The Fort Knox of Dog Runs

Astro's Community Dog Run looks like an awesome little dog run, if only I could get in.

Astro's, located on 39th and 10th avenue, is a private dog run that only its paying members can get into.

Members pay $25 a year to use it. They're given one key, and can enter whenever you want.

I came to find out why anyone would pay to use a dog run. I waited an hour one day, starting at 6 p.m., and no one ever entered.

Astro's is surrounded by a tall black fense. Around the dog run area is a small garden filled with different types of flowers.

The dog run itself has a couple of large wooden benches, tennis balls and a silver drinking bowl.

While I couldn't find any members to ask why they would pay to use Astro's when there are so many free dog runs in Manhattan, the Website hints that that's exactly what dog owners are looking for: Some alone time with their dogs.

"If you want to be left alone with your dog, you'll get that. If you want to
meet neighborhood folks and get involved, you'll get that. Generally,
whatever you want to make of it, you'll get out of it."

Hop in the Dog Pool

Sometimes I wish I was a dog. Especially today.

I stopped by the dog run at Chelsea Waterside Park on 22nd street and 11th Avenue.

While I was sweating in the heat, the dogs here were cooling off in their pool.

The run not only has a pool, but a nice hilly play area with large rocks and cement steps.

Chris Gordon's mixed breed dog, Max, hopped in and out of the pool. A Chelsea resident, Gordon said she brings her dog here at least three times a week.

According to a sign on the gate, the dog run is cleaned twice a day and is closed for the cleaning from 8 a.m to 9 a.m. and from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

One problem I found with the run is that all dogs share the space, there isn't a separated area just for smaller dogs.

A hose placed in the pool constantly keeps it filled with water. The pool overflows and water flows down a shallow stream that dogs can drink from, and then falls into the drain.

Meet the Dog

Sorry!

I should have introduced the dog earlier.

Here's Rocco. He's a 4-year-old maltese/bichon mix.

His favorite foods are steak, peanut butter and vanilla ice cream (in that order).

And, he poops upside down. Yes you read that right. You can watch that here, if that's your thing.

Dog Run With A View

Dog runs should be fun for dogs, but it can't hurt if owners enjoy their time at the dog run too.

That's where the dog run at Carl Schurz Park, in the Upper East Side, comes in.

The run, located on 85th street and the river, sits on a promenade that overlooks the East River. Owners can take in the river views and everything that comes with it; like the Queensboro and Triborough bridges, Roosevelt Island and passing boats.

People watchers can observe the dog walkers, kids, joggers and bicyclists on the promenade.

The dog run is pretty well maintained. It has a green plastic looking tile floor. Plastic bags are provided in a box for dog poop cleanup.

There is no running water in the run, but there is a silver colored water bowl that owners routinely fill up from the water fountain just outside the run.

This park is pretty popular, today at 9 p.m. (on a Monday!), there were eight dogs and nine people. During the weekends, the dog run is usually packed with onlookers who like to watch the small dogs from the promenade.

Those with large dogs can bring them to the large dog run which is just a few feet away off the promenade. This dog run has a sandy floor and rocks for the dogs to run around. Since it is away from the promenade, it gets dark at night, which explains why no one was there tonight.