New Off Lead Dog Park In Canberra

[j]

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/oconnor-becomes-canberras-sixth-dogfriendly-suburb-20140712-zt4fz.html

The dogs of the inner north can now run free with the opening of Canberra’s sixth off-leash dog park.

About 30 dogs ignored the morning cold on Saturday to enjoy the undulating, 1.2-hectare site in O’Connor.

Lyneham resident Camille Goodman said the new park would save her a half-hour round trip twice a week to the Belconnen site to allow her two-year-old beagle Digger to explore off the leash.

“I’ll also be able to walk here, which is good, because I didn’t get any exercise in Belconnen,” she said.

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Territory and Municipal Services Minister Shane Rattenbury said the park would cater for all dogs and be an accessible place for those in nearby suburbs, who have previously often travelled to the Yarralumla site.

“It features two separate fenced play areas – one for large, energetic dogs and one for smaller, elderly and frail dogs,” Mr Rattenbury said.

“The park is within walking distance to surrounding residential areas and provides an interesting terrain for dogs and their owners, with lots of shade and shelter provided by established trees.

“The [parks] are enormously popular, wherever you go they’re full.”

Off Fairfax Street, the park was designed and constructed for $450,000 and has seating and a drinking fountain for owners, plus a small trough for dogs.

Mr Rattenbury said the location was chosen through a community survey.

The O’Connor off-leash park is the only one in the territory without lights, an amenity Mr Rattenbury said would be considered once patronage was established.

The founder of dog-minding company Pups4Fun, Rhiannon Beach, said the O’Connor park would meet a need in the community. “I know from feedback from my [northside] clients that they have to travel to Yarralumla,” Ms Beach said.

She said the O’Connor site, which has a small car park between the two play areas, was the first where the fences were not adjoining.

Mr Rattenbury said there were no plans for any further parks, but residents were encouraged to participate in a review of dog exercise areas via timetotalk.act.gov.au.

Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/oconnor-becomes-canberras-sixth-dogfriendly-suburb-20140712-zt4fz.html#ixzz37RLNaNDA

[Simply Grand]

I drove past yesterday and was like "what are all those people and dogs doing there " then saw the fence and realised it was the new park.

It says its the only one of the dog parks without lights but I didn't think any of them had lights?

[mita]

I notice that the new park has two sections... one for the more energetic playing dogs & the other for the less robust dogs. One of the dog parks near us, has this system & it's worked very well.

[Staffyluv]

Our Queanbeyan dog park at the Scar, has the same system - it works really well.

[Simply Grand]

I think all the ACT govt ones have the separate areas now... My only concern with it is that I think some people take the attitude that if you are in the "big" dog / open area it's at your own risk and you have to deal with rough play and rudeness, especially if you have a smaller dog in there. Same goes the other way, it allows small dog owners to avoid issues with their dog reacting negatively to big dogs rather than dealing with them. My ideal is that if you are going to have a dog at an off leash area they should be able to interact politely with dogs of all sizes.

However, my ideal is not the real world :D so for safety's sake they are a good, practical idea.

[BC Crazy]

What a great idea to have the park kind of section off for those who play a little rougher & the space for those who don't Excellent

[Staffyluv]

I think most dog parks get their fair share of owners who don't watch their dogs..

That is the reason we go early. It seems to me that certain owners like that don't like to get up early.

Whereas our early crew are the dog owners that interact with their own dogs, doing bits of training, playing tug etc..

I think the worst time to go (to ours) is the after work run.. So many that go at that time just walk in, let their dog go and don't even look at it again until they want to leave..

[Simply Grand]

I think most dog parks get their fair share of owners who don't watch their dogs..

That is the reason we go early. It seems to me that certain owners like that don't like to get up early.

Whereas our early crew are the dog owners that interact with their own dogs, doing bits of training, playing tug etc..

I think the worst time to go (to ours) is the after work run.. So many that go at that time just walk in, let their dog go and don't even look at it again until they want to leave..

Hehe, I often wake up and think I should take them up there in the morning, but I usually end up stumbling out the door for a walk around the block instead

I'm finding it's better up there in the evenings now than it was in summer, as in it's a fairly regular good group that still go when it's cold and wet and nearly dark. And often the small side is empty so I can use that to let my three run with each other without having to keep quite such an eye on them..

Whenever we go, if both sides are occupied I assess whether we know and get along with the dogs in each side, whether there are kids there, what the people are doing and what the dynamic of each side is and pick the better match (if there is one), keeping either Quinn or Riley on lead so they don't overwhelm / be overwhelmed respectively if necessary! It's an exercise in logistics and focus and sometimes it's all too hard (for me) so we just go for a walk on lead instead :laugh:

[Staffyluv]

I use the small side for Zig and I (if there isn't anyone else that wants it), when a couple of full on dogs are there - which they are sometimes. One male in particular doesn't seem to happy about Zig being around and nips him sometimes, so it is just easier to play in the little side.

I am usually there around 7.30am at the moment because it is so cold. Zig is super friendly, if you ever want to come up for a play date with the pups.