New dog park and bar concept brings pup entertainment to Alabama

Lots of us have been there: your pup has the zoomies, you’re itching for a night or afternoon out, and you have nowhere to take them. Good doga new dog park and bar with locations in Auburn and Birmingham, has the answer to all three problems.

The new concept combines everything dog owners love about taking their pups to a brewery—the cold beers, ample outdoor seating, and open space—and makes it even better by tailoring the space specifically for pups. dogs. This way, instead of being tied to a picnic table, your dog can romp off leash and play with other dogs in an environment that is safe, welcoming, and fun for everyone.

Good Dog is the brainchild of owners Clint Carmichael, Jeff Hardwick, and Bobby Morgan. Carmichael says the idea came from a need for more quality dog ​​parks in Birmingham.

“A lot of public dog parks are underwhelming and unsafe,” he says. “They are muddy; there is minimal shade, dog play structures and pools, and they are not safe because no one checks immunization records.”

Hardwick, owner Pawms Pet Community in Birmingham, he noticed the same problem. He wanted to add a dog park service to his premier dog grooming and care facility, so he teamed up with Carmichael and Good Dog was born. After establishing a plan for a Birmingham location in the rotating trailthey set their sights on Auburn.

“Auburn is a wonderful dog-friendly community,” says Carmichael. “It has one of the best vet schools in the country, but there aren’t many dog-friendly parks. Many of The Pawms employees graduated from Auburn and have wanted a presence there for a long time.”

The Pawms opened an Auburn location in 2021. Good Dog Auburn followed in April, then Good Dog Birmingham opened in May. The Auburn location, as well as a soon-to-open location in Tuscaloosa, is on the same property as The Pawms, so four-legged guests have plenty of space to roam and play.

In addition to being 100% grassed and fenced, Good Dog caters to dogs by making sure there is plenty of shade, tunnels, and even pools for them to play in and around. To ensure pups of all shapes, sizes and breeds are safe, all dogs must show proof of vaccinations before entering the park. They must also be 4 months or older and spayed or neutered.

To enter, dogs must have a year or month membership or a day pass. Day passes are $12 in Birmingham and $10 in Auburn, with additional dog passes costing $6 and $5. Owners can let their pups mingle and socialize while drinking a selection of beer, wine, seltzer and non-alcoholic beverages. It’s the perfect way to spend an evening with your dogs, other people’s dogs, and other people who love dogs. As a bonus, 1% of all sales are donated to animal-related charities in Birmingham and Auburn.

After only being open a few months, Carmichael says Good Dog has enjoyed a “fantastic” reception. There are more than 250 Good Dog members between Birmingham and Auburn, with more to come when the Tuscaloosa location opens in December. He says his own dog, a 7-year-old Golden Doodle named Callie, is a big fan of the park and especially loves riding in the tunnels and seeing other regulars. But Good Dog isn’t just for dogs and their owners; it’s for everyone, says Carmichael.

“There is no happier place than Good Dog,” he says. “I’ve had really bad days, and I go through daycare, stay with a group of Golden for 10 minutes, and come out a new person. It’s therapy.”

Between breed meetings almost every weekend and other events hosted by animal organizations and charities in town, there’s always something going on at Good Dog. Carmichael says the community built in a short time has already blown him away.

“Everyone loves dogs, and Good Dog offers a safe place for dog lovers to bring their dogs to play, a place to interact with other dog lovers, and a way to give back to the community at the same time. time,” he says.

This story originally appeared in the Soul Grown website.