Looking for fenced dog parks near you? Here’s the easy way to find one! In many places around Australia, you can find fenced dog exercise areas, where you can let your furry friend run off the leash. These parks provide an enclosed space for dogs to play and get some exercise, and they’re perfect for those who live in urban areas or don’t have access to a backyard. Keep reading for information on how to find fenced dog parks near you, what to look for when choosing one, and some tips on how to make the most of your visit.
How to find enclosed dog parks
Sometimes it’s easy to spot the closest dog park near you, but other times they can be tricky to find. If you don’t know where your closest dog park is, you have three easy options to find it:
1. Type “fenced dog park” into Google Maps
If your location settings are turned on, this should provide you with a list of dog parks near you. However, the results are based on keywords that have been used in the reviews of the park, so there’s no guarantee that all of the dog parks will be fenced. For a surefire way to find an enclosed dog park near you, your best bet is the next option.
2. Visit your local council’s website
The website of your local council should have a section about all things dogs, including all the fenced dog parks where dogs can go to run free and play. A lot of the time, the easiest way to find this page on your council’s website, is to type “dog” into the search bar. You can then browse the results for something like “fenced dog exercise areas” or “enclosed dog parks”.
3. Try Google Search
You can literally type “enclosed dog park near me” into Google search and see what pops up! You’ll often find articles from online blogs about many fenced dog parks across Australia. For example, we have a few different posts on the topic too, such as our guide on finding an off-leash dog exercise park in Sydney or our article on fully fenced dog parks in Perth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fenced Dog Parks
Dog parks are a controversial topic, and you’ll find many professionals in the pet sector advising against taking your dog to dog parks. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the frequently asked questions!
Are dog parks stressful for dogs?
Yes, many dogs can find dog parks stressful. Not all of the dogs, and probably not all of the time, but there certainly are dogs who’d definitely rather go somewhere else with you!
Why shouldn’t you take your dog to the dog park?
A lot of the time, dog parks tend to attract the type of dog owners who like to socialise with the other humans while their dogs are being left to their own devices. This wouldn’t necessarily be a problem if they did it in a controlled environment – eg. someone’s backyard with only dogs who are familiar with each other. But in a public space, you’re bound to have unfamiliar new dogs join the group, and not all dogs will always get along with each other.
To put it simply, in a dog park you have the perfect conditions for dog encounters to escalate and turn into a fight.
In addition, many dog owners never learn how to read their dog’s body language. So, a person might think that their dog is happy to play with another dog when in reality that dog is very stressed out and wants nothing more than to go home!
How do I know if my dog likes the dog park?
The best way to find out if your dog likes the dog park is by reading their body language. You can watch some YouTube videos about “dog body language” and observe your dog. It takes time at first, but eventually, you’ll be able to tell what your dog likes or doesn’t like in all situations, not just at the dog park.
That said, be mindful to not take a new puppy to a dog park. To socialise a puppy, it’s best to join a puppy group class at your local vet and to organise play dates in controlled environments with other responsible dog owners (after your puppy had all its necessary vaccines). A puppy does not need to visit a dog park for socialisation.
In fact, all off-leash dog exercise areas require you to have your off-leash dog under your effective control at all times. This means that you need to be able to call your dog back to you, even if your dog is distracted. Because of this, you typically want to participate in dog obedience training before thinking about visiting a dog park.
