Greetings and winter-warming belly rubs to our local dog community!  With winter well and truly here, it’s time to grab a cuppa, give the dog a bone, and settle in with the latest edition of Scuttlemutt, your go-to newsletter for all things canine in our beautiful district. 

In this edition, you’ll find information about dog registration (yes, it’s that time of year again!), a reminder about emergency preparedness and how to ensure your furry family member is considered, reflections on the QLDC Community Dog Walks, training tips to minimise unwanted behaviours, winter’s featured walk, plus much more. 

So leash up, chuck another layer on, and read on! 

Key dates for paw-rents!

Dog registrations are now due 

It’s time to renew your dog’s registration for 2024. Dog registration invoices landed in your inbox on 5 June, and you’ve got until 31 July 2024 to pay. 

Keeping your furry friend registered is crucial for their safety and wellbeing, and we’ve made it easier than ever by offering online payments. Just hop online at https://www.qldc.govt.nz/do-it-online/make-a-payment/ and take care of it in a few clicks. 

The fees for registering your dog have not increased since last year. However, there are a couple reasons your fee may have changed: 

• If your dog was down as intending to be desexed but no desexing certificate was provided. 

• If your property was assessed as fenced/unfenced. 

• If your dog was impounded and your positive history was removed, or it has been two years since you lost your positive history and it has been reinstated.  

Don’t fear! If you send us your desexing certificate before payment, the fee will be reduced. If you’ve since fenced your property, give us a call and we can step you through the process to get your fees reduced. As always, contact us on 03 441 0499 and we’ll be happy to talk about this with you. 

Has your pooch moved to a new house? Don’t forget to update their details. Keeping their address current ensures that if your dog ever goes on an unexpected adventure, we can help bring them back home safely. You can update their details here: https://www.qldc.govt.nz/update-dog-details or by contacting customer services at services@qldc.govt.nz 

The full pricing list for dog registration can be found here: https://www.qldc.govt.nz/services/animal-control/register-your-dog/

Understanding where your dog fees go: supporting our community's pets

Have you ever wondered where your dog registration fees go? You’ll be pleased to know that every dollar contributes directly to the well-being and safety of our beloved pets and our community. The Animal Control service is largely funded by user fees (about 70%) with the rest coming from rates.  

Here’s a glimpse into where your dog registration fees go: 

• Animal Control Officers: Your fees support three dedicated full-time Animal Control Officers who ensure the welfare and safety of our pets and community. Did you know that this talented crew don’t just handle dogs, they help when wandering stock is reported? 
• Animal Control Vehicles: Three specialised vehicles enable our officers to respond promptly to any situation, ensuring effective management of animal-related issues.  
• Uniforms and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Ensuring our officers are equipped to handle various situations safely and professionally. 
• Afterhours Response Service: Emergencies can happen at any time. Your fees fund a vital afterhours service to respond to urgent animal control needs. 
• Pound Facilities: Two pound facilities (in Wānaka and Queenstown) are maintained to provide safe housing for roaming dogs, ensuring they are cared for until reunited with their owners. 
• Dog Training Sessions: Regular training sessions are organised to promote responsible dog ownership and enhance the bond between you and your furry friends. 
• Yearly Dog Walk Event: Join fellow dog owners in our annual dog walk events in Wānaka and Queenstown, fostering community spirit and promoting healthy lifestyles for both humans and dogs. 
• School Education on Dog Safety: Educating the younger generation about dog safety helps create a safer environment for both children and dogs in our communities. 
• Dog Bark Collar Loaning Service: Need help with excessive barking? Your fees support a collar loaning service to assist in training your dog effectively. 
• Trail and Reserve Signage: Clear signage ensures everyone understands and respects local dog rules, making our trails and reserves safer for all users. 
• Dog Poo Bag Dispensers: Conveniently located dispensers encourage responsible waste management, keeping our beautiful reserves clean and enjoyable for everyone. 
• Lifelong Tags: Your registered dog receives a lifelong tag, ensuring identification and helping reunite lost pets with their owners swiftly. 

Your continued support through dog registration fees is invaluable in maintaining these essential services and initiatives that benefit both dogs and our community. By registering your dog, you directly contribute to a safer, more responsible pet ownership culture across our district. 

Thank you for being a responsible dog owner and for your ongoing support. Together, we make our community a better place for everyone, including our four-legged friends. 

Community Dog walks get tails wagging

Back in February, the canine community showed up in packs to enjoy time together at the QLDC’s Community Dog Walks. 

The Queenstown Community Dog Walk saw more than fifty dogs and their families join in on the fun, including the Bernese Mountain Dog club. Everyone was greeted with big smiles, lots of pats, and with 'Who let the dogs out' pumping on the portable stereo, even the threat of rain couldn’t dampen spirits.  

After a big group photo, all the dogs set off on their walk along Frankton Beach. Even Mayor Glyn Lewers was spotted amongst the pack walking an enthusiastic pup, and it was wonderful to see families, retired folk, and everyone in between attending the walk making friends. 

After the walk, everyone enjoyed a hotdog with tomato sauce, and the pooches chowed down on treats from local sponsors. QLDC’s Animal Control team, Mayor Lewers and Joel from MoreFM were on hand to judge the 'dog owner-lookalike' competition - the winner was a family consisting of mum, daughter and dog who all showed up wearing matching red bandanas!

The weather played ball for the Wānaka Community Dog Walk, with around thirty dogs and their families starting the walk, with others from the community joining in on the fun as they saw the pack walking past. 

The feedback from the community on the day highlighted how they appreciated the opportunity to get together with other owners, and how wonderful it was for their dogs to socialise in a safe and controlled environment while still having lots of fun.  

The 'dog owner-lookalike' competition was a total hit, with the winner dressing up in an outfit to look exactly like her Bernese Mountain dog. 

All photos from the Queenstown Dog Walk can be found here.

All photos from the Wānaka Dog Walk can be found here. 

Dog Agility classes wrap up

In May, we unleashed our very first Agility Day! Our Animal Control crew teamed up with Flip Collins from Remarkable Dogs for an epic day of learning about control, recall, and agility. We've noticed a few pooches getting a bit too friendly with on-leash friends and some struggling with their "come here" skills. It can ruffle the fur of our more anxious or reactive pups, so this day was tailor-made to school owners on these skills—and have a blast doing it! 

The venue? None other than Remarkable Dogs in Shotover Country. 

Thanks to everyone who joined us—it was a pawsitively awesome day! We had a tail-wagging good time meeting dogs of all shapes and sizes! 🐾 

Let's talk training!

How to stop unwanted behaviours 

Owning a dog is one of life’s great joys, but it can also come with its challenges, particularly when it comes to unwanted behaviours. From incessant barking and chewing to jumping and digging, these behaviours can test the patience of even the most devoted pet parent.   

Flip Collins, Dog Trainer and Behaviour Consultant from Remarkable Dog Training imparts her best tips to help with unwanted behaviours: 

• Stop them practicing the behaviours you dislike. This may mean you block off access to certain areas in your house/garden or walking your dogs in different locations/times as an example. 
• Show them the behaviour you would like instead and practice this consistently. 
• Make sure all behaviours you teach your dog has structure with a release. Dogs learn great with structure. Evey behaviour technically has a ‘stay’ until you release. “Sit - good boy - ok” “Ok” being the ‘release’. We don’t want them to choose when to stop doing something we ask. 
• Make sure you have met your dogs needs. Have they eaten? Do they have access to water? Have shelter? Have been exercised adequately? 
• Ditch the food bowl and break daily meals down into smaller portions, given out to rewards positive behaviour. Licking/sniffing/chewing is self-calming for a dog. The more canine enrichment you do, the quicker your dog can learn and regulate their behaviour.

Remarkabledogsnz.com 

Winter 2024's featured walk

Matakauri Park - Queenstown 

A picturesque, brisk, short walk close to Queenstown through the Wetlands of Matakauri Park. The trail is a loop track which starts on Gorge Road, heading towards Arthurs Point and will only take you 20-30 minutes to complete. A great distance for some lunchtime fresh air or a quick afterwork walk, especially with your four-legged friends. 

The Matakuri wetlands are a significant environmental ecosystem which hosts some rare birds and flora. For this reason, this trail is an on-lead track. One of the most prominent birds nesting here is the endangered? Australasian Bittern so it’s important to keep dogs from accidentally damaging any of the wildlife and flora in the area. Dogs tend to follow their noses, so please respect the protected area and keep your dogs on leash. You could face a $300 infringement fee if they are found off leash. There is also a poo bin and dispenser at the start of the track, so please make use of this facility if needed. 

Exploring tracks and trails around the district with your pup can be a great adventure. But please remember to be mindful of nature reserve areas, local farms and Council rules. Follow all signage, carry a leash and a poop bag, and enjoy our beautiful district and all that it has to offer! 

Check out this interactive map that shows all the places you and your pooch can adventure together in our district!

A reminder: Why Scooping the Poop is Paw-some!

We've all been there, facing nature's surprise packages: whether it's playing hopscotch with a fresh doggie gift on the sidewalk, discovering a squishy surprise underfoot, or finding an unexpected landmine on our beloved lawn. But hold your nose and consider this—there are more reasons to grab that doggy bag than just avoiding these stinky situations. Let's dig into a few of them, shall we? 

Stay out of the doghouse—literally—in New Zealand!

Leaving behind your pup's potty presents is a big no-no. Yep, it is against the law in New Zealand to let your dog's droppings mar our beautiful public spaces. Avoid those hefty fines of $300 by doing the right thing—scoop that poop! 

It's bad for the environment

And hey, leaving that poop around isn't just gross—it's a breeding ground for bacteria. Dog poop contains viruses, bacteria, and parasites, including harmful pathogens like E. coli, giardia, and salmonella. And when we don’t clean up after our poochies, rain comes along and washes their poop and the germs into our stormwater, streams, rivers, and then our lakes. You know, those lovely spots where we swim and get our water from? By grabbing that poop bag, you're not just being polite—you're being a health hero! 

Eco-friendly pet parenting:  

When doggy doo gets left behind, it doesn't just disappear, it can make its way into our waterways, causing a stink for the environment and our furry friends in the wild. So, lend a helping hand to Mother Nature—scoop, bag, and bin that poop responsibly! 

So, there you have it—three good reasons to be a responsible pet parent and scoop the poop. Next time you're out on a stroll with your furry friend, don't forget those trusty poop bags. It's a win for your pup, a win for you, and a big win for our planet! 

Quick tip: while pet poop compost works wonders for gardens, it's best not to use it on veggies meant for eating. No worries though! We've got your back with instructions for setting up your own pet poop compost system. Check out the details here, or grab an Ensopet kit from our friends at Zing Bokashi for an easy solution! 

Remember, our district provides free poo bags as a backup if you've forgotten yours while walking your dog. However, it's essential to always bring your own bags whenever you're out with your furry friend. Look out for our convenient green dispensers located across the district. Each dispenser contains eco-friendly bio bags, suitable for home composting in a pet poop compost system or disposal with your regular household waste. This ensures every walk remains clean and convenient for all!

Paw-lease note 

With more time spent at home, now is a good time to think about not only your household’s emergency plans should a disaster strike. Your animals are your responsibility, and you need to include them in your emergency planning and preparation. We recommend checking out GetReady’s link for emergency pet preparedness tips. 

Keep us in the loop

We know a lot can change for you and your dog in a year, so remember to keep us updated on any important changes to your pooch’s details. These include if you've moved house, if your dog has been desexed or sadly passed away, whether they've got a new owner now or recently been microchipped.

We want to hear it all. Let us know by emailing services@qldc.govt.nz or calling 03 441 0499 so we can make sure your dog's details are up to date!

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