Perth pet owners are increasingly hiring private dog parks to spend uninterrupted time with their fur-babies

Tangled leashes and unwanted encounters with the neighbourhood’s nippy puppy are a thing of the past, with Perth pooch parents swapping the dog park for a ‘paws-itively’ regal new way to spend quality time with their fur-baby.

Private dog parks are “taking off” in Perth, as devoted pet parents continue to chase the royal treatment for their pups.

Just 45 minutes south of the city in the peaceful bushland of Jarrahdale at Darling Ranges Exclusive Dog Park, there are no unexpected visitors, just wide-open space, water to splash in and grass to roll on.

The dog park’s owner, Elizabeth Reid, first heard about the concept from a friend who had seen it in the UK.

“One of my best friends, Lucy, who now lives in Australia, told me about the exclusive dog parks that were in the UK,” Ms Reid said.

“I was like, OK, let’s get to work.”

To hire the Darling Ranges Exclusive Dog Park will set you back $60 for one hour, $110 for two hours and $160 for three hours. Two dogs are welcome per booking.

Ms Reid said Perth pet parents are more than willing to pay for a piece of exclusivity.

“These days, everybody has a dog,” Ms Reid said. “Instead of having children, they could prefer to have their dog as their companion. So that’s their life . . . and they want outings, different outings, different places to go.”

Since opening in July, the park has welcomed everything from tiny toy breeds to packs of Great Danes, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“This is completely exclusive,” Ms Reid said.

“The dog park is designed as a safe place where dogs can enjoy all the things they love most — fresh scents on the breeze, wide-open spaces to run and play, cool water to splash in, and the beauty of nature alongside horses and other animals.

“It is more than just a park . . . owners can feel confident knowing their pets are exploring in a secure environment.

“I’ve had one lady come (after) her dog was attacked in a park. So since then, he’s very timid, and she feels like he needs to build confidence again.

“I’ve had another older lady … her dog is quite old and can’t move very fast. So she loved it, because she could just stroll around slowly and enjoy the space without any interruptions.”

Tammie Pike, the owner of dachshund, Luna, and King Charles Spaniel, Artie, said she likes using the private park to give her pets the kind of freedom they simply can’t get at home.

“I take my dogs for a walk, but it’s just not the same as being able to have a safe space,” Ms Pike said.

“Luna actually is quite reactive to other dogs and gets stressed out. So I really wanted a safe space . . . and they absolutely loved it.”

Ms Pike said it’s not just a treat for her dogs – but her whole family.

“Our kids love it here . . . they get to see the horses, they get to see nature, and just be here,” she said.

As Perth continues to sprawl and homes become smaller, Ms Reid believes spaces like hers will only become more necessary.

“There’s huge development going on in Maddington, Byford . . . some people have seven-metre frontage with no backyard,” she said.

“They want to just go and enjoy a place somewhere, so hopefully that’s what we can be for them.”

Australia’s foremost private park business SniffSpace was founded five years ago in Sydney by Tracey Horey.

SniffSpace now operates nine private dog parks across WA, and Ms Horey said there are countless people on the wait-list to book a private space in Perth.

“Perth is our biggest area,” she said. “It’s not the area with the most spaces, but it’s absolutely the area with the most bookings, Perth really took off.”

Ms Horey said there is a large population of dogs who don’t fit in at the local dog park and can’t sit comfortably at the a cafe or coffee shop.

“A lot of people would say that it’s dog owners with anxious dogs (using SniffSpace), but . . . most dogs, like people, have their own personalities,” she said.

“A lot of them have their own fears or anxieties of different things.

“SniffSpace is really for the greater audience, and dogs are part of the family here in Australia, people don’t want to take risks with their dogs.”

The price to hire a SniffSpace in Perth ranges from anywhere between $13 to $30 for an hour.