On a crisp Saturday near Melbourne's Yarra River, several people with their dogs arrived at Thomas Oval Dog Park to escape the heat.
David Davis and her husband, Jen Tan, are here with their two dogs, Mika, a six-year-old Groudle, and Como, a five-year-old Cavoodle, and they spend time around the South Yarra meeting place. They are sniffing and flying around. The dogs move freely, and while their owners chat, Como puts his furry head between my legs.
“I've been coming here about three times a week lately because I have a knee injury and can't go for long walks. But anyway, all the smells here are probably more than I would encounter on a long walk.” says Davis.
The couple lives nearby in a house with a small backyard. Therefore, dogs mainly come here to play in the green spaces. “The dogs love all the smells and the interaction with other dogs. It's like a sensory wonderland here. Plus, they can be off-leash here and they're well-groomed,” he says. I say.
But this dog park, like many others around Australia, is much more than just a fenced-in grassy field. It is located on Namiki Park on a hill. It features a separate gated “quiet zone,” a sensory area with rocks for climbing and a sandpit for digging and tanbarking.
The science of dog parks is changing. Now found in every city and most small towns across Australia, the modern dog park is a social park for dogs, according to Leanne Dawei, senior associate at Hansen Partnership, which designed the facility. It is designed in a highly technical manner with a focus on visualization, behavior and management. park.
“In the case of the Thomas Oval Dog Park, clear direction from Congress early on in the project was that the dog park should include primarily native/native plant species, permeable surfaces, and (agility) “We wanted to incorporate elements of natural play for dogs (rather than using equipment),” says Dawei.
“Both the active and quiet dog zones have sandboxes. The active play zones include hoops, a variety of natural materials, shelters, raised lawns, [a] Big red gum feature log play element. ”
According to Dogshare, an online platform that aims to match dogs with dog lovers in local communities, there are currently around 15,000 dog parks in Australia.
However, the number will continue to increase. In Victoria, the Arran Government recently announced the results of a pet census showing that dogs account for 41% of all pets, and is offering grants of up to $300,000 to local governments to build and improve existing dog parks. provides money.
Louisa Larkin, founder of CoPP (City of Port Phillip) Dogs Network, says she travels around Australia with her dogs and often stops at dog parks along the way.
Some are much better than others. One of Larkin's favorite spots is Sydney Park, located on the outskirts of Sydney. It's largely off-leash, with a small pool for dogs and a large cafe. Another is in New South Wales, where the Logan Road Dog Park in Albury has a clamshell paddling pool for dogs that residents can fill with water using a provided hose.
It's not just fun and games
Jessica Janson, founder of Dog Share, says today's best dog parks include separate zones for quiet breeds and small dogs, access to water and shade, and disposal of waste, including bags and containers. It said features such as clear signage instructing owners to take responsibility for handling and handling should be included. Dog behavior in the park.
She places great importance on owners respecting the rights of other humans and dogs.
“To keep these places a safe and happy environment for everyone.” [dog owners] You need to do your research and find out which parks are dog-friendly, on-leash or off-leash,” says Janson.
“Being a responsible dog owner is very important. Many dogs suffer from anxiety and reactivity. Similarly, young families and people who don't like being around dogs can suffer from this. You have the right to enjoy a quiet space.”
Lesley Humphreys, a director at Paws4Play and LHM Consulting who has worked on public policy councils around dog parks for 15 years, said there was a problem.
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Her research shows that fenced dog parks are generally more likely than unfenced areas to have dogs that are poorly trained or behaved, or owners who don't actively interact with their dogs or intervene when they should. It has been shown that it is easy to collect. They also attract dogs who are trapped in the backyard and have a lot of energy to release.
“As ironic as it may sound, these dogs need exercise before entering the dog park,” she says.
“Dog parks are a real draw, and who doesn’t love seeing dogs jumping around together?
“The problem is, not all dogs are wired to dog parks.”
Humphries said most dog owners are generally bad at reading their dogs' body language.
“Many dog owners are unaware that dog management regulations apply to dog parks and believe the adage 'let the dog figure it out for himself.' This can be traumatic for dogs, owners and others alike. may have a negative impact.”
She says a good dog park should have multiple sensory elements, such as rock climbers, bedrock, excavations, and sensory plants to distract pets from dog and dog activities. .
“Our dogs are our relatives.”
For Jennifer Bishop, who walks her four-year-old golden retriever, Daisy, every day in parks and beaches around Port Phillip and has used dog-friendly spaces for more than 30 years, the most important thing about a dog park is having a shaded area. That's what it means. , provide water bowls and drinking fountains, clear signage, and dog poop bags.
She says she has met many of her closest friends through the dog park over the years.
“Dog lovers think of their dogs as family and the community around them as friends,” she says.
“For those of us who don't have or choose not to have human children, or for seniors with adult children, dogs are our next of kin. Our canine community is our coffee companion, walking companion, Those we can help, and those who help others.”
Additionally, Bishop is a strong proponent of keeping well-trained dogs in parks and providing areas for large, medium, and small dogs. Otherwise, your dog park will feel like the Wild West.
“It's not normal dog behavior for dogs to race up to other dogs or jump on them. When you go to a human party, a stranger runs up to you, hugs you, or jumps on you. It's the same as hitting someone.
“That's bad manners.”
