Looking for a suitable venue for a pooch playdate? Have a dog that loves to swim? Like the idea of having a relaxed chat with other locals whilst your dog gets some much needed exercise? Or keen to burn off some energy and calories together?! There’s a myriad of great dog friendly places and spaces in our local suburbs. Here’s a list of my favourites and some of what I hear are the most popular. If you have a favourite spot that I’ve missed please add it via the comment section below.
Whilst all the parks listed below allow dogs off leash, please check signs for restrictions (i.e. if sport is being played nearby your dog may have to stay on its lead). And please remember to be a responsible owner and clean up after your dog too.
Inglewood Oval dedicated Dog Exercise Area, entry off Central Avenue, Mount Lawley (opp. Tennis Club)
This is the only dedicated dog exercise area in the City of Stirling. Purpose built and fully fenced with natural elements such as a mix of sand and turf, agility logs, dog drinking bowl, gazebo for cover and bench seating, it’s particularly popular in the evenings when locals gather post work to give their fur kids some time to play and run. The park attracts lots of different types of dogs but bigger breeds do seem to dominate so if you have a young puppy or small dog that’s a bit skittish keep them well supervised.
Riverside Gardens, end of Milne Street, Bayswater
The attraction of this place is the wide, open grassed spaces for dogs (and kids) that love to run and of course, the River! With its fenced kids playground, BBQ’s, public toilets, Jetty and Cool Breeze Cafe van where you can grab a snack or coffee (closed in July) it’s a great spot for all the family to spend quality time together and perfect for water loving dogs. If you’re after even more river/water action try Bardon Park at the end of Fourth Avenue in Maylands and Banks Reserve on Joel Terrace, Mount Lawley.
Yokine Reserve, Wordworth Avenue, Yokine
If you and your dog are enthusiastic walkers or joggers, you can’t do much better than Yokine Reserve (or Cresswell Road hill, but more on that later…). With several kilometres of walk paths than run either along the perimeter or through the park itself, much of it shaded in Summer, it’s the perfect spot for you and your dog to get a decent exercise session under your belt. Unfortunately, there’s only one dedicated dog drinking station, which is at the front of the clubrooms down near the new kids playground (second entrance on the left along Wordsworth if you’re coming off Alexander Drive), but don’t let that be a deterrent to enjoying this fabulous space.
Hamer Park, Second Avenue, Mount Lawley
Rumour has it that on Friday night local dog owners gather together to toast the end of the week whilst their well behaved pooches (!) have a social catch up of their own. One of a number of local parks that has become host to regular late afternoon/early evening social pet and owner meet-ups.
Forrest Park, Harold Street, Mount Lawley
Like Hamer Park, this approved off leash park plays frequent host to dog owners living in the surrounding streets. If it’s a bit too crowded and noisy with Soccer training (dogs have to be on leash if sport is being played) , wander down the road to the quieter Jack Marks Reserve (also an approved off leash park) on the corner of Wright and Turner streets in Highgate.
Charles Veryard Reserve, Bourke Street, North Perth
The north eastern part of this large park is a dedicated dog off leash area.
Woodville Reserve, Fitzgerald Street, North Perth
A smaller but well situated off leash dog park with a kids playground and the benefit of being only a few minutes walk from popular North Perth cafe’s for your caffeine fix.
Breckler Park, Cresswell Road, Dianella
A large but little known park tucked away behind Alexander Drive where neighbourhood dog owners come together most late afternoons/early evenings to socialise. The only local dog get together that I know of that has it’s own “unofficial” website: http://brecklerparkdogs.blogspot.com.au (gotta love it!). There are lots of smaller breed dogs here and the play tends to be relatively sedate. The adjacent bushlands have lovely nature trails to walk through and if you’re looking for exercise, the footpath up Cresswell Road Hill should have even the most energetic dog out for the count after a lap or two. There’s a dedicated dog drink station at the North Western end of the park at the front of the clubrooms.
So that’s my list – what have I missed? For information on other dog friendly parks you can also try:
http://www.bayswater.wa.gov.au/residents/rangers/dogs for a list of dog friendly parks in the City of Bayswater; and
http://www.vincent.wa.gov.au/Services/Rangers_Community_Safety/Animals/Dogs/Dog_Exercise_Areas for details of off-leash parks in Vincent.
