Semapaw Park

Sniff Space at Semapaw Park

Sniff Space is purposely designed to create a sensory off-lead adventure trail for your dog.

Sniff Space encourages dogs to sniff and explore, and is a great space for shyer or older dogs to enjoy a relaxing, enriching stroll.

Sniff space is NOT a space for play.

Dogs in Sniff Space require Active Management – you may need to call your dog away from other dogs or encourage them to sniff by showing interest in the landscape.

Active management is especially important if your dog has only ever played off lead with others before.

Sniff Space is the middle ground between ‘hyperactive’ and exhausted and, if used appropriately, can help dogs relax without the need for hours of fetch or play (hours of which will only create a fitter dog in the long run!)

Sniff Space can be a great way to break up an on lead walk with a short off-lead wander to ‘stop and smell the roses’. It is also an excellent opportunity for dogs to sniff off lead after a run in Semapaw Park.

Sniffing is incredibly calming and tiring for dogs, and so finishing off a rambunctious play session with a more sedate stroll through the sniff space will help your dog calm down so they can settle nicely at home. It’s also a great place to allow dogs a little more off lead freedom safely, but without the over-enthusiastic chaos that may occur in Semapaw Park.

We recommend no more than 3 to 4 dogs are suitable in this space at any one time to help ensure the experience is safe and calm at all times.

Effective control:
Please ensure you can see your dog at all times and are able to call them away from another dog in this space. Dogs must be under effective control at all times. Please pick up after your dog.

Supervision of Children and Dogs:
Dogs and children must be supervised at all times. This is not a suitable play space for children and ball games or other children’s activities are best suited on other reserves.

Transitioning between Sniff Space and Semapaw Park active area

Moving between our two very different spaces takes care, as one promotes calm and the other promotes play.

Semapaw Park is an off-lead play area for confident, sociable dogs over 6 months of age. Semapaw Park is NOT a free puppy-sitting service. You will still need to keep a close eye on your dog while they are playing to ensure everyone in the park is safe and having a good time This space is ideal for dogs that love to run, play, dig, sniff and explore together.

Sniff Space is purposely designed to create a sensory off-lead adventure trail for your dog. Sniff space is NOT a space for play. Sniff Space encourages dogs to sniff and explore, and is a great space for shyer or older dogs to enjoy a relaxing, enriching stroll.

To use both spaces for best effect please start with Semapaw Park, and then move into Sniff Space.

Sniff Space is designed to help dogs calm down and relax during a walk, or after a play session. This way, your dog is able to have a good run and play before they enter a calmer area where you can practice some training, or allow them to sniff to their heart’s content. If you practice moving from Semapaw Park to Sniff Space frequently, they will be able to calm down quicker and quicker each time.

Moving from Sniff Space to Semapaw Park will only encourage your dog to become hyperexcitable in Sniff Space in the lead up to play with other dogs. This will disrupt the calm and relaxing exploration by other dogs who may not want to play, and undermine any calming effect Sniff Space may have on your dog after play as well.

Semapaw Park active area

Semapaw Park active area is an off-lead play area for confident, sociable dogs over 6 months of age. This space is ideal for dogs that love to run, play, dig, sniff and explore together.

Semapaw Park is NOT a free puppy-sitting service. You will still need to keep a close eye on your dog while they are playing to ensure everyone in the park is safe and having a good time. Dogs in Semapaw Park are still required to be under effective control at all times – your dog must be within sight able to come away from play if you call them.

Please actively manage your dog’s play with others - call them away if the play is becoming inappropriate. Check out our Dog Park Etiquette signs for more information on appropriate play.

The equipment in this park has been designed to be used under your supervision to ensure the safety of all dogs. If your dog is not used to such equipment, please encourage them through it slowly and at their pace.

Supervision of Children and Dogs:
Dogs and children must be supervised at all times. This is not a suitable play space for children and ball games or other children’s activities are best suited on other reserves. Please pick up after your dog.