4 dog-friendly parks in Joburg

What better way to spend Take a Walk in the Park Day on March 30 than with your dogs at one of Johannesburg’s many dog walking parks?

Not only will you and your canine companion get physically active, you will escape Joburg’s frenetic pace for a little while.

Senior brand manager for Pedigree at Mars Africa, Ashleigh Sanderson, says Johannesburg has some beautiful parks where trained and socialised dogs can run, explore and meet other canines.

“Most of the parks are large and scattered around the city, which means there is somewhere for everyone to take their dogs.

“The recent rain also means the parks are particularly lush at the moment, giving park-goers the opportunity to commune with nature and release some of the stress of their daily lives,” she adds.

Here are a few dog-friendly parks in Joburg that will get pooches straining on the leash to run, sniff around and generally have fun.

Emmarentia Dam

The Greenside-based park is six kilometres from Joburg’s city centre and it’s a popular spot to give dogs free rein to explore the open spaces and frolic in the water. The park is open seven days a week, from 8am to 6pm. Parking attendants patrol the main parking areas.

For more information, call 011-782-1193 or 011-782-7064

Sandton Field and Study Centre

Another great park for pooches and their owners is the Sandton Field and Study Centre in Parkmore with its impressive trees and the Braamfontein Spruit running through it. Entrance is free, security is 24/7 and it’s open from sunrise to sunset. There’s a dog-friendly field market on the first Saturday of the month.

For more information, call 011-783-7407

Kingfisher Park (Fourways)

Kingfisher Park in Fourways offers a smaller, 12-hectare park that allows dogs to be on or off their leashes. It is open from 8am to 6pm.

For more information, call 011 712 6600

Huddle Park Golf & Recreation

If you and your furry friends enjoy working up a sweat on a walking or running trail (up to 10km), then Huddle Park in Linksfield is for you. The entrance fee for four people and dogs is R50 and socialised dogs can run free.

In autumn and winter, the park is open from 8am to 5pm on Mondays and from 6.30am to 5pm from Tuesdays to Sundays. In spring and summer, it’s open from 8am to 6pm on Mondays and from 6.30am to 6.30pm from Tuesdays to Sundays. There is also a restaurant with water bowls for dogs.

For more information, call 011-640-445