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Find an off-lead park near you
We have many designated off-lead areas where you can take your dog for a run off-lead. Remember that these are shared spaces.
You should know the rules for these spaces and that dogs must be walked on a lead when not in a designated off-lead area. These rules are available in our Off-lead dog park rules section on this page below.
Off-lead dog park rules
To use these off-lead parks, you must:
- carry a lead at all times
- not allow your dog to threaten any person or animal
- bring your dog under your control immediately if it threatens any person or animal
- not allow your dog on sporting ovals during organised sports events including matches and training
- keep your dog at least 30m away from in-use barbecues or picnic areas, public meetings or sporting events, including matches or organised training
- not allow your dog within a playground and keep it on a lead within 10m of the perimeter of a playground
- bring waste bags to pick up after your dog and place it in a bin (you can be fined if you don't clean up after your pet).
Exceptions to off-lead areas
Certain dog breeds cannot be off-lead. For example:
- Restricted breeds and dangerous dogs must be muzzled and leashed when outside your home – find out more on the Dogs page on the Agriculture Victoria website.
- Greyhounds must be on a lead even in off-lead areas and parks as per legal requirements for greyhound owners – Legal requirements for greyhound owners page on the Agriculture Victoria website.
The Manningham Council Greyhound Slip Track is a fully-fenced area you can use that allows open running for greyhounds. Find out more on the Whitehorse City Council website.
For the latest information on exceptions to off-lead areas, visit the Legal requirements for dog owners page on the Agriculture Victoria website.
Fenced dog park rules
In addition to the rules for off-lead dog parks, if you are using the fenced dog play area at Gordon Barnard reserve, you must:
- keep your dog off the sporting ovals during organised sports event, including matches and training
- fill in any holes your dog digs
- keep your dog on a lead until inside the fenced area
- not bring in any human food
- only have a maximum of 2 dogs per person
- supervise children if they are with you
- not conduct any commercial activity.
Using a shared space
Everyone who uses a shared space is responsible for the safety of those around them.
- Dog owners need to have their dog under effective control – see our Off-lead dog park rules section on this page.
- Bike riders need to travel at a speed and in a manner that enables them to avoid people and animals.
- Pedestrians need to be mindful of activities around them.