group walks for dogs
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the walk? One hour at the beach plus travel time to and from home and the beach. Depending on where your dog is in the pick up and drop off order, they could be away from home up to 2 hours.
Who can join a group walk? Only dogs that are well socialised with other dogs, are trained to come when called and generally be friendly types. Dogs with behavioral issues will not be accepted. Vaccinations, flea, tick and heartworm prevention must be up to date. They must be microchipped and the council also requires your dog to be wearing a collar with a tag detailing their name and your contact details.
Where will my dog walk? One of the off-leash dog beaches. Either Sharky's Beach in Coledale, Macauley's Bach in Thirroul or Bellambi Beach/East Corrimal Beach.
How many dogs are in a 'group' dog walk? A maximum of 4. The Companion Animal Act 1998 states that "A dog is not considered to be under effective control of a person if the person has more than 4 dogs under his or her control". This includes off-leash spaces such as beaches and parks and applies to anyone walking dogs.
Do you pick up and drop off? Yes. Your dog will be at the beach for an hour and we pick them up and drop them home at the end.
How long will my dog be away from home? The walk itself is one hour and travel time is on tup of that. Depending where your dog is on the pick up and drop off schedule, they could be away from home for up to 2 hours.
What kind of transport do you use? How safe are they during transport? The Scruffy Bus is a Hyundai Staria Load which is fully air conditioned. In the rear of the van there are secured crates to ensure all dogs are safely contained during the drive.
How do you choose who my dog walks with? Where possible, priority is given to matching dogs by temperament to ensure they have the most fun possible. If the group dynamic is not ideal, we'll try a different combination until they meet their next best friend!
How do you get to know my dog? When a new dog starts with us, we first like to conduct at least one private trial walk. This allows us to learn a bit about their' temperament and personality. It also helps them get to know their new favourite person! Where possible, we will then match your dog with others who we feel are compatible in either size and/or temperament. We aim for every dog to have the best time possible so we may mix and match dogs until we come up with very best group for maximum enjoyment!
My dog is still a puppy. Are they too young to join in? Once they've had their 3rd and final
'booster', usually at around 16 weeks of age, they are more than welcome to join us. In fact, the earlier your pup is able to spend time around other dogs of all shapes and sizes, the better it is for their development into friendly, confident dogs.