In need for something fun, affordable, and entertaining to do for the entire family (including your four-legged members)? Then grab the dog leashes because we’ve got our top dog park picks for all of you Joburgers and doggos to dig into!
Here is our personal list of the top dog parks Johannesburg for you to take your dogs to! What’s better is that these parks also have a few shaded areas so all the humans can relax in the shade while the doggos go wild. It’s a win-win for everyone!
Our top 5 dog parks Johannesburg
Walkhaven Dog Park
The title of this specific park basically tells you all you really need to know. This park is perfect for the pooches! With open grasslands for running and sniffing, ponds for a mid-day dog dip and a dog-friendly restaurant (that even has a bar!) it’s the perfect location for a fun family day out!
Just a little heads up that this place is meant for your furry friend, so they get in for free. You? Not so much! But it’s a small fee so don’t panic! Do it for your dog! They also have great picnic and braai facilities strategically placed throughout the park where you can kick back, relax, and get all the dog footage your social media pages need!
Huddle Park in Linksfield
If you and your four-legged hiking buddy have pretty much seen, done and smelled most of your local park options, then we suggest perking up those ears because the Huddle Park in Linksfield is the perfect place for you. Offering your dog plenty of room to run, chase a ball, or just sniff around happily, this location is ideal for the more active dog that enjoys a good challenge. Huddle Park also has a great 10km trail for you and the doggo to get those heart rates up!
And to top off the day, the park has a little dog-friendly restaurant where you and your furry buddy can enjoy a little break! They also have water bowls that are available for your four-legged friends too!
Emmarentia Dam
This Greenside-based park actually forms part of the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens which means you will have all of the greenery you could ever dream of… and with spring finally here, you are definitely in for a treat!
Located 6kms outside of Johannesburg, this park allows you to feel like you’re (slightly) escaping city chaos and retreating to some much-need time in nature! Besides, the dogs will love the extra time they’ll have wagging their tongues from the backseat window.
This popular spot has a lot of space too! So, your dog has free reign to run around and explore, learn new tricks, and offers you a little downtime where they frolic in the water! But the fun doesn’t end there. Emmarentia allows all dog-owners to also bring a little picnic along for you to enjoy some light refreshments or you can simply head over to their cafe and stock up on some delicious goodies and snacks!
The Wilds
If you are looking for both fun and aesthetics, then look no further than The Wilds. This place truly is worth all the hype that it receives and not just for humans but man’s best friend too! This national monument sits right in the middle of the city and has been referred to as Joburg’s ‘secret garden’.
Grab the dog treats and take your pet pooch on one of the popular hiking trails where you’ll get to explore the grounds. And with 18 hectares of ground to work with, we can guarantee that this is the perfect location for some fun in the sun.
Lonehill Nature Reserve
Let your furry friend sink their teeth into this next location that is sure to be a favourite Lonehill Nature Reserve is a definite hidden gem as it doesn’t only offer you great scenery but some awesome lake-side fun.
This outdoorsy hiking spot promises lots of space and rocks for you and your canine friend to explore. It’s also a great location for you to meet new like-minded friends! The sights are also certainly well worth seeing, and your dear dog will appreciate the little safari adventure.
Keeping your pet-tiquette in check
Taking your pup out for a little adventure to one of these dog parks Johannesburg is exciting for the entire family but that doesn’t mean we should forget about key pet-tiquette when heading to a public dog park. So, keep these tips in mind when heading out:
1. Only go off-leash in a designated area!
Even if your dog is well trained (which we’re sure they are) or well socialised, with all the new stimuli, they can get excited and a little disobedient! So, keep the free roaming to appropriate areas so that everyone isn’t just having fun but is always safe too!
2. Bring a bag for poop!
No one likes the idea of having to bring bags specifically for your dog’s faeces, but it’s common courtesy to pick up after your dog! This will help keep the park nice and clean for everyone else. Besides, there are plenty of bins scattered around at all these parks, so you’ll be able to toss the bag out in minutes!
3. Secure your dog insurance!
As you all know, accidents do happen, so it’s best to keep necessary measures in place that keep your pooch safe whenever they leave the safety of your home. How do you do that? With comprehensive Pet Insurance from Oneplan (that’s us)!
This will ensure that they can swim, run, and sniff their way through their next adventure without a care in the world because we’ll make sure they have immediate access to their favourite vet. What’s better is that they don’t have to deal with the guilt of knowing that their humans had to foot the bill because we pay you BEFORE you see the vet!
The best part by far is that, if your pet needs a nice new harness or leash so they can look snazzy while they’re out and about, or maybe a new ball for you to throw at the park because they managed to destroy the last one, you can get all of this and more at discount prices as a Oneplan Pet Parent.
The Onepet Store is a premium pet store exclusive to Oneplan clients and, depending on the plan you choose, you’ll get up to 25% OFF all items in the store for the lifetime of your policy!
So, what are you waiting for? Click here to join the Oneplan Pet Family.
Whether your garden is getting a little boring, you’re looking to explore your city, or just need a little adrenaline rush, we’re sure that these parks will have both you and your doggo wagging with joy.
Your Pet Insurance Family,
Oneplan
