Dog parks in Victoria
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Overview
One of the best ways to get out and enjoy your time with your dog is to find a local dog park. Dog parks are a great place for you and your dog to explore. These are off-leash areas where your dog can feel free to run and play, often with other dogs. If you're thinking about finding a location in Victoria where you and your dog can run around, here are some dog park options in the city.
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Amenities
Victoria West Park is the eighth largest park in Victoria and has a variety of unique and interesting amenities, including a playground, skate park, basketball court, sports field, and more. The fully fenced off-leash dog park has been in this park since 2016, and in the coming years, you can expect to see even more developments in this park, including a dog-friendly fountain and an additional off-leash area for use during off-peak hours.
2. Songhees Hillside Park
Amenities
The Songhees Hillside Park is known for its connections to the Songhees Nation, as the park contains a variety of trees, indigenous plants, Lekwungen designs, and more. While the park itself is a very enjoyable spot to come and play, the dog park is another location that dog owners may be interested in checking out. It isn't exceptionally large, but it is very well-kept and is generally in a low-traffic area, making it a great option for smaller dogs.
3. Oswald Park
Amenities
Oswald Park is a fairly large park in the Oaklands neighborhood of Victoria, with amenities that include a basketball court, playground, and running track. Additionally, you can find an off-leash dog area that's completely fenced, so dogs can run around and play without a leash. It's also very popular, so it's very likely that you and your dog will be able to meet with other dogs, regardless of when you visit.
4. Topaz Park
Amenities
Topaz Park has been a widely enjoyed park for many years, and between 2021 and 2022, the City of Victoria invested nearly $10 million to create a more accessible park layout with even more park activities and spots for people to enjoy. There are two leash-optional areas, one in the north end of the park and one in the south area of the park, with both dogs and humans regularly enjoying their time there. The park is also very large and known to be one of the largest fully fenced areas in the city.
5. Clover Point Park
Amenities
Clover Point Park is a well-known seaside park with plenty of space to run around and enjoy yourself. It's one of the most popular park locations in Victoria, with a pier, a lighthouse, plenty of trails, and more. Within Clover Point Park is an off-leash dog area between Dallas Road and a local pedestrian path. It's one of the largest in the city, although it is not fenced, so you should only visit if your dog has excellent recall.
Get out with your dog
Dog parks are a great place for both dogs and their owners. When it comes to dogs, they're able to run around, enjoy their time, and meet new dogs. Owners can get out of the house and may even be able to meet other dog owners. However, before you start taking your dog to the dog park, it's important that you know how to maintain your dog's composure while you're at the park. If you're worried about your dog's ability to socialize effectively with other animals, book a virtual vet appointment with Vetster to get a veterinarian’s assistance with the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Not all of them. Many dog parks do separate their parks by dog weight, with small dogs in one area and large dogs in another. However, it's also common for parks to just have a single area for dogs of all sizes. Regardless of whether or not there's a specific area for small dogs, you shouldn't let it lure you into a false sense of security. You should always keep an eye on your dog, whether or not they're in the small dog area.
- Most parks will have some kind of signage indicating whether or not dogs are allowed in the park. Fenced dog parks will almost always have a sign indicating the rules of the dog park and that this is specifically a park for off-leash dogs. However, if you're looking for more information about a park before you visit, you may want to check the Victoria Parks and Recreation website which will give you more insight into all sorts of parks in the area.
- Most of the time, you can get involved with a local dog park, as they're frequently managed by volunteers. All you need to do is get in contact with the current group that is handling the management processes of the park. If you're looking for other ways to start helping out your local dog park, just make sure you clean up your dog's waste and any other trash you see in the area. It might surprise you how much cleaner you can make your local park.
