Geelong pooches could have more room to frolic off-leash after council this week released recommendations for more dog parks.
Leopold dog trainer Sophie Noss welcomed the draft guidelines in the wake of a council survey of 617 owners finding 84 per cent support for more dog parks.
“I love that council is asking for our feedback on how to set up these spaces,” she said.
“It’s a great opportunity … particularly in high dog population areas.”
Her suburb has a high density of owners, with 2067 registered dogs, while the top were Lara (2649), Highton-Wandana Heights (2636), and Ocean Grove (2563).
“I feel Leopold at the moment is quite limited in where you can take your dog off leash,” Ms Noss said.
Council plans to build separate parks for small and large dogs, which Ms Noss described as a “great idea”.
“It’s great for the little dogs that are overwhelmed by larger dogs,” she said.
Council plans to build new, fenced, off-leash parks at a minimum size of 3000 square metres.
Council also recommended perimeter fencing, double gates, bins and bag dispensers for the sites.
The parks would cost about $300,000 each, subject to future council budgets, and would complement rather than replace existing sites under the recommendations.
“I hope that they look into some agility equipment in the spaces so the sole focus is not on dogs socialising but exercising as well,” Ms Noss said.
The parks were an excellent opportunity to install dog body language signs and educate owners on inappropriate behaviour, she said.
“The onus lies on the owner to have effective control of their dog and know if (it is) uncomfortable in certain circumstances.”
Greater Geelong is home to more than 34,500 registered dogs, a number council expects to rise.
“With our rapid population growth and the reduction of average residential block sizes, there’s an added need for dog exercise areas,” Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood said.
Cr Harwood encouraged owners to have their say on the guidelines at council’s website during the next four weeks, prior to their finalisation early next year.
Windermere ward councillor Anthony Aitken suggested Lara and Highton would be the first suburbs to get new dog parks given their high number of owners.
The guidelines also suggest several potential improvements to the City’s only existing dog park, at Stead Park in Corio.
