Shelby Dog Park
Shelby Dog Park is Metro Nashville's 2.15-acre fenced off-leash area behind Shelby Park Community Center. Metro lists natural grass, benches, a water fountain and waste bags, with dog-park hours from dawn to dusk.
Use the dog park's specific hours
Metro lists Shelby Dog Park itself as open from dawn to dusk. The wider Shelby Park stays open later, until 11 p.m., but that broader park schedule does not extend the dog park's listed off-leash hours. Follow the posted dog-area signs when you arrive.
Official Metro dog-park directory and rules ↗ · Official Shelby Park page ↗
Know the Metro dog-park rules
Dogs must wear current rabies and identification tags and be leashed before entering and after leaving the fenced area. Bring one leash per dog, clean up waste and remove an aggressive dog immediately. Metro allows no more than two dogs per handler and prohibits children under 10 inside dog parks, puppies under four months, food and glass containers.
Pair off-leash play with a leashed walk
Shelby Park is a large multi-use riverfront park, and Shelby Bottoms Greenway and Natural Area is adjacent. If you continue beyond the fenced dog park, leash your dog; Metro requires pets on Shelby Bottoms trails to use a leash no longer than six feet. The greenway is open dawn to dusk.
Location and current access
Metro locates the dog park at Shelby Avenue at South 20th Street, behind Shelby Park Community Center. Use the live Metro closures page before combining the dog park with a wider Shelby Park or greenway outing, because individual facilities and route segments can have temporary work or access limits.
Get directions ↗ · Current Metro Parks closures ↗ · Shelby Park details ↗
What to bring
- Current rabies and identification tags plus one leash per dog.
- Waste bags even though Metro lists supplied bags at its dog parks.
- Fresh drinking water in case the listed fountain is unavailable.
- A six-foot-or-shorter leash if you plan to continue onto Shelby Bottoms trails.
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