To make sure everyone has a great time in High Park here are some basic
etiquette rules for you and your dog.
1. Pick up after your dog
We know it looks like a forest but High Park is a busy urban park used by hundreds of people and dogs everyday, so any waste (dog or otherwise) left unattended will build up and ruin the looks and environment of the park. Also, many diseases and parasites are transmitted through a dogs feces and leaving waste behind to run into the water or for other dogs to step in will cause problems and vet bills that all dogs and owners have to deal with.
"... but my dog is off in the woods, no one will ever step there"
If you can't easily get to where you dog is, the chances are your dog is someplace it shouldn't be. Keep your dog within the fenced off designated areas at all times. If your dog does defecate outside the areas, don't go tromping through the forest to pick it up or bending the fences to gain access to a restricted area.
2. Control your dog at all times
Regardless of the situation you should be able to verbally recall
your dog under any situation (screaming kids, noisy biker, funny jogging
...). If your dog is new and/or does not have this level of control, watch
your dog at all times in the off-leash area and control them before the
situation arises. It is far easier to call your dog to your side before a
jogger goes by than to have to explain to the police why your dog is not a
danger to others. If your dog bites someone you are going to be held
accountable, no matter what the circumstances are.
3. Stay within the off-leash areas
only!!!
The fencing is there to protect the plant material and soil from
eroding. Dogs must be leashed in all areas of high park except those
designated as off-leash areas. Unclear if a certain area is off-leash, then
leash your dog until you can check one of the many signs posted throughout
the park. If you are still unclear ask other dog owners. Be informed,
check our Park Maps webpage for a detailed list of the official off-leash
areas.
"but my dog isn't hurting anything by running in the forest"
Although you may have heard this many times, the use of the dogs off-leash
area is a privilege not a right. If we, as dog-owners cannot keep within
the generous off-leash areas, we may loose the off-leash area all together.
One dog may not do substantial damage. However, 300 dogs a day will do a
lot of damage. Remember there is also a hefty $225 fine for having your dog
off-leash in the wrong area.
4. Be considerate of other dogs and
their owners
Not all the dogs within High Park want to play, possess the ability
to play or have the restraint to play nicely with others. Avoid having your
dog charge other dogs (even in play) and always check with the other dog
owner if it is ok that the dogs play. If someone has their dog on-leash in
an unleashed area they might have a reason for doing so. Respect other
peoples comfort levels. Maintain control over your dog when the dogs
congregate in large packs, remember it takes just a few seconds before a
simple play fight can turn into a nasty pack fight.
5. Be considerate of other Park
users.
Remember, not everyone loves dogs as
much as you do. Many people are very afraid of dogs, of any size. Be
respectful of someone else's right to not want to interact with your dog.
Some people may not be aware that they are in an off-leashed area. Also,
some people specifically choose to walk in an area that is on-leash only so
please do not allow your dog off leash in these areas.
6. Report any problems/encounter
promptly
We want to hear any problems you encounter within the park. Are areas
of the fencing down, allowing your dog to roam where it shouldn't'?. Are
there a group of biker riding along the trails (they are restricted to paved
areas only). The more we know as a K9 committee the better we are able to
tackle problems within the park.