Being a dog owner is rewarding, but it comes with important legal responsibilities and community obligations. Here’s what you need to know to be a responsible dog owner in the Huon Valley.

Your Legal Responsibilities

Under the Dog Control Act 2000, you must:

  • Ensure your dog wears a collar with registration tag in public places
  • Maintain effective control at all times when out and about
  • Confine female dogs on heat away from public places
  • Restrict your dog properly when in or on a vehicle
  • Never allow dangerous behaviour towards people or animals
  • Keep your dog on a lead when walking on roads or footpaths in built-up areas
  • Clean up after your dog in public places
  • Prevent your dog from rushing at or chasing vehicles or bicycles
  • Ensure your dog doesn’t cause nuisance or interfere with others’ peace and comfort

What is “Effective Control”?

Your dog is under effective control when it:

  • Remains in close proximity to you
  • Stays in sight at all times
  • Responds immediately to your commands

If you can’t confidently ensure effective control off-lead, you must keep your dog on a lead.

Built-Up Areas vs Rural Areas

Built-up areas (where there are buildings next to roads and street lighting):

  • Dogs must be on-lead on roads, footpaths, nature strips, and public tracks
  • Lead must be maximum 2 metres long
  • Must be held by someone able to control the dog

Outside built-up areas:

  • Effective control still required at all times
  • Off-lead permitted if you can maintain control
  • Must not enter private property without owner’s consent

Exercise Your Dog Responsibly

The Huon Valley offers many great exercise opportunities for dogs. Regular exercise keeps your dog happy, healthy, and helps reduce problem behaviours like barking, digging, and jumping.

Official Off-Lead Exercise Areas
  • Ranelagh Showground (excluding oval and surrounds)
  • Huonville Dog Park (Heron Street)
  • Franklin Foreshore
  • Shipwrights Point Regatta Ground (Port Huon)
  • Geeveston Dog Park (fenced area within Heritage Park)
  • Cygnet Dog Park (fenced area at Cygnet Sports Ground)
Dog-Prohibited Areas

Never allowed:

  • Council sports grounds, halls, indoor sports buildings, clubrooms, and churches (without specific authority)
  • Tasmania’s national parks and nature reserves
  • Burtons Reserve, Cygnet (declared dog prohibited area)

Check first:

Using Shared Spaces Respectfully

Remember that beaches, tracks, and pathways are for everyone to enjoy. You may encounter families, horse riders, cyclists, joggers, and other walkers.

Golden rules:

  • Never let your dog approach another dog without the owner’s permission
  • Don’t allow harassment, annoyance, or aggressive behaviour towards other dogs, animals, or people
  • If your dog becomes aggressive, scared, or distressed, immediately put them on lead and remove them from the area
  • Always ask permission before allowing interaction with other users

Also in Dog Management