Why separate

Even friendly big dogs playing normally can injure a small dog by accident, and prey-drive mismatches escalate fast. Separation removes the highest-risk pairing entirely.

The split

Once you are past the smallest format, divide the play area roughly 40% for small dogs, under about 30 lbs, and 60% for large dogs, each with its own gated entry. Larger venues should add a third zone for shy, senior, or recovering dogs who do better away from boisterous play.

Separate entries

Each zone gets its own double-gate entry — a roughly 50–75 sq ft vestibule — so dogs cannot slip between zones or escape during check-in.

Design for supervision

Keep sightlines clean so a single staff member can watch each zone with no blind spots. Keep at least half of each zone open for running, and push equipment to the walls. Per-dog space still applies within each zone at 75–100 sq ft per dog at peak.

Signage and enforcement

Post the weight cutoff clearly and empower staff to route dogs to the right side — and to move a dog that is too rough. The zones only work if the door enforces them.