Please, Manchester & Salford — Give Our Dogs Some Fun!

Let’s give our dogs more than a walk — ask Manchester & Salford Councils to pilot small dog-training & agility areas (A-frames, tunnels, weave poles, low jumps). Healthier dogs, happier neighbours — tails included.Dogs in Manchester & Salford deserve more than walks — it’s time for public agility parks 🐶

Dog Training in Manchester's Sunny Urban Park — Joyful dogs and their owners enjoy a golden-hour training session in a vibrant urban park with the Manchester/Salford skyline on the horizon.

Dear Cherubs, here’s the scoop on why Manchester and Salford really ought to give their dogs more than just a quick leash‑walk. It’s time our pups got a proper playground (and no, I don’t mean the dusty old underused grass patch near the bins).

WHY DOGS (AND HUMANS) DESERVE BETTER
According to a recent piece on thisclaimer.com, there’s a simple but often overlooked solution: installing small, public agility and training installations in urban parks — think A‑frames, tunnels, weave poles, ramps, low jumps. As the article argues, this isn’t just fluff for Instagram‑obsessed dog owners: proper agility gear offers dogs real physical exercise and mental stimulation, especially for energetic or high-drive breeds.Thoughtful Disclaimer

Right now, if you live in Manchester or Salford and want more than a brisk walk for your dog, your options are sparse. In Salford, the council doesn’t “install or promote … enclosed dog fields within public parks.”Salford City Council+1 That means many dogs — and owners — rely on private facilities or make do with inadequate open spaces. That’s like promising a five‑star meal and serving dry toast.

A photorealistic, wide shot of a diverse group of people training their dogs on agility equipment in a sunny urban park during golden hour. The scene includes an A-frame, tunnel, weave poles, and low jumps. Dogs of various breeds like a labrador, border collie, and small terrier are running and jumping joyfully, while their smiling owners clap and laugh. In the background, there are mature trees and the subtle silhouette of the Manchester/Salford skyline, all under a clear blue sky with soft clouds. — Joyful dogs and their owners enjoy a golden-hour training session in a vibrant urban park with the Manchester/Salford skyline on the horizon.

HOW OTHER CITIES ARE DOING IT — AND WHY WE SHOULD CARE
It’s not rocket science. Other towns have already rolled out accessible agility setups for public use. For example, Mile End Park in London features a public dog agility trail with proper obstacles.Thoughtful Disclaimer There are similar setups in places near Edinburgh (like Run Free Dog Fields), and even examples overseas — a fenced and fully‑equipped dog park in Green Gully Reserve, Melbourne has tunnels, platforms, ramps, and plenty of waggy‑tail approvals.Thoughtful Disclaimer

These aren’t just novelty setups — they encourage healthy, fulfilled pets, reduce behavioural problems (less random barking, destructive chewing, or neighbour‑inducing nuisance), and create vibrant little community hubs where humans also meet, chat, and bond (often while trying not to step in mysterious dog deposits).Thoughtful Disclaimer+1

A LOW-COST PILOT COULD DO WONDERS
Here’s the “hot take” (but low‑effort) pitch: start with a 6–12 month pilot scheme in a couple of parks — one in Manchester, one in Salford, and maybe a smaller third site. Install a mix of agility equipment appropriate for different dog sizes, throw up a sign with basic park rules (“Mind the paws, pick up the poo, be human”), and survey local dog owners for feedback. If it takes off, great — expand. If it flops, councils haven’t lost much. But given how many dog‑owners I know (including some who act like dogs are human by default), I’d bet this would be one of the cheapest public‑morale—and pet‑happiness—wins available.

At the end of the day: our parks are for everyone — kids, joggers, families, yes. But dogs are citizens too. They deserve more than a loop around the footpaths before being dragged back home. If Manchester and Salford want to show they care about community wellbeing — human and canine — pulling the trigger on a pilot agility programme seems like low-hanging fruit. Let’s give those tails something to wag for.

For more on why this matters (and how simple it could be), check out the piece at thisclaimer.com.

Please, Manchester & Salford — Give Our Dogs Some Fun! —

Sources:
thisclaimer.com (https://thisclaimer.com/2025/08/14/please-manchester-salford-give-our-dogs-some-fun/)
Dogs, fishing and wildlife in parks and green spaces — Salford City Council (https://www.salford.gov.uk/parks-and-open-spaces/maintaining-the-green-space/dogs-fishing-and-wildlife/)
Dog warden service — Salford City Council (https://www.salford.gov.uk/dogwardens)