Dog park etiquette

Dog parks can be fantastic places for your pet to exercise and interact with other dogs. If the park is fenced and contained, then this is even better – as you can relax knowing that your pet is safe from busy roads and traffic.

When you first arrive at your local dog park, it can be worthwhile to keep your pet on a lead whilst observing how any other dogs present are playing, and whether there are any displaying rough or potentially aggressive behaviour.

When you let your pet off their lead, keep an eye on your dog and watch them as they meet and interact with the other dogs – if you’re unsure how your dog, or any of the other dogs may react, then stay nearby to your pet so you can intervene and place your dog back on a lead if necessary. This is also when it’s handy to have trained your dog with good recall commands, so they come to you when called.

If another dog is displaying particularly rough behaviour with your pet, you could consider asking the other dog’s owner to put their pet back on a lead and see if this settles their behaviour, or alternatively – if this is not possible, then place your dog back on a lead and consider returning to the dog park at a different time.

Remember to always quickly pick up and dispose of any dog poo and try not to let your dog play with other dog’s toys.

The recent COVID-19 restrictions have prevented routine puppy socialisation classes from being able to occur, so this has meant that many new pet owners may have missed out on the opportunity to learn routine health and training information and that new puppies have had reduced socialisation opportunities.

As a result it is important to take care when introducing young dogs to new environments such as off-lead dog parks especially if you’re unsure how they will react around other dogs or if you are uncertain how well they will return when called. Visiting the dog park during quieter times of the day such as the early morning is a good idea until you are more confident with your pet’s behaviour.

Dog parks might be a hive of canine activity but remember that there’s also lots of fun humans to meet as well – and share experiences about your much-loved pets. Just remember to adhere to any relevant COVID-19 social distancing requirements and respect other people’s personal space.

To find out where your local dog parks is located click on the Northern Beaches Council for the Hills district or Inner West Council to see a full list.

If you plan to take your dog to the local dog exercise area, it’s important that your pet is up to date with their vaccinations, to ensure that they are protected from potentially contagious diseases like canine cough or parvovirus. Making sure they are on parasite protection which is a must to protect against ticks, fleas and gut worms.

If you’re unsure about your pet’s vaccination status, or have any further questions about dog parks, then please speak with our friendly veterinary team at your local Sydney Animal Hospitals on;

Newtown (02) 9519 4111
69-73 Erskineville Road Erskineville

Inner West (02) 9516 1466
1A Northumberland Ave Stanmore

Norwest (02) 8883 0411
Unit 8, 1-3 Celebration Dr Bella Vista

Kellyville (02) 8883 0533
106 Windsor Rd Kellyville

Newport (02) 9997 4609
1 Palm Rd Newport

Avalon (02) 9918 0833
710 Barrenjoey Rd Avalon Beach