News / Council
Changes on the way for how owners walk their dogs
Canine population has tripled over the past seven years
Mark Phillips
DOG owners could face new rules for when and where they can exercise their pets off their leashes as Merri-bek Council seeks to manage an explosion of dog numbers.
The proposed changes are the council’s response to a three-fold increase in the city’s canine population which is putting strain on shared parks and recreation reserves.
Under the proposed rules, there would be tighter limits on when dogs are allowed off their leashes along with zoned areas for dogs to be exercised. But off-leash areas may also be expanded at some locations.
The changes will be trialed at nine of the city’s 54 parks – including three in Brunswick – before they are adopted towards the end of this year.
Merri-bek Council chief executive officer Cathy Henderson said the review of dog walking in public parks had been prompted by dog registrations having more than tripled over the past seven years – from 4099 dogs in 2018 to 13,682 dogs in 2025.
Even though Merri-bek has more off-leash exercise areas than most municipalities, the council expects dog numbers to continue to grow in coming years and is planning a new approach to improve the use of off-leash areas and dog parks.
This follows feedback during the development of the council’s open space strategy last year that included concerns that some people feel unsafe around dogs, a need to separate dogs from sports games, a desire for more specific dog parks, and the impact of dogs on biodiversity and waterways.
Participants in the community consultation around the strategy also highlighted the need for better night-time lighting for dog walking, enforcement of dog on-leash areas, better signage, and more dog poo bags.
HAVE YOUR SAY: should there be new rules for dogs in public parks?
“We know that exercising your dog has positive social, mental and physical benefits for dogs and their owners,” Henderson said.
“We also know that some people in the community feel uncomfortable around dogs in open spaces.
“The dog walking in Merri-bek pilot is about finding the best ways for dogs, dog owners and others to share our parks and public spaces, so that everyone feels safe and welcome.”
The new approach is guided by five principles of ensuring compliance with local laws in designated off-leash areas, accessibility to open spaces for all users, safety for all park users, and protection of natural habitats and of sporting and recreation infrastructure, including playing surfaces.
The pilot will examine seven potential interventions at different locations, including clearer designations of areas where dogs are allowed off their leash.
At Gilpin Park in Brunswick, the current fenced dog park will be temporarily doubled in size, a new on-leash only zone will be enforced at the eastern end of the park, and no dogs will be allowed in the children’s playground area, even if they have a restraint. A fenced dog park will also be trialled at Babaji Djinanang in Fawkner.
At Fleming Park in Brunswick East, there will be tighter controls on allowing dogs off their leashes during organised sporting events, an expanded on-leash only zone will be introduced in the northern and eastern sections of the park, and there will be a full ban on dogs in the children’s playground area.
A restriction on dogs being allowed off their leashes when organised sport is being played will also reinforced at Wylie Reserve in Brunswick West, which will also gain improved lighting.
Restricted access for dogs off-leash only before 9am and after 5pm will be held in a designated zone at Robinson Reserve in Coburg, where dogs are currently not allowed to be off their leashes at any times.
Henderson said the community will be able to provide feedback about the changes for six months before the council adopts the new policies, which would be implemented in early 2026.
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