ROCKY TOP PARK HOURS AND POLICIES











The park is open year-round between the hours of 6 am and 9 pm daily (lights are provided for winter evening use).  Hours for weekday-only members are Monday through Friday until 4:30 pm, and all day until park closing time on major holidays (including holidays that fall on a weekend). Members, please note: The park gates are locked at all times, so don't forget your key tag! Extra tags or replacements for lost tags may be purchased for $5 each.

Non-member/visitor admission hours are from 12 pm to 4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. First-time visitors must provide written proof of vaccinations (see rules and policies, below). The visitor entrance fee (cash or check only) is $10 for a single dog and $2 for each additional dog in the same household. Once admitted, visitors may remain in the park until park closing time. The visitor fee to attend a Sunday afternoon small dog social is $5, and the fee to attend a weekend Puppy Play Group is $4. Visitors, please note - the park gates are locked at all times, so visitor admission is only possible when the gate is attended, during the stated visitor admission hours. These non-member/visitor hours change with the season. If you haven't visited the park for awhile, please call ahead to verify current visitor admission hours!

Things you need to know before coming to the park

The following policies must be observed by all visitors to the park. Before coming to the park, please read the below information carefully so that you are aware of shot records requirements, age restrictions, etc. Before bringing your dog to the park, please also review these Guidelines for use of the Off-leash Areas.



 


Vaccination requirements and other dog health and safety-related considerations:

Park membership or use of the park on a non-member visitor basis requires written proof of current vac-cinations, to be checked as part of the membership application process or, for non-members, on the occasion of your first visit to the park.

Admission to the park cannot be permitted until the following written vaccination records are verified:

    Rabies (a Rabies collar tag is not sufficient)
    DHLPP (also called Distemper Combo)

Non-member visitors, please bring your dog's shot records with you on your first visit to the park. You'll be asked to fill out a form, present vaccination records, and sign a statement of responsibility at that time. (A good way to try out Rocky Top is to visit during non-member hours. If, at the conclusion of your visit, you decide you would like to become a member, your entrance fee will go towards your membership.)

For his safety and well-being, your dog should be on a year-round heartworm preventive program. Heartworm preventive controls not just heartworm, but other parasites that are passed through dog feces! Proof that your dog is on a heartworm preventative program is not required, but such programs are strongly recommended.

Female dogs must not be in heat. Please wait at least a month afer a heat cycle to bring your unspayed female to the park. Spaying and neutering is strongly recommended.

If your dog is coughing, wheezing, or has nasal discharge, please do not bring him to the park. Seek veterinarian care immediately! If your dog has been sick or has been exposed to a sick dog in the past 7 to 10 days, please do not bring him to the park.

  
  Owner responsibilities: You are required to supervise your dog's activities at all times while visiting the park. See specific guidelines for the off-leash areas here.

You are legally responsible for your dog's behavior at all times and for any injuries which may be caused by your dog (NJ Statute 4:19-8).

Rocky Top management reserves the right to refuse any dog, but in particular, intact males of breeds known for aggression towards other dogs.

  






 







 

Visitor age restrictions:

Owners/Escorts: You must be at least 18 years old to bring a dog to the park on your own.

Dogs: Dogs must be at least 4 months old unless attending a puppy play time. Please see the section on puppies, below, for more information.

  






 







 

Children: Children must be at least 8 years old to enter the off-leash areas. Exceptions can be made for 7-year-olds who first attend a Rocky Top Childrens' Workshop (call to make arrangements).

There are benches and picnic tables just outside the fenced areas where family members who don't meet age restrictions may "hang out" and enjoy watching the dogs play (please do not climb on the rocks.)

  






 







  Leashes and collars: Dogs are to be leashed at all times outside the fenced areas.

Choke or prong collars are not allowed in the off leash areas. Please bring a regular collar - There is an "unleashing area" where you can exchange collars as you enter the park. 		 












Puppies: Puppies who are at least 4 months old, and have completed ALL shots - including rabies - are welcome to join Rocky Top Dog Park; however, staying in the areas designated for puppies until six months of age is recommended. There are play sessions just for puppies - see Events and Services for more information.

For the puppy play sessions, children must be at least six years old and must not be afraid of the other puppies. In addition, please ask your children not to attempt to pick up the puppies.

Do not take your young pup to a public park to play with adult dogs you do not know! Some adult dogs do not appreciate the way puppies play. Puppies play differently than adult dogs. Keeping puppies in a separate area allows them to tackle, chase, wrestle like only puppies do! In addition, veterinarians advise that their puppies should not be exposed to adult dogs until they have finished their series of puppy shots, which is normally at around 4 months of age.








Guest Dogs: Members are allowed to bring guest dogs, with or without the dog‘s owner. If his owner does not accompany the guest dog, the member must have a relationship with the guest dog (i.e., you can't bring a dog you don't know and can't control). The fee for guest dogs is $10 per visit per dog. If you come during the weekend visitor hours, the fee is $5 for a guest dog. After visiting on 2 consecutive days, a discount applies. Members may bring any one guest dog up to five times in one calendar year.