Did You Know: the Town has two off-leash dog parks? One is located on Cochrane Street and the second is on Jeffery Street. Check out an interactive map of Whitby’s parks and apply the “dogs permitted off-leash” filter to see exact locations.

Dog parks are great places to treat your dog to playtime, social interaction and to burn off some energy. When visiting, residents are reminded to keep good “petiquette” – dog park etiquette – in mind. Read on for tips to make the most of your visit to the dog park. 

• Follow age limits: residents are reminded that dog handlers must be at least 16 years of age or have adult supervision in order to use one of the Town’s off-leash parks.
• Dog parks and small children don’t mix: it is not advisable to bring children under six years of age to an off-leash dog park. If you have a child under six years old that you need to bring, please keep them within arms reach. This is for their own safety. Some dogs aren’t used to children and can become fearful or defensive around them. Plus it’s easy for kids to be knocked over or injured when dogs are playing rough.
• Don’t know a dog? Don’t touch it: not all dogs are comfortable having you in their space and even the best dogs can react if they feel threatened. Never approach or touch a dog without first asking the owner's permission.
• Keep big dogs out of the small dog’s spaces: both of the Town’s off-leash dog parks have separate fenced areas for small dogs. Please keep big dogs out of these areas.
• Actively supervise your dog: it’s important to make sure your full attention is on your dog. Actively supervising your dog makes sure that your pet is safe and behaving well.
• Avoid bringing aggressive dogs into the park: if your dog has a history of being aggressive or biting, it’s best not to bring them into the off-leash dog park in order to keep other dogs and people safe.
• Do not bring puppies under the age of four months: wait until your puppy has had all their vaccines (usually around 16 weeks of age) before bringing them to the dog park.
• Keep your pet on a leash when approaching or leaving the park: while your pet is free to run and play off–leash in the dog park, on the walk into the park keep them by your side on a leash.
• Always pick up after your pet: dog parks are shared spaces that need to be respected and kept clean. Pet owners must bag pet waste and either dispose of the bag in park garbage cans or bring them home for disposal.

Whitby, let’s all enjoy dog parks safely and responsibly!

For more information, visit whitby.ca/DogParks