Looking After Your Dog

Exercising your dog

We know the importance of exercise and recreational areas for dogs and their owners.

Dog Parks

There are two dog parks in the Gore District - one is in Gore, adjacent to Hamilton Park, the other is in Mataura, next to Henderson Park.

Gore Dog Park

Mataura Dog Park

We have a few guidelines to make sure a visit to the park is an enjoyable one for the dog and its owner.

No dogs without people
Pick up and get rid of your dog's poo in the bin provided
No dogs on heat or in pup
Pay attention to your dogs - you are responsible for its behaviour
No aggressive dogs
Dog must wear a collar and current local authority registration tag

There are seats and obstacles at the Gore park. Water and doggie bags are available at both parks.

Both parks also have a designated small dog area, for breeds 8kgs or less, and a designated large dog area.

Exercise Areas

There are other areas where dogs can be exercised at large. The person responsible for the dog must carry a leash and have the dog under continuous control. They must also remove and dispose of any droppings left by their dog.

The exercise areas are

Gore

River Street flood bank
Woolwich Street Walnut Grove
River Terrace
Hamilton Park – perimeter only NOT on the sports field

Mataura

Henderson Park dog park
East river bank below the main bridge
South bridge area by Waimumu Stream

Areas where dogs are prohibited are

Children’s playgrounds.
All school grounds.
The designated playing area of all marked sports grounds.
Cemeteries.
Gore Public Gardens
Ardwick Street Reserve
Newman Park
Wayland Park
Hyde Park
Triangle Reserve
Henderson Park, in Mataura
Dolamore Park Scenic Reserve

There will be areas where, from time to time, a temporary ban will be put in place because of wildlife, stock or other issues. The Council will publicly notify such bans by way of signage and advertising.

Microchipping

A dog must be microchipped when

It is first registered, whether at three months of age or over
Has been impounded and is unregistered
Has been impounded a second time
Is one of the following breeds - Brazilian Fila, Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa, Pitt Bull Terriers or predominantly pit bull types
Has been classified as menacing or dangerous

Working farm dogs do not need to be microchipped except if they are impounded while unregistered.

Barking dogs

Dogs bark for various reasons such as attention seeking, cold, hunger or loneliness. The main cure is time and patience. If you can correct the reason for the barking, the dog will settle down.

Cold or hungry - change the environment to make it content. Feed the dog, give it a warm dry place to sleep, keep it close to you and, if it is a puppy, put a loud clock in its bed. This will sound like company.

Attention seeking - if you growl the dog each time it barks it gets the attention it wants and will continue to bark. Unpleasant results increase the dog's anxiety and result in the dog seeking more attention. Observe its behaviour, say 'no', or 'bad dog' as it is about to bark. This will break its attention. Call the dog, say 'sit' and 'stay', then reward it for its good behaviour.

Denning Principle - if the dog barks when you are out give it a small den such as a bathroom or laundry. Feed the dog in there so it always feels positive about the room. Give the dog a bone or biscuit when you shut it away when leaving the house. This method works well for training pups and when you are away routinely.

Dog owners' obligations under legislation

Under the Dog Control Act 1996, dog owners are responsible for:

(a) Ensuring their dog is:

Currently registered.
Properly fed, watered, exercised, housed and cared for.
Kept under the direct control of a person, or confined in such a manner that it cannot freely leave any property on which it is being kept.
Kept muzzled and leashed at all times in public where it is classified as a dangerous or menacing dog.
Kept confined in an enclosed yard and is adequately exercised where it is a bitch in season or is infected with mange, distemper or other infectious disease.
Microchipped as required by the Dog Control Act 1996 (as amended 2004).

(b) Taking all reasonable steps to ensure their dog does not:

Injure, endanger, intimidate, or cause distress to any person, stock, poultry, domestic animal or protected wildlife.
Create a nuisance by persistent barking or wandering.
Damage or endanger any property belonging to any other person.

Notify council promptly of any dog address or ownership change.
Comply with the requirements of the Dog Control Act 1996 and all regulations and bylaws made under that Act.

When you take your dog out in any public place, land or premises, you must remove and properly dispose of all faecal matter deposited by your dog.

Keeping your dog (and cat) safe at Guy Fawkes

Keep pets inside: Give your dog extra exercise during the day and allow it to go to the toilet before securing it inside
Block all exits: Especially for cats – make sure all cat doors are locked and your cat is inside before dark.
Minimise noise: Close the curtains to soften the noise and the light effects from fireworks. Turn on the TV or radio to muffle the noise from fireworks.
Provide somewhere safe: Make sure your pet has extra bedding to help them feel secure or make a special place, such as under a bed, for them to hide.
Distraction: Give your dog or cat something to play with to distract them from the noise.
Help them stay calm: Talk to your vet about products that can help with anxiety during this stressful time.
Make pets identifiable: As well as its registration tag, make sure your dog is wearing some form of ID.

Sheep Measles

The Gore District has a strong rural link and the spread of sheep measles by dogs is an issue. We encourage dog owners to find out how they can prevent the spread of this disease.

Why is this an issue?

While sheep measles does not infect or cause disease in humans, they are considered defects and undesirable by local and overseas customers. Each year farmers suffer financial loss as a result of lambs being condemned or downgraded for sheep measles.

How is sheep measles spread?

Dogs become infected by eating raw sheep or goat meat, including the heart, infected with live cysts. A tapeworm develops in the intestine of the dog in approximately 35 days. Infected dogs pass many thousands of eggs in their faeces contaminating pasture grazed by sheep and goats. There are no outward signs that your dog has a tapeworm.

For more information go to http://www.sheepmeasles.co.nz.

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