Greetings and belly rubs to our local dog community! We hope you are enjoying Spring in our beautiful district. Give your dog a treat and settle in with the latest edition of Scuttlemutt!

Key dates for owners

How do we let the dogs out?

QLDC is checking in on our Dog Control Bylaw and Policy, the rules that help make dog ownership in the Queenstown Lakes District safe, responsible, and enjoyable for everyone (two-legged and four-legged alike).

Throughout November, we’re engaging with the community, stakeholders, and local groups about how we manage dogs in our district. This is your chance to share your thoughts, ideas, and experiences to help shape what comes next.

We’re currently in the early engagement (pre-engagement) phase from Friday 31 October to Thursday 21 November. This stage is all about gathering your feedback before our policy team drafts an updated bylaw. Once the draft is ready, it’ll go out for formal consultation, so you’ll have another opportunity to have your say before anything’s finalised.

After that, Councillors will review submissions and refine the bylaw before it’s put to the full Council for adoption.

So, if you and your furry friend have opinions about off-leash areas, signage, or anything else dog-related in our district, now’s the time to speak up! Let’s make sure every pup and person can enjoy our spaces safely and happily! 

👉 Take our quick survey and help shape a district that’s a great place for dogs and people: letstalk.qldc.govt.nz/dog-control-bylaw

Community dog event dates announced! 

Mark your calendars: dogs and their humans are invited to QLDC’s Paws in the Park in 2026!

Hosted in Queenstown, the event will feature competitions and giveaways, stalls, food vendors and most importantly - plenty of pooches enjoying a day out together. 

The event is free, and all are welcome to attend. More details will be released closer to the date over on QLDC’s Facebook page, including locations, start time, and what to expect on the day.

And Wānaka won't be missing out on the fun, with dogs and humans alike having their own Dog Walk event, with more details to be announced on our Facebook page.

Free Wānaka dog training session with Dr. Dog

A free training session for local dog owners will be held on Saturday, 29 November from 10.00am to12.30pm at the Wānaka Recreation Centre (function room).  Please note that dogs will not be attending the session!

The session, presented by local dog trainer Matt Gunn – “Dr Dog”, will explore ways to build better communication and understanding between dogs and their owners. It will focus on creating drive to please through structure, communication, and play.

Key topics include:

• The basics of how dogs learn
• Setting yourself up for success
• Understanding the causes of unwanted behaviours
• Practical tools to improve or eliminate unwanted behaviours
• Desensitisation 101: redirecting reactivity and reducing anxiety

The workshop will be presentation-style and will include a 30-minute live demonstration from Dr Dog. Participants are welcome to ask questions and record parts of the session for future reference.

This event is open to 35 dog owners and is free to attend. 

To register, email aczqn@qldc.govt.nz with your dog’s details. All dogs signed up for the event must be registered within the QLDC district. Spaces will be allocated on a first in, first served basis.

A seasonal reminder - Spring edition

With spring beginning to blossom around the district, it’s important to take a few extra precautions to keep our furry companions safe and well through these warmer months. Here are a few reminders from the QLDC Animal Control team!

Stay hydrated 

• Dogs need plenty of fresh water year-round, especially as temperatures start to rise.

Be visible 

• Make your dog easy to spot with a reflective collar, leash, or jacket — handy for early morning or evening walks.

Check paws

• After walks, check your dog’s paws for grass seeds. These can get lodged between the toes or in the paw pads and cause irritation or infection.

Spring hazards to watch 

• Keep dogs away from heaters or fireplaces, and never leave them unattended near a heat source.

Flea and tick protection

• Warm weather brings pests. Make sure your dog’s flea, tick, and worm treatments are up to date.

Watch out for toxic plants

• Some spring flowers like daffodils, tulips, lilies, and azaleas can be poisonous if eaten. Keep curious pups away from garden beds and bouquets.

Sun safety

• Dogs with light-coloured or short coats can get sunburned. Use pet-safe sunscreen on exposed skin, such as the nose and ears.

Groom regularly

• Spring shedding means extra brushing! Regular grooming keeps coats healthy and reduces mats or tangles.

Rabbit control operations and dog safety

We focus our pest control operations during the colder months as vegetation growth has slowed, making food for the rabbits’ scarcer, slowing their breeding cycle. Milder winters make it more challenging to control numbers so keeping the pressure on with regular winter poisoning operations, supported by night shooting and fumigating burrows, is vital in trying to keep rabbit numbers to manageable levels. 

We carry out multiple operations in winter to tackle rabbit control using Pindone bait on QLDC reserves and trails across the district. You can find all up to date information on pest control operations and precautions to be aware of with Pindone bait at www.qldc.govt.nz/pest-control. We also share details when these operations are happening on our Facebook page, in the public notice section of local newspapers and through letter drops to residents in the area. Read on to see how you can get notified directly!

Please do keep your dog on a lead while passing through current operation areas. Signage will always be present and will be removed when there is no risk to public or dogs (usually up to eight months following operation).

It’s important to note that QLDC is not responsible for any pest control operations on land not under its management. All enquiries about such land should be directed to the specific landowner and/or Otago Regional Council.

If you’d like to find alternative trails to walk your dog during rabbit control baiting operations in your area, check out the interactive map here: QLDC Dog Control Map. Note: zoom in on map to see colour coded trails indicating where dogs must be on leash (blue), can be off leash (green) or not allowed (red).

Sign up to get notifications for Pindone operations

If you’d like to be kept in the loop with notifications to your inbox whenever there is a pindone rabbit control operation planned or for anything related to dog safety, please sign up here.

Dog barking tip: understanding and managing the noise

Barking is a natural way for dogs to communicate but when it becomes excessive, it can cause stress for both owners and neighbours. Here are some practical tips to help manage barking in a positive and effective way: 

Understand the cause

Start by figuring out why your dog is barking. Identifying the cause is key to addressing the behaviour correctly.  Common triggers include: 

• Boredom or lack of exercise 
• Separation anxiety 
• Alerting to people or noises 
• Excitement or play 
• Seeking attention 

Keep them stimulated 

A tired dog is a quiet dog! Make sure your pup gets: 

• Daily physical exercise (walks, playtime, training) 
• Mental stimulation (puzzle toys, sniffing games, enrichment)

Stay calm and consistent

Avoid yelling, it can sound like you’re barking too! 

• Use calm, clear commands like "quiet" and reward silence with treats or praise. 
• Consistency is crucial—don’t unintentionally reward barking by giving attention every time. 

Avoid unintentional triggers 

• Block views of the street or fence if your dog barks at passers by. 
• Use white noise or leave a radio on to reduce outside sound triggers when you're away. 
• Consider professional training if barking stems from anxiety or fear. 

Bark collars - a tool to consider 

If barking is persistent and you’ve tried other options, bark collars may help as part of a training plan. Not all bark collars are shock based, some use sound or vibration only, which can be a gentler option. 

Did you know? Queenstown Lakes District Council offers bark collars on loan for up to two weeks, so you can try one before committing to buying your own. This can be a great short term support tool while you work on training and behaviour modification. To enquire about a loan collar, just contact the QLDC Animal Control team. 

Positive reinforcement wins 

Always reward calm, quiet behaviour. The more your dog learns that being quiet gets them what they want (treats, cuddles, access to the backyard), the more they’ll choose that over barking. With patience, structure, and the right tools, barking can be managed in a way that’s fair and stress free for both dogs and their humans. 

Spring 2025 featured walks

Bob's Cove Track - 1.5hours return

This track starts at a car park on the Glenorchy–Queenstown Road, 14 km from Queenstown, and is loved by both pooches and their owners! 

As you leave the car park, a gradual descent will take you through native beech trees and manuka to Punatapu/Bob’s Cove. Here, on a nice day, you will be greeted with picturesque blue water that is hard to resist. A lovely beach provides the perfect spot to set up a picnic, go for a swim, and of course, throw sticks! 

If you are keen for a more challenging walk, continue towards Picnic Point Peninsula. You will come across a junction with a rocky track up to a spectacular lookout. Enjoy the 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains and lake before making your way back. Make sure you pay particular attention to the signage Department of Conservation has put up for directions. 

Don’t forget your dog poo bags, and please respect DOC’s on-leash requirement for dogs. 

Mount Iron Track

Mount Iron is the perfect spot for a fun uphill adventure with your furry friend! This dog-friendly track is a fantastic outing where you and your pup can enjoy some fresh air and exercise while taking in stunning 360-degree views of the Pisa Range, Upper Clutha Basin, Lake Wānaka, and the majestic Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana on a 4.5km loop track.

Dogs can be off-leash, but it’s essential to keep them under control and within sight to ensure a safe and fun experience for everyone, including other walkers, dogs on leads, and the local wildlife. Being considerate of lead-only pups helps keep the track enjoyable for all.

Before you set off, you’ll find a handy dog poo bag dispenser at the main car park, as well as a dedicated dog waste bin in the Allenby Place car park—so it’s easy to keep the track clean and pup-friendly for everyone. The track starts from a car park off SH84 (the main road into Wānaka from the east), just 2 km from town, then climbs the western side of Mount Iron through lovely low kānuka shrubland. Once you and your four-legged buddy reach the summit, take a moment to enjoy the views and snap a few photos before descending the eastern side and looping back to your starting point. 

Unleashing the unusual: quirky dog names in our district

The QLDC Animal Control team absolutely love a good dog name - the more unusual, the better!  And some local pups have names that are anything but ordinary. Our district is home to a delightfully creative bunch of canine companions, and their names are as unique as their personalities. And while no hotdogs make the list, there are plenty of food related names here!

Here are just a few standouts:

• Suzie Cream Cheese 

• Spiderman (Two pups in the district are swinging into action with this superhero-inspired name!)

• Mountain

• Beef

• Sushi (Two dogs proudly roll with this name!)

• Pickles 

• Candy and Toast 

• Peaches and Cola

• Scotch

Know a dog with an even quirkier name? Let us know, we’d love to know how they go their fun name!

Scuttle mutt of the month

Meet Max, a street smart sweetheart with a heart of gold who’s now living his best life right here in Queenstown! 

Max’s journey began up north, where he was rescued off the streets and placed into a loving foster home. It wasn’t long before his story touched the hearts of a wonderful family in Queenstown, who welcomed him into their home, and into their hearts, for good. 

Adopting a rescue dog can come with its challenges, and Max’s family approached it with patience, love, and a great understanding of the 3-3-3 rule: 3 days to decompress, 3 weeks to settle, and 3 months to feel at home. That approach helped Max adjust at his own pace and thrive in his new environment. 

Now proudly calling Quail Rise home, Max is a familiar face on some of his favourite trails around Kelvin Heights and Lake Hayes, where he can be found sniffing out adventure and soaking up the sights. 

Since arriving in December, Max has come leaps and bounds and his transformation has been nothing short of heartwarming. Confident, calm, and full of personality, Max is the perfect example of what love, time, and trust can do. 

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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