GUIDE
What to check before you go to an off-leash park
Most bad trips to a dog park are avoidable. Five minutes of checking saves the drive.
Check the times, not just the park
Plenty of off-leash areas are only off-leash at certain hours, and a sports ground stops being one the moment a game starts. Council pages list the hours. The sign at the gate is the version that counts if an officer turns up.
Check whether it is actually fenced
Fenced and off-leash are different things. Many listed off-leash areas are open parkland with a road on one side. If your dog does not have a reliable recall, you want a fence.
Registration and microchipping
Every state requires dogs to be microchipped and registered with the council, and councils do check at popular parks. Carry nothing, but make sure the registration is current before you go.
Take water and a way to carry waste out
Bag dispensers run empty and taps get turned off over summer. Assume neither is there.
Go at a quiet time first
A first visit at 6pm on a Saturday is the hardest possible introduction. Mid-morning on a weekday tells you whether your dog enjoys the place at all.