* Voting has started for the Hard-Working Group over at Mango Minster – head over and check out the entries! (including ME hard at work modelling)
* Also – don’t forget voting for Tucker’s Sit-Stay competition - I’m entry #18! Voting closes 6th Feb! 
* * *
My new home, Brisbane, is a nice city but it is not as dog-friendly as Auckland. There are lots of places where dogs are not allowed or not welcome, and what’s more, can you believe that “dog parks” here are just small, fenced areas in the corners of the main park?! 
What? You call that a dog park?? That’s like a dog prison yard! 
There’s hardly any space to stretch your legs – especially for a big dog like me – one gallop and I’m practically crashing into the fence on the other side! 
Besides, in all the parks we visited, we saw hardly anybody using the rest of the park around us – it was all empty – which made it seem even MORE unfair that us doggies are squished into these small corners…
Back in New Zealand, if a park was a “dog park”, that meant we doggies could run free in the WHOLE park. If humans didn’t like being with dogs, there were lots of other parks which were not dog parks where they could jog or cycle or walk, without being bothered by dogs running around them.
See? Now THIS is what I call a dog park – all 20 hectares of it, with ponds to wade in, rabbit holes to sniff, woods to explore, hills to climp and lots of space to run free! 
Me at Waiatarua Reserve, Auckland
We had about 5 parks like this within 10 minutes drive of our home – I guess we were really spoilt in Auckland and didn’t realise how lucky we were!
My human, Hsin-Yi, says that lots of other countries have these small, fenced dog parks like here in Brisbane, especially in the faraway place called America – but she really doesn’t like them. Not just because they are so small either. She did an article for one of her dog magazines on “dog parks” last year and she found lots of reasons why such small, fenced dog parks are a bad idea:
- putting a lot of us doggies who are strangers into a confined area is just asking for trouble. Especially if our humans are just standing around, gossiping, because then we feel ‘braver’ with our pack behind us and so we are more likely to become bullies or pick a fight with other doggies.
- humans in these fenced, small dog parks usually just stand around or sit around gossiping, which is unhealthy for both the humans and their doggies. We saw a LOT of fat dogs in these parks! (And fat humans!) It is much more natural – and safe – and healthy – for us to keep moving – walking, exploring, passing things – just like we would as a pack on a ‘hunt’ in the wild.
- these parks are only really suitable for young playful doggies (usually under 2) who are still puppies really – most adult dogs do not like to be crowded into such small spaces with other strange dogs and again, it is not the natural way we would go for a walk.
- even sociable puppies and dogs can have a bad experience in the dog park if another irresponsible human brings an aggressive, out-of-control dog and many pups have had their temperaments “ruined” because of an attack in a small dog park.
- entering these small, enclosed parks is very stressful – again, it is not the natural way we would meet other strange doggies in a big open space, where we can decide what personal space we are comfortable with and curve around each other…oh no, Hsin-Yi was horrified when we tried to go into one dog park and the doggies already in it came rushing up to the fence, barking really aggressively (and their humans didn’t try to stop them!) and then we had to enter through a narrow gate where they all rushed up straight to my face and I was still restrained on my leash…it all made me feel very uncomfortable and wary, especially because I have been attacked twice before and had to go to the vet to get stitches.
Really! The other owners should control their dogs and not let them rush up to new dogs coming in through the narrow gates but of course, lots of humans don’t understand dogs at all and think that we should all be instant best friends doing group hugs like in a Disney movie!
So anyway, my humans have been trying to find a real, proper dog park for me but we were getting very depressed because we went to SO many parks in Brisbane and they were all the same! All small, fenced things with badly-behaved doggies and ignorant owners!
And then finally we heard about a park which runs alongside a small river called Kedron Brook and we were so happy when we got there because we saw this!
Yay! A REAL, unfenced, PROPER dog park!! The Kedron Brook Dog Off-Leash Area runs for a long way next to the water (on one side of the brook only - north side) so us doggies can REALLY run and stretch our legs and sniff and explore.
It also means that everyone keeps walking – so we do meet other doggies as we pass each other and we may play a bit but then we hurry to keep up with our pack, so our encounters are short and sweet and safe!
And then when we have met several times, with good, short, positive experiences each time, then we can have a longer play together and everything will be fine because we know each other better now and trust each other. This is the correct way to introduce us doggies and let us make friends!
Because there aren’t any other dog parks like this in Brisbane, everyone wants to come here and lots of humans come from very far away to bring their doggies here – so it was a bit crowded!
Hsin-Yi says walking along the park was like walking on a dog multi-lane highway! We never saw this many doggies in a park back in Auckland because there were always so many nice, open reserves there to choose from that everybody didn’t have to all cram into the same park.
So I got to meet lots of new doggies and do lots of bum-sniffing…
There was a really big handsome boy who was a Ridgeback-Malamute-cross:
And a dainty little Italian Greyhound:
A friendly Staffie…
…a Lab playing hide-an-seek…
…and a cute little black Mini-Schnauzer who reminded me of my blog friends, Max & JD, Oskar, Sasha and most of all, Gus!
But my favourite new friend was a brown doggie who came racing up to me and jumped up, inviting me to play!
My humans were so happy to see us running around together because it is SOOOOO hard to find playmates for me. Because I am such a confident, big doggie, most other dogs seem to get really scared when they see me – a lot of them just roll over to show their tummies and freeze – and some of them even yelp and cry and run away if I try to do a play bow! Sheesh! I haven’t even touched you!
Plus I like to play REALLY rough too – galloping and wrestling everywhere. Sorry, that “gentle giant” label doesn’t really fit me! 
Ever since I was a puppy, my humans have been trying to teach me to play gently but this is the way I like to play! 
So I need a really confident, sociable doggie, who is not afraid of a bit of rough-housing, to play with me. (And it’s not always the size – my best playmate was my BFF Ombre the Schnauzer who was only 1/4 the size of me but he played REALLY rough and bounced off anything to come back for more! 
) That’s why I hardly ever find a good playmate when I go to the dog park and this makes my humans very sad.
But that day, I did!
And we had a grrrrrrrrreat time!
Well, after all that running around, it was time for a cooling dip in the brook…
My humans tried to get me to swim (sheesh – they’re ALWAYS trying to get me to swim!) but even though I waded out, the water never really got deep enough for me because I am really tall and have very long legs…
Still, it was nice to cool off in the water…
And then to have the lovely cool breeze dry my coat afterwards…
What a great place and I’m so happy to have found a proper dog park at last!
Kedron Brook Dog Off-leash Area:
- on the north side of the brook, the area between Montrose St and Gympie/Lutwyche Rd (red shaded area)
Kedron Brook Dog Off-leash Area Map
Glad you finally found a place to call your own! Looks like you made lots of new doggie friends.
Yer pals,
Sketcher and Angel
You find the most interesting places.
I sure wish Honey lived in Chicago! She and Elle Woods would LOVE to play rough together!
What a pawesome place!
I’m so happy woo found such a great place!
There were so many khool furiends -- of khourse, the mal/rb khaught my eye fur some reason!
Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
PeeEssWoo: One of blog pals Munson and his dad often bemoan the same about Sydney not being khanine furiendly either…
We’re so happy to hear you’ve found a big park to play at! There’s only one like that near us, and that’s the one we take Darwin to almost every Sunday for Great Dane meet-ups. Most of the other parks are smaller fenced off parks.
There’s actually a really big people park near our house that people sometimes let their dogs walk off-leash through because it’s so big you hardly ever run into people in the open grass area.
I wish there were more big parks like Marymoor and the one you found!
Ahhh Honey, I’m a rough houser too! A princess, yes, but I also play rough.
I’m so glad you found a friend to play with too. We don’t really have “dog parks” around here so we think that is a good thing because we prefer to get out and hike and stuff anyway. When we were traveling we went to a few and there was only one in OR that was spacious and nice. The others were tiny and stinky and we didn’t stay long because Mom and dad could tell that I didn’t like it. Plus, like you said most of the people are not even paying attention to their doggies. Bad pawrents! Mom also hates when people let their doggies come rushing up to you and don’t even TRY to stop them. One of my pal’s humans always forgets his leash which bugs my Mom because when we are walking on a trail off-leash and we meet new doggies my Mom always leashes me if the other doggies are on leash too but my pal just cruises right up to them. Mom doesn’t think this is very cool. I do want to try the dog park Darwin goes to in Seattle though….I have heard good things about it. No matter, I prefer hiking and exploring like you said anyway. I hope you get to go back to the park soon and meet more new friends.
Kisses,
Nala
Honey what good news! I am so glad that you found a real dog park to play in. Mom tried to take me to one of the fenced dog parks here in Dallas, TX but it was just like you said. There were some dogs picking on others and while I do not start fights I will not back down either. So we have never gone back. Luckily we have a VERY big back yard and we go on lots of car trips and walks.
I am glad you like your new home and are starting to find things you like. Thank you for the comment about Andy, we are still missing her dearly. Mom promises to start helping us blog more often so you can hear from us more. We might be getting some new friends that will really liven things up around here.
Keep up the wonderful posts, we love reading them!
So glad you’ve found a good park, Honey!
We are so happy that you have found a great park! And it must be really great to meet new friends *wiggles*
Great pictures!!! How we wish that here in Jakarta, there’s also a park for dog but too bad, it’s zero, a totally not friendly city for dogs….
Licks,
Adele, Vincent & Bella
Yay yay triple yay for having found somewhere to romp! I’m so happy for you, even if it was a little crowded. Must be lovely to have the added bonus of having a nice refreshing river to swim in. Those small doggie park / jail areas look simply hideous, I would stay well away from them if I were you Honey. That wee dog looked like heaps of fun bouncing around with you.
As for your comment on my blog, I heartily agree! Emily says that she has learnt a whole heap from reading your blog and that I have you and Hsin-Yi to thank for reinforcing Emilys thoughts on my training. She loves watching your videos to learn all the handy hits that Hsin-Yi has so kindly shared with everyone. So thanks again!
Licks
Pep
that a cooool dogpark
we wish that we have some parcs for dogs in belguim
but we have our on forest so that ok
Sanne makes el’bow swim to!
but the problem is, to get him in the water!
sometimes hes just to big!!! 95kg O_o get that in the water
keep it cool
we we trying to send some snow but yesterday its was raining so all the snow just melted
kissslobbers
El’bow & Hauwii
what a great place, so good you found a pal to romp around with! I too love to go to dog parks, only around here we call them dog forests and we have them in several sizes…
now my human wants to surf your site for good advice on leash training … It is sometimes a struggle for her to walk me, as I am so big and strong and really eager on saying hello to anyone we meet on our way..
Bundy the Bundle of Joy ( and his human)
O Honey I’m so glad you guys have found a good place for you to stretch your legs!!!
Your photo’s are fantatsic -- you came across lots of different dogs!!
We miss you back her in auckland, I’m the perfect size to play properly with you now! Sadly no dogs really want to play with me either!
O well -- someday I’ll find one!
Licks,
Lexi
Hi Honey!
-
Mom feels the same way as you do about dog parks. Here were we live, we only have ONE in the entire city, and it’s smaller than the playground/park that we go to down the street everyday. It’s fenced in, with really no where to go, and since there are so many un socialized dogs around here, Mom is too afraid to take me. She says if another dog ever tried to hurt me, she’d end up getting attacked herself trying to protect me! Mom says she’s kinda nuts like that
I’m so happy for you that you found a real good place to go run and play and meet some NICE friends. I know what you mean about playing rough too! I try to be gentle, I really do, but sometimes a boy just wants to have fun right? Everyone says I look like a horse who’s bucking and rearing when I play. Alot of doggies seem to be afraid of me too at first, and they won’t really play much even if they do like me. I never understand why, cause I’m such a nice boy to everyone I meet!
I hope you get to go again soon…and can’t wait to see the pictures! Bye for now, Luke
**Jenn here:: I just wanted to thank you for your comment on Luke’s blog. Coming from you Hsin-Yi, it means alot! There’s a little award for you on my blog too if you didn’t notice it. Have a great week!**
We agree with you on American dog parks. We no longer go to them unless we hit it at some off hour where it is not crowded. of course, The Herd creates their own dog park madness at home.
Hurray! So glad you found a real dog park! We don’t like the fenced in, tiny, prison-like dog parks either! Looks like you’ll meet every dog in Brisbane of you go there often!
Yay, Honey! I’m so happy you’ve found a cool park. How far is that from your house? Can you go there walking or just by car?
We have the same problem here in Brazil. Very few dog-friendly places, including parks and, if I’m not wrong, there is no dog-friendly beach here.
Auckland was better, but I think Brisbane is much better than where I live. You’re still luckier than me. Hee hee.
Love, Kimba
that was great Honey! we were happy to see you having so much fun!
What a great dog park Honey!! We love that you can run into the stream and cool off. We agree with Hsin-Yi about the problems in many dog parks. We wish we had a nice leash free area like you have in Brisbane. It is so nice that you made such nice friends.
Your friends,
Niamh & Ambrose
Honey, that park is great it reminds me of my favorite walking park (it’s the one I did my winter walkies on). It isn’t fenced and it has a lake, woods, paths, etc. I always get to meet other doggies on it too.
However, we do have those fenced doggie parks and you have to be very careful. The one I go to is ok most the time but I’ve had to leave twice. Once I was little and there was a big crazy dog that kept trying to hump me and knocked me down, I cried. The second time I was playing with a little puppy that was playing keep away with me. The puppy’s owner was freaking out cause I was so big. She should have taken her puppy to the small dog section but Momma made me leave instead. Really I wasn’t do anything wrong but Momma didn’t want anyone getting hurt. Plus the lady with the puppy was freaking out and putting all kinds of negative energies into the air.
I prefer the big open spaces too! Or, even a nicelong walk on my leash is better than bad doggies at the dog park.
woof -- Tucker
hello honey its dennis the vizsla dog hay i am glad yoo hav fownd a proper dog park wot is lardj enuf for yore big honey self it luks like a grayt playse!!! ok bye
I’m so glad your humans found such a nice dog park for you to play in! It looks huge on the map and it’s a beautiful park. It looks like you had a wonderful time. Hopefully your humans will be able to take you back regularly and you’ll get to make lots of doggy friends!
Thank you and Hsin-Yi for your kind words on my blog. I didn’t get that job but I have an interview for another job tomorrow morning.
WOO HOO!!!!! We are so very glad you found a good dog park. And now you can meet new friends!!!! We are happy dancing here for you!
Your owner has great points that parks popular with puppies aren’t good news for big grown up doggies like you. I see in the first picture, a little one is sniffing your bum! I hate it when that happens.
Oh, Honey! That looks like such FUN! I especially like that picture of you and your friend leaping up the bank together! You’re totally in synch with each other!
Love,
Ammy
Wow Honey! Its so good you found a nice dog park! It looks fun. And lucky!! You get icy block treats! YYYUUUMM!!
I have a cooling bandana too!! my ones pink though, you look really good in it Honey!!
Sniffs & Licks
Tofu
Your Mom is perfectly correct about American dog parks. We have very few in our area and most of them are very small. We don’t go to them at all, but we do take long walks. Sadly we can’t be off leash but we still love our walkies. Fortunately we have a pretty good-sized fenced in yard where we can run and have fun together. If we ever get to Australia, we will have to visit your new park.
Woos, Phantom and Thunder
I’m glad you finally found a nice park! What a relief. We don’t have any dog parks where I live. There are ball parks and walking trail parks for humans and dogs are allowed, but only on leash. Even at the park by the lake you have to stay on a leash.
Mom used to let me off leash in our neighborhood because we are outside city limits (and exempt from leash laws), but ever since Thanksgiving when I found cooked turkey bones in someone’s yard she stopped letting me be off leash. I would be grateful even for a small fenced in dog park at this point where I can stretch my legs and not get in trouble or find people’s garbage (actually I like garbage). For now we’ll stick with leashed walks.
Jackal
Congratulations Honey! You and Hsin-yi took 2nd place in our contest. If you email us your snail mail address we can send you your prize.
Your friends
Niamh & Ambrose
Glad you found a good dog park! It sucks that almost all parks here are fenced in small areas. But people complain if they’re not since you know, why bother training your dog to follow you and come when called?
Hey thanks for visiting my blog and leaving the comments. I really appreciate it! Lots of wisdom to help us get started.
Honey!! I am SO glad that you finally found a real dog park where you can run freely!! By the way, have you been to Waiata Reserve off Orakei Rd? I went there with Mum for the first time in our morning walk the other day and had a great time running around with other doggies.
Love,
Cinnamon
Oh my gosh! that park ROCKS! we have the fenced in 2000 square foot kind like you described. and the beaches are hardly dog friendly in Nor Cal. I don’t know about Switzerland, i’m hoping we’ll find plenty of open space.
Loki would LOVE playing with you. he’s NOT a cry baby and LOVES rough play. he play bows too and LOVES to do zoomies. he’ll play bow then zoomie his pals. we don’t get much to parks anymore because of that same reason you don’t like them (the fenced kind). we try to go mid week day when there are only 5 or 6 dogs there so it’s safe and i keep interacting with my dogs and only talk to people to say a kind hello and is that your dog but that’s about it.
I love this post. it’s just so balanced and so right. i come from a feeling of disliking dog parks because of the stress it puts on dogs entering them (pack rank stress)… these open parks seem not so stressufl. I also can’t believe the doggie day care thing has taken off with people. i can see needing that service if you have a dog and work a lot and your dog needs someone during the day, but some of the day cares are so over crowded and too many dogs for such a small space. i can see it being very stressful on a dog. i would hire a pet sitter before doing doggie day care. then again, some pet sitters walk like 10 dogs at once! crazy!
i ramble… i love this post. it inspires me to look for more than the tree farm to walk with the doggies and to look for similar when we move!
wags-n-wiggles,
wild dingo
Hi Honey,
Thank you so much for letting me know the result of Niamh’s Train Your Dog Photo Contest! I couldn’t believe it, but I am SO happy!! It is you, Honey, who showed me how much fun it is to learn tricks. Thank you so much about it too.
My Mum and I walked to Waiata Reserve too, although it took much more than 10 minutes. Mum knew the reserve and Cookie had been there with his friend, but I had never been there. I am going to ask Mum to take me there again.
Love,
Cinnamon
HIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Dear dear dear friends!!!!!!!!!!!!
)))))))))))))))))))))
We’re sooooooooooooooooooo sorry haven’t been aroung for so long!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But as you know our secretary had some problems and she hadn’t too much time visiting our friends!!!!
Sigh sigh!!!!
But we read all your adventures evenf if we didn’t leave comments!!!
Can you forgive us??????
We’re soooooooooooooooo happy you finally got your great dog park!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where you can play free with tons of new friends….have a bath in fresh river….play hide and seek with nice lab…..
Awwwwwwwwwwwwww…..we would love were there with you!!!!
are you and your special humans ok????
We missed you tons!!!!!!!!!!!!!
here is all ok….mommy is going better after her car accidents even if she have knee pain…..
But she have us taking good care of her!!!
Here it’s snowing a lot!!!
!We’re soooooooooooooooooooo happyyyyyyyyyyyy……we love snow even if mommy would love to have sunny days now!!!
We’re honored to have you as a friends….you’re soo special for us!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a wonderful weekend in Sunny Australia!!!
WE LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!
Sweet kisses and licks
You are so lucky to have found that park!! Momma checked out our only off-leash dog park in our area (still in beta) and she said it was a small mud hole with 1.25m fences. Funny that it’s a mud hole since we live in the desert!
Congrats on placing in both the trick contest and Mango Minster! I’m impressed. Not one of my crew even came close to placing, but then again mine aren’t nearly as popular as Honey. She’s a star! Honey totally deserves the recognition (I voted for her -- don’t tell!).
Oh, Hsin-Yi, I am so glad! Ever since you said you were moving from NZ to Brisbane I’ve worried that you would miss your lovely open spaces.
But now you can truly enjoy walks.
That looks a lovely dog park, we are glad you have found a larger and more relaxed type of park to play in.
We don’t have dog parks here, well not in our area, we have never come across any in our travels either so we presume we don’t have any around.
The park we go to in the car is a watersports park with lots of walks around the lakes and plenty of open space. It is for everyone to use, dogs and humans. We love it there and so know how nice it is to have plenty of room to run around.
Thanks for sharing your piccies, it is lovely to see where you are now living and the places you visit.
Hi Honey,
Congratulations on all your prizes at Mango Minster! I am proud of you!!
Love,
Cinnamon
Wow, I’m envious!!!!! Where we live, there are only the stupid little fenced prison yards you were talking about. I’m sure they are prison yards and not parks because bad doggies are there, and they have even attacked me. Last time we were there, the bad doggies hurt my mom even, and 8 months (and 1 surgery) later, we still can’t take real walkies.
I wish I could come visit you and play in your new park!!! BTW, I love to play rough and tough too, but it’s just pretend rough. If someone gets really seriously rough, I become a big chicken and run back to mom.
Behr Behr
You’re so right, Auckland doggies are spoilt for awesome parks. How wonderful you’ve found one near your new home, and made some new playmates too!
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What a wonderfu park. I wish it was me there to play with you!