Helpful tips for dog owners

Before attending Paws at the Park, consider whether the event will be a positive experience for your dog. Large crowds can be overwhelming, particularly for puppies, first-time attendees, or dogs that are anxious or easily overstimulated.

If you're bringing your dog along, here are a few tips to help everyone enjoy the day:

· Always keep your dog on leash at all times, unless in the designated off leash area.

· Keep meet and greets, short and sweet. Not every dog wants to socialise, so allow dogs to greet briefly before moving on.

· Watch your dog's body language. If your dog is pulling on the lead, barking excessively, or becoming overstimulated, take a break in a quieter area to help them settle.

· Be considerate of other attendees. Lock extendable leads in crowded areas to help prevent trips, tangles and unexpected interactions with people and other dogs.

· Supervise your dog in the off leash area. Even when dogs are off leash, owners are still responsible for ensuring their dog is under effective control by voice commands (recall) and behaving appropriately.

By following these simple tips, you'll help keep pets and people safe while making Paws at the Park a fun and enjoyable day for everyone.

Responsible pet ownership helps keep our community safe

In 2025, over 600 dog attacks were reported to Council. These were often preventable with most reported attacks occurring in public spaces when animals are not properly contained or under effective control.

The campaign, ‘One bite can cost your dog’s life – Leash. Contain. Supervise’ highlights the consequences of irresponsible dog ownership.

State Government has strengthened dog laws with tougher penalties for dog owners, including;

· Increased fines for dogs off leash and not under effective control in a public place ($863)

· New fines if your dog attacks or wounds another animal in a public place ($2,590)

· Increased penalties with possible jail time for owners involved in serious attacks

· Any regulated dog that seriously attacks – must be subject to a destruction order.

Every dog owner can help keep the community safe.

· Always walk your dog on a leash in public and under effective control

· Secure your property, close gates, check fences, shut garage doors to safely contain your dog.

· Supervise and keep your dog under voice control (recall) when using off leash areas.

One bite can cost your dog’s life. Dog attacks are often preventable, be a responsible pet owner and remember to leash, contain and supervise – your dog, your responsibility.

Why registration matters?

It’s required by State law for identification, separate to microchipping and has lots of benefits for dog owners including:

· Supporting off leash exercise areas

· Dog bag dispensers across the city

· Pet education and training programs

· Lost and found services & more

· Lifetime registration tags

· Animal management services keeping our community safe.

Dog registration period is from 1 September to 31 August with 1 or 3 year registrations available.

If you're registering a new dog, you'll pay a pro rata fee from the date of registration through to 31 August..

The City offers discounted registration fees* for:

· desexed dogs

· pensioners

· dogs QLD members

· 3-year registrations (pay for 2 years and receive the third year free)

FREE registration* is available for;

· dogs under 1 year of age

· assistance dogs

· seniors (60+) & veterans for 2 desexed dogs only.

*conditions apply.

Make sure to register your dog and help keep them safe.

Identification is your pet’s ticket home.

Give your pet the best chance of being safely reunited if found lost or wandering.

Simply identify your dog by:

· wearing a collar with a name tag and phone number

· a registration tag attached and

· a microchip.

Remember to keep their details up to date with the city and your microchip registry.

Dog off leash area etiquette

The city boasts 164 dog off leash areas for our pets to enjoy, including over 5 kilometres of pristine beaches, a number of parks with water access, and fenced areas with agility equipment for our training enthusiasts.

Check out the City Mobile App

Find a dog off leash area or doggy amenities with the City Mobile App, downloadable on android or apple, visit cityofgoldcoast.com.au/dogparks.

Read the signs

Always check the signs before allowing your dog off leash to make sure you are within the boundaries of a designated area.

If there are no signs, your dog must remain on leash and under effective control by a person holding the leash who is physically able to control the dog. This includes entering or leaving your property, vehicle, water access or an off leash area.

Know the rules

It’s important to remember to follow the rules when using the city’s dog off leash areas to keep our pets and the community safe:

Conditions of Use

Please ensure your dog is:

· Under effective control at all times

· Within the immediate supervision of a person aged 17+

· Not regulated – dangerous or menacing

· Registered with Council and wearing its registration tag

· Kept on a leash outside this area.

*Effective control – controlled by voice command (recall)

Your responsibilities

· Be considerate of others using the area

· Not allow your dog to attack or harm another animal or person

· Manage noise to not cause a nuisance

· Supervise children at all times

· Dispose of dog waste appropriately.

Below are proactive signage that has been installed at various fenced off leash areas to help owners better understand dog behaviour, promote responsible pet ownership, reduce the risk of dog attacks and support building safer communities.

Helpful Tips for Dog Owners from the City of Gold Coast Council