There’s no denying it: Christchurch loves its dogs. We’re a city of dog-friendly dining, dedicated dog parks and dog-commandeered beaches. Exercise, socialise and accessorise with Cityscape’s guide to living a dog’s life in Christchurch.

The boss dog of dog parks, The Groynes comes complete with multiple fenced-off sections (two containing spring-fed streams perfect for splashing around), trees and long grasses, open spaces and bush walks, while agility courses make for plenty of stimulation. There’s always plenty of pup pals for ol’ waggy-tail to hang with.

You can find more agility courses at Rawhiti Domain in New Brighton, Burwood’s Horseshoe Lake, and Radley Park in Woolston. For killer views of the city, Victoria Park has a great fenced-off area with long grasses and inclines perfect for tuckering out energetic fur kids, while huge open spaces and a decent hill walk make Halswell Quarry another popular choice (complete with coffee cart for thirsty dog owners), and Styx Mill Reserve Dog Park boasts a river and pond that’s perfect for cooling off with other like-minded water dogs.

Bottle Lake Forest Park comprises 1000 hectares of pine forest where you can walk the trails with your four-legged friend. Hagley Park also has off-leash areas (just steer clear of the Botanic Gardens, which is off limits). Explore the regenerating bush and old remnant forest of Kennedy’s Bush Reserve (strictly on leash).

Head to the Port Hills, where awe-inspiring views meet some butt-blasting uphill treks guaranteed to give you and your canine companion an epic workout (and a good night’s sleep). Note the signs though, as some private farm areas are off limits to dogs, especially in lambing season, and others require your pawed pal to be on the leash, such as Taylors Mistake, Godley Head and the ever-popular Rapaki Track.

If Rover likes the water, you can take your pick from any of Ōtautahi's fantastic beaches, where sun, sand and surf combine for fun times from frisbee, stick-throwing and swimming to playing hide-and-seek in the dunes. Beaches to hit include the dog-friendly northern end of Sumner beach with its sandy tidal pools, South Brighton’s dune walkways, and Waimairi with its sand dunes connecting to Bottle Lake Forest Park.

Coffee, brunch and a beer with the dawg are also on the cards in dog-friendly pub courtyards like at No.4 Bar & Restaurant in Merivale and The Brewery at The Tannery. The team at Bunsen Café have a dedicated Instagram page profiling their canine customers, and Rollickin’ Gelato Café even has dog-friendly desserts.

You can bring your quadrupedal pal to meet the resident dog Douglas at Sumner Social, and if you can nab the tables out front of Hello Sunday they’ll bring your dog some water. Ōtoromiro Hotel in Governor’s Bay lets well-behaved pups inside, and will even do your dog a cooked breakfast. If you don’t already have a canine companion, then you might be interested in The Barkery dog café opening this summer in New Brighton, where you can meet adoptable dogs and learn about how to take them home.

Need to spend some time away from your beloved pooch, and want to know they’re having a good time while you’re gone? Never fear – we’ve got you covered with the best doggy day care and groomers to dogsit and pamper your pupper. If you’re heading outdoors with your doggo, the ultimate people-and-pooches action store FurtherFaster has everything from doggie hiking booties to side saddles, rain jackets and safety equipment.

View from the top

Next time you’re off on a holiday, send your furry friend on a holiday of their own at Top Notch Boarding Kennels. This boutique dog-stay has spacious rooms with underfloor heating and individual grass runs, plus a whopping seven outdoor areas in which the puppers can race around, play and socialise to their tail-wagging content. There’s a two-hectare dog park, and the highly experienced team walk the canine guests twice a day, in groups or individually.

Your dog can even get some Top Notch TLC during their stay – sister business Four Legs Physiotherapy offers veterinary physio assessments and treatment for your injured pet, including soft tissue and joint mobilisations, laser therapy, rehabilitations and comprehensive home exercise programmes.

topnotch.net.nz

Only the best

Dogs just love sinking their teeth into real food. Julie at Best for Pets designs mixes and has a range of raw meats for a variety of pets, and the store also stocks treats, toys and natural health care products.

bestforpets.co.nz

The polite pup professional

If you’re starting to think that good doggos are some kind of internet myth, it might be time to give Petiquette a call. Susan visits your home with her special brand of fun-based animal behaviour education, helping with anything from puppy manners to correcting problem behaviours.

petiquette.co.nz

Dog and cat-walk

Make your pet the envy of the pack with the adorable accessories at Love on a Leash. From practical pet needs to raincoats, harnesses and the very finest in canine formal wear, your four-legged friend will be looking so suave you might need to go shopping yourself just to stay on their level.

loveonaleash.co.nz

The whole dog

Head to Tail is your go-to for dog walkies, training and more – owner Nicole fetches some details for Cityscape.

I always knew I wanted to work with animals. I loved my time as a clinic vet nurse but very quickly realised that I wanted more from my career. I love being outdoors and I really enjoy helping and working with people, so Head to Tail was born. As well as dog walking and training, we also offer mobile vet nursing. This helps eliminate the stress of going to the vet clinic or for people who are unable to drive. We do two types of dog walks: one-on-ones and group walks. Our one-on-ones are designed for dogs who aren’t social, or ‘senior citizens’. Our group walks involve groups of three-to-six dogs, grouped by personality and location. Our training philosophy is very much positive reinforcement only. If you reward and praise the good, then it will be repeated. If you ignore the bad, they get nothing out of doing it and hopefully it will phase out. Seeing all the dogs’ happy faces brings me so much joy. They without a doubt never fail to put a smile on my face every single day. 

headtotail.co.nz

Read our full Q&A with Nicole here

Fur baby-sitting

“Leaving my sad-eyed dog at home while I head off to work is my favourite part of dog ownership” – said no one ever. But fear not, dog lovers, for Sharna’s Dog Care has the solution: a one-stop doggy paradise full of canine friends to play with, humans to smooch and slobber on, and plenty of indoor and outdoor space to romp around in.

Sharna’s Dog Care’s well-trained people are on deck to supervise the joyful pack and treat your doggo like one of the family, so you know your buddy is in the best possible hands – or paws, if you prefer. Sharna’s also works with volunteers from all over the community, including special needs children and the elderly, so your best friend not only gets a ton of love and attention, but they help brighten someone else’s day at the same time.

If your dog could do with some serious VIP treatment, Sharna’s Dog Care also offers a grooming service, so Pup can run around like a mad thing in the morning, and come out looking fresh as a daisy in the afternoon. 

sharnasdogcare.co.nz