26 June 2009

Tuggeranong Dog park - the Happiest Place on Earth (for dogs anyway)

| deezagood
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For some reason, I hadn’t noticed the new dog-off-lead park in Tuggers – probably because it isn’t that noticeable unless you are looking for it.

Anyway, a neighbor of ours told me about it the other day and we (myself and doggies) ventured forth to see what the fuss was about. It was actually pretty great; nine foot fences, secure entry and exit double gates, lots of open spaces for the dogs to roam/chase/frolic, paths for the humans and plenty of seats in sunny spots.

We had a fab time, met lots of nice folks, lots of nice dogs and everyone seemed to be quite well behaved (except my whippet, who felt the need to piddle on the dog drinking fountain – which inspired all of the others dogs to also piddle on the said fountain).

Thanks to TAMs for providing this terrific spot.

My only suggestion – how about installing a couple of poo-bag dispensers (for the humans who occasionally forget) as they do at other dog parks? And the addition of lights would be a real asset on winter evenings.

If you haven’t been yet, it is on Mortimer Lewis drive, just off Drakeford (across the lake from the library); look out for the lady with the incessantly piddling whippet.

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Such a great place – but why the heck does the internal gate open outwards???? This means that big, or keen, dogs just have to jump up on it and they can let themselves into the extrance section. I seriously hope the government change this around before someone or somedog gets hurt.

deezagood said :

My kelpieX yaps too misshelly; high pitched, ear piercing and constant – for about the first 5 minutes until she settles down. Vey embarrassing (and annoying for everyone, including me). I know what you mean about the bigger rambunctious dogs – they do tend to trample all over everyone and the little dogs don’t stand a chance.

haha well maybe I’ll have to go when you go, so it takes some of the attention away from me!! hehe

A cowardly dog is better than a bully dog. the current chihuahuas attack anything they want to… the little one doesn’t get herself into trouble any more, but the big one does. He develops selective hearing when he sees potential prey (large men are the ones he really likes). Luckily he’s got too fat to jump up and bite bums now, he has to content himself with ankles.

Well there you go! He’s a keeper 🙂

Haha!! I think you are right there. I should have listened to his advice.
Luckily the new catch has been given doggie approval.

FC, in all future relationships, I would defer to the dog’s judgement on men, as they have a definite sixth sense about these things. If the dog votes ‘no good’, then give him the arse (I’m only semi-joking here)! My whippet tolerates my husband, but he loves me best 🙂

I think a bark would at least bea deterrance (however minor)
My dog has attempted to protect me by biting a boyfriend or two. However I have a feeling that is more jealousy than protection!

I think if somebody broke into our house and tried to attack me, my whippet would sigh and roll over in his bed. I have high hopes for the kelpieX though … if nothing else her ear-splitting bark might be something of an annoyance to any would-be burglers.

I know!!
The funny things was all teh dogs he was scared of were so small!!
He is still my brave protector though – as long as there is a fence or a window between him and his target – he is a brave dog. haha.

FC said :

My dog is too scared to go there. He is fine with other dogs around, but get anxious and overwhelmed when 3-6 strange dogs all come running up to him and jumping all over him at the same time. He tried to jump up into my arms last time we were there and this happened. It was sad, but cute.

He’s meant to protet you!!!

My dog is too scared to go there. He is fine with other dogs around, but get anxious and overwhelmed when 3-6 strange dogs all come running up to him and jumping all over him at the same time. He tried to jump up into my arms last time we were there and this happened. It was sad, but cute.

My kelpieX yaps too misshelly; high pitched, ear piercing and constant – for about the first 5 minutes until she settles down. Vey embarrassing (and annoying for everyone, including me). I know what you mean about the bigger rambunctious dogs – they do tend to trample all over everyone and the little dogs don’t stand a chance.

I walked past this every weekend before it opened with my small white ball of fluff…. and was really excited when it finally opened! But unfortunately I have come to realise that my little girl is just too small 🙁

It would have been great to have a small dog area too 🙁

My girl has been socialised with bigger dogs so she’s not scared of them, but unfortunately she does tend to get trampled. And she yaps… alot 😛 I feel like the outcast freak when she starts barking as we walk in (she just does it when she hears other dogs – even at home on the TV).

But yeah, i think it’s a great facility! I’ll just have to stick with the round-the-lake loop (better for my butt too than standing in the dog park :P)

burkes08 said :

I am always a bit nervous about these places as my dog is a 55kg Rottweiler. She is really good with big dogs but the little fluffy white things look a little too similar to marshmallows and would quite easily fit in her mouth.

Haha, mine can be quite boisterous too. I’ve been there a few times and if I happen to see the dog owners by the bench, I’ll always ask first. Most of them are okay with me letting my dog off the leash. Sometimes, they’ll tell you how their dog(s) react to bigger or smaller dogs. I’ve only encountered a grumpy owner once.

And, sometimes, good samaritans will leave some plastic bags by the gate.

We were there much later.

deezagood said :

LOL. TP, did you go today at all? There was a fluffy white dog there this afternoon!

I was there from 12:30ish to 13:00ish

LOL. TP, did you go today at all? There was a fluffy white dog there this afternoon!

“how about installing a couple of poo-bag dispensers (for the humans who occasionally forget)”

Or you could just make sure you go before you leave home

deezagood said :

TP, what is the FB site called?

It is Lake Tuggeranong Dog Park (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=148279295572&ref=ts).

I didn’t see any info about size??? Strange. The one tip that I did notice was the advice to ‘keep walking, so that your dog doesn’t become territorial over a certain area’. I thought that this was good advice for ‘first timers’ (until you see how your pooch will go in this ‘free-from’ situation), but most people seemed to just cluster together and chat whilst their dogs romped around chasing eachother (piddling on everyhting) and having a great time.

The dog park etiquette brochure says the following about poo bags:

Why are bags for dog waste not provided?
The ACT Government encourages dog owners
to carry bags when they take their dog out, as
required under ACT law. Further reasons for not
providing bags are to avoid problems caused
through vandalism such as spreading bags through
the surrounding area and potentially causing a
hazard for water birds, or if bags are stolen and
not available for park users who have become
dependent on them.

It also says the following about areas for the size of your dog. I don’t see separate areas on the map. Are there areas for small dogs and big dogs?

What to do once you get to the enclosure
Make sure you use the right part of the enclosure for your dog’s size.

I am always a bit nervous about these places as my dog is a 55kg Rottweiler. She is really good with big dogs but the little fluffy white things look a little too similar to marshmallows and would quite easily fit in her mouth.

TP, what is the FB site called?

Yeah my dog has fun, he is the big white fluffy dog that greets all creature dog or human.

There is also a little one on Amy Ackman Street, Forde (near the Jessie Street roundabout) & at the northern end of Lake Ginninderra (off Ginninderra Drive, on the west side of the bridge).

Someone has also created a Facebook page for people to share anything about the dog park.

Peewee Slasher11:32 am 26 Jun 09

I agree, deeza. Dog poo bins and bags should not only be in the dog park but also at strategic places around Canberra. I noticed them in some small towns in Victoria (they also had rubbish bins in parks, something the ACT government has deemed unneccessary).

DarkLadyWolfMother10:27 am 26 Jun 09

I’ll have to take my own (selective hearing loss) out there soon. She loves other people and puppies and doesn’t get to socialise a lot!

That sounds nice, a place for dogs to socialise and play.

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