At long last Wellington is to have its first fenced dog exercise area — Treasure Island Kainui Reserve:

Kainui Reserve.

The Council’s Community Engagement and Reserves Manager, Amber Bill, says the exercise area – next to Patent Slip cog on Evans Bay Parade in Hataitai – will improve safety for both dogs and motorists.

“Regular users of the park were worried about their dogs being able to run onto the road, so they approached us to see if we would consider allowing the dog exercise area to be fully fenced. The area is already partially fenced.”

The project, funded by the Wellington Charitable Vet Fund and the Hataitai Residents Association, has received support from the Council. Landscaping work will begin within the next six months.

“The exercise area will be getting two new park seats courtesy of the Residents Association and our staff will give the area a plant makeover,” says Amber.

For a map showing the location of where the fenced-off dog exercise area will be, see:

Map – Fenced Dog Exercise Area – Hataitai

To find out more about the new exercise park or help out with its development, email amber.bill@wcc.govt.nz or phone Amber Bill on (04) 499 4444.

[Via News - First Fenced Dog Exercise Area. Quoted in full.]

We reviewed Treasure Island off-leash area recently: Kainui Reserve – Treasure Island.

It may only be a small area, but to be able to allow the dogs to run knowing they can’t run onto the road or into nearby houses will be a huge relief.

Thank you, Wellington City Council.

You probably don’t take your dog skiing with you, but the team at Aspiring Avalanche Dogs do:

We aim to provide the Alpine community of the Southern Lakes Region with a primary response avalanche search dog service, able to be rapidly deployed 24 hours a day, 7 days per week and 252 days of the year, well into the future.

Our primary goal is to save lives, and with more and more people enjoying the amazing terrain of Treble Cone and the backcountry we have to offer in our region we believe that this goal will be realized in time. Whether it is through our educational program or by one of our teams on site we are proud to have this opportunity to be of service as we start our journey towards being world leaders in our field.

These dogs look like they’re having enormous fun outdoors, though you’d think their paws would be cold.

Next time you go skiing, think about these hardy dogs and their phenomenal finding skills.

Quick Info

• A small grassy area in Ngaio behind the shops on the corner of Ottawa Road and Awarua Street.
• Pretty much flat, with a stream on one boundary.
• Beside a carpark and across a short bridge from more grass.
• Parking for about a dozen cars in the adjacent carpark.
• Amongst trees.
• Behind cafes and shops.

Table of Contents

1. Quick Info
2. Access
3. Facilities
4. Description
5. Terrain
6. Delights
7. Dangers
8. Cautions
9. Road access
10. Location
11. Map
12. Photo album

Access for wheelchairs, and pushchairs

• Access from the carpark or via the path between the Library and Awarua Street, then across the grass.

Facilities

• Rubbish bin: yes.
• Toilets: no, but there are public toilets near the Library.
• Seats: yes.
• Lighting at night: no.

Description

Cummings Park is a short area of grass behind the shops on Ottawa Road. It’s bounded by mature trees and a small stream and is easily accessed from the carpark which has space for a dozen cars. Access to the carpark is down a steep driveway next to Cafe Villa.

The park is well away from roads and houses. It’s a small area though, suitable for a bit of off-leash play rather than a long exercise period.

About half of Cummings Park off-leash area.

Across a small bridge is another grassy area which is not part of the off-leash area. A moment’s stroll away is a children’s playground.

This is area #15 on the City Council map: Cummings Park 99Kb PDF).

Ottawa Road, Ngaio — area to east of stream in central part of reserve

Terrain

• Flat.
• Grassy
• Smallish
• Water: yes

Delights

• Contained
• Trees.
• Grass.
• Clean when we visited.

Forgot to bring a poop bag? One responsible dog owber who enjoys the park has solved that problem! Look behind the sign at the gate to see a home-made notice and a supply of plastic bags (see the photo on page 2). What a brilliant idea! In fact, why not bring a spare bag and leave it for others to use?

Dangers

• Opens onto a carpark.

Cautions

• Possum and rat poison are widely used in the whole region and may be present.

Road access

Down the driveway between Cafe Villa and the other shops (approx #61) on Ottawa Road.

See page 2 of this post for a photo album.

Location (see the map)

• Latitude: -41.248572
• Longitude: 174.77374

Map

See Cummings Park dog exercise area on Google Maps.

Many of us are inclined to give our dogs a few too many treats, a little extra in the dinner bowl. But we could be killing our dogs if we keep that up. At the very least we can be making them unhappy and unhealthy.

A study of 50 overweight dogs, comprising a mix of breeds and genders was undertaken by scientists at the University [of Liverpool] in collaboration with the University of Glasgow, Royal Canin and the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition. …

The results showed that the quality of life improved in the dogs that had successfully lost weight, in particular vitality scores increased and the score for emotional disturbance and pain decreased. Moreover, the more body fat that the dog lost, the greater the improvement in vitality. …

Dr Alex German, Director of the Royal Canin Weight Management Clinic at the University, said: “Obesity is a risk for many dogs, affecting not only their health but also their quality of life. This research indicates that weight loss can play an important role in keeping your dog both healthy and happy.”

[Via University of Liverpool - University News - Quality of life of obese dogs improves when they lose weight « « News.]

Keep walking!

You might have thought this was all common sense, but actually good scientific research quite often debunks ‘common sense’. This time it happened to back it up.

Your dog needs a careful limit on its food and treats and plenty of exercise to be healthy and happy.

So why not take it somewhere fun for a walk today?

Quick Info

• A track through a grassy area in Miramar on the hill above Shelly Bay Road.
• Pretty much flat, with a slight incline.
• Houses along one side, but up a steep gorse-covered bank. Very steep banks go down to the road a long way below.
• Plenty of parking along the roads.
• Great views.

Table of Contents

1. Quick Info
2. Access
3. Facilities
4. Description
5. Terrain
6. Delights
7. Dangers
8. Cautions
9. Road access
10. Location
11. Map
12. Photo album

Access for wheelchairs, and pushchairs

• Access beside a gate should be wide enough for wheelchairs. The track itself is rough and unpaved.

Facilities

• Rubbish bin: no.
• Toilets: no.
• Seats: yes.
• Lighting at night: no.

Description

Maupuia Walkway is a short stretch of grass that runs between Akaroa Drive (near Duchess Place) and Prison Road (off Akaroa Drive). A stroll from one end to the other and back took around 30 minutes.

The views across the harbour are beautiful, and a couple of well-placed benches allow you to relax and watch what’s going on on the harbour or the airport.

South entrance to Maupuia Walkway in Miramar.

The day we visited the dogs found a very dead (and dry) object to roll on. It was either a rat or a stoat, and had presumably succumbed to the poisoning that goes on all around Wellington Region.

The track itself is roughly surfaced but not paved, and it curves around the hillside.

There’s a wide grassy area beside the track where dogs can play, but it’s just not a long walk.

Really it’s the views that make this off-leash area a pleasure.

This is area #46 on the City Council map: Maupuia Walkway (Old Prison Road) 95Kb PDF).

Maupuia Road / Akaroa Drive, Maupuia — open walkway accessed from Maupuia Road and Akaroa Drive.

Terrain

• Flat, with a slight incline.
• Grassy
• Medium size
• Water: no

Delights

• Views across the Harbour, to both North and South.
• Grass.

Dangers

• Each end opens onto a road.

Cautions

• Possum and rat poison are widely used in the whole region and may be present.

Road access

This area runs roughly parallel to Akaroa Drive, with plenty of on-road parking. The South end has a small off-road area where maybe half a dozen cars could park.

See page 2 of this post for a photo album.

Location (see the map)

• Latitude: -41.30731
• Longitude: 174.815955

Map

See Maupuia Walkway (Old Prison Road) dog exercise area on Google Maps.

Quick Info

• Glimpses of Zoo animals.
• On a hill.
• Steps.
• Plenty of parking in the streets and off-street carparks nearby.
• Cafe at the Zoo.

Table of Contents

1. Quick Info
2. Access
3. Facilities
4. Description
5. Terrain
6. Delights
7. Dangers
8. Cautions
9. Road access
10. Location
11. Map
12. Photo album

Access for wheelchairs, and pushchairs

• No — it’s steps and steep slopes all the way.

Facilities

• Rubbish bins: yes — at the Zoo entrance.
• Toilets: in the Zoo.
• Seats: no
• Lighting at night: no.

Description

Dogs aren’t allowed in Wellington Zoo, but from time to time I like to walk my dogs around the perimeter. I think it gives them interesting smells and sounds, and the glimpses of zoo animals could interest both dogs and humans. On our most recent walk one of my dogs was fascinated by the baboons.

Zoo perimeter walk — baby baboons climb the fence.

We parked down by the Zoo entrance and walked a short distance up Manchester Street. Very soon what seems to be a path into the Zoo opens on the right, but go along it to follow the fence line around the outside of the Zoo.

If you miss that entrance there’s another a few metres further up Manchester street, opposite the entrance to the Owen Street off-leash area. This part of the walk goes along the Southern Walkway.

There are many steps up the hill on this Eastern side of the zoo, and then you come out into Melrose Park, which is a sports field.

Zoo walk route.

Walk along the Zoo edge of the park and you can get some quite good views through the double wire mesh fence and into the enclosures for the Dingos, the African Wild Dogs and the baboons.

Follow round the fence to the other side of Melrose Park and you enter on to a track that climbs a little more, alongside the emu.

Before too long the track and the fence line diverge and the track enters a fairly steep downhill section under trees that’s probably a bit slippery in winter.

Carry on down and bear right until you emerge opposite one end of the Newtown Park off-leash area.

Then follow the road back to the Zoo entrance.

All up, it’s around 2.4 Km.

Terrain

• On the side of a hill.
• Paths and tracks, with many steps, steep areas and some tree roots.
• Water: no.

Delights

• Views into and across the Zoo.
• Sights, sounds and smells of the Zoo.

Dangers

• The whole of Wellington is included in the Council’s pest poisoning programme.

Cautions

• Keep your dog on the leash.
• The track is near roads and passes through a sports field.

Road access

Access by road or foot is easy from numerous locations, and there is plenty of parking.

See page 2 of this post for a photo album.

Location (see the map)

• Latitude: -41.322045
• Longitude: 174.784777

Map

See [Wellington Zoo perimeter walk on Google Maps.]

Human beings have lived closely with dogs for maybe 30 or 50 thousand years. And yet we still don’t understand their communications. They use posture, tail position, eyes, ears and mouth to let us know what’s up with them.

If only we understood…

Completely Submissive-Very Fearful or Passive Submission Posture.

Ohio State University have an excellent page that explains how we can understand what our dog is telling us. Visit and learn.

Dogs have a complex system for communicating. They communicate through vocalizations, smells and scents, body language, and direct contact. Below are some examples of different behaviors dogs display when they communicate with people, other dogs, and other animals. A dog does not express all of these behaviors in each situation. Remember to observe the complete picture within the dog’s environment when interpreting these behaviors. Variations between individual dogs, as well as between breeds, must be considered when interpreting behaviors.

[Each of the following is explained in detail:] Relaxed Posture, Alert Posture, Playful or Play Bow Posture, Submissive-Fearful or Active Submission Posture, Completely Submissive-Very Fearful or Passive Submission Posture, Aggressive-Dominant or Offensive Threat Posture, and Aggressive-Fearful or Defensive Threat Posture.

[Via 4-H PetPALS. A program of Ohio State University, 4-H Youth Development.]

It’s annoying when you put the dog in the car and head off for a great walk somewhere only to get all tangled up in traffic snarls. Now Google Maps will help you avoid that traffic problem:

Kiwi automobile commuters, we want to reduce your time stuck in traffic. Today we have expanded our live traffic coverage in Google Maps to cities in New Zealand.

To look at the current traffic conditions for an area, simply go to maps.google.co.nz and click on the traffic layer located in the widget on the upper right hand side of the screen. The desktop maps are great for scanning the roads before you get in the car. But if you want to check out the latest road info on the go, the traffic layer is also available on your mobile device through Google Maps for Mobile and Google Maps Navigation.

Traffic info on Google Maps.

If you have Google Maps on your smartphone find the spot to turn on Traffic Information. Roads marked in green are fast, those in orange slower, those in red are slow, and it looks as though red and black dashes are roads you should avoid.

Do you use an iPhone or iPad? Visit our sponsor MacTips.info for all kinds of handy info about using Apple products.

Quick Info

• A private road with little motor traffic.
• On-leash area.
• Restricted access hours.

Table of Contents

1. Quick Info
2. Access
3. Facilities
4. Description
5. Terrain
6. Delights
7. Dangers
8. Cautions
9. Road access
10. Location
11. Map
12. Photo album

Access for wheelchairs, and pushchairs

• A narrow entrance designed to allow access only for pedestrians may allow a pushchair through, but I doubt a wheelchair would get through.

Facilities

• Rubbish bin: no.
• Toilets: no
• Seats: no.
• Lighting at night: no. The road is closed at night anyway.

Description

Te Kopahou Reserve is a huge area riddled with tracks well-used by mountain bikes. The walk described in this post is a paved road between the wind turbine and the Hawkins Hill radar station.

Panorama, looking north, from Te Kopahou Reserve. You can see part of the Zealandia fence line on the left, and the wind turbine on the hill at left of the photo. Click for a larger version.

The paved road leads to the Hawkins Hill radar station, approx 3.5 Km away, but there are loads of tracks leading off in all directions.

It’s a pleasant walk with beautiful views, especially to the East. You get a good view of the Southern Landfill, which is really quite huge.

The day we visited in March 2012 was overcast with a chilly wind, but the walk could be very hot on a sunny day. A biting and strong wind caught us in some spots.

The road is well used by runners, walkers and cyclists. Small tour buses that carry up to a dozen people sometimes travel along the road.

After around a kilometre is a paddock beside the road that sometimes has ostriches in it.

The road generally trends upwards from the wind turbine at 370 metres to the radar station at 480 metres.

The first part of the road, near the entrance, runs beside the track that goes around the outside of Zealandia. It can be a pleasant variation to walk along that track for a while. The surface is rough and stony.

Terrain

• Road along the ridge, with both uphill and downhill sections
• Approx 3.5 Km with plenty of alternative paths.
• Water: no

Delights

• Views.
• Almost no motor traffic, though beware the few vehicles travelling fast.
• Quiet
• Rural
• Shares part of a boundary with Zealandia.

Dangers

• Poisons are laid throughout the Wellington region. One sign on this walk warned of cyanide.

Cautions

• It is a private road with very restricted access, but vehicles that use it may travel quickly and appear suddenly from around a corner.
• Rabbits.

Road access

Drive to the Brooklyn Wind Turbine. The entrance (opposite 41 Ashton Fitchett Drive) seems like a driveway. There is a carpark with space for a couple of dozen cars just past the turbine. At the end of the carpark is the entrance to the road to Hawkins Hill radar.

For more photos and a separate brief description see my blog post at KnowIT, From the turbine to the golf ball.

See page 2 of this post for a photo album.

Location (see the map)

• Latitude: -41.31088
• Longitude: 174.743509

Map

See Te Kopahou Reserve on-leash walk on Google Maps.

Whether you have a dog or not, Wellington’s waterfront is a fine place to take a walk. So why not join in on the SPCA’s fundraising walk on 14 April to help abused, abandoned and neglected animals in the Wellington Region?

Paws with a Cause.

Wellington SPCA is pleased to present Paws with a Cause, a fun dog walk on Saturday 14th April [2012] along Wellington’s beautiful waterfront, starting at Waitangi Park. The walk is a chance for family, friends and your beloved pooch to join in the fun. Don’t worry if you don’t have a dog, as an animal lover you can still register and join the walk. All money raised will help abused, abandoned and neglected animals in the Wellington Region.

[Via Paws with a Cause Dog Walk - Home.]

Photo from several years ago of Newfoundland dogs and their owners on a group outing on the waterfront.

The Run Spot Run team will be there (once we can get our registration to go through…). Why not join us for a good cause?