.
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Social Capital
Third places like dog parks can help us form ties and cohesion among neighbors. Developing this trust and dependability can foster communities that are more unified, safer, and friendly. It’s also important, however, to ensure that there is equitable access for all neighborhoods to benefit from this foundational support.
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Nature Re-Enchantment
We’ve become disconnected from the natural world around us. However, our dogs – and our dog parks – can help us reconnect to our environment in a more attentive and curious way. When we start to feel a deeper understanding of our place within the larger ecosystem, we can start to care more about protecting it and living symbiotically with all non-human creatures and wildlife.
About The Narrator - Jenna Blum
Jenna Blum is an author, workshop teacher, public speaker, and dog mom. Her New York Times bestselling first novel, Those Who Save Us, won the Ribalow Prize. Jenna is one of Oprah’s Top 30 Women Writers, with her work published in over 20 countries.
She has also written other books, including the memoir Woodrow on the Bench (Harper Collins) about Jenna’s senior black Lab and what his last seven months taught her, including creating a connection with others at their local park in Boston.
Jenna is a public speaker, traveling nationally and internationally. She is also the Co-Founder and CEO of A Mighty Blaze, a writer marketing support group, and has taught at Grub Street Writers for over 20 years.
She currently lives in Boston with her three-year-old black lab, Henry. You can follow Jenna on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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