The typical size of dogs at Pup Dates is around 5–6 kilos. If you’re unsure whether your pup fits our size guidelines, feel free to send us a photo—we're always happy to take a look! We do have a size restriction in place to ensure the safety and comfort of all the dogs attending, and to make sure every pawrent can enjoy a relaxing and wonderful day out with their pup. 🐶💛

Pup Dates Dog Participation and Safety Policy

Pup Dates is committed to creating enjoyable, welcoming and responsibly managed experiences for dogs, their people and the wider community.

Everyone attending a Pup Dates event with a dog must comply with this policy, the conditions stated for the individual event and all applicable laws and venue requirements.

🐶 Owner Responsibility and Supervision

Your dog remains entirely in your care and under your supervision throughout every Pup Dates event.

You must:

* Remain with and actively supervise your dog at all times.
* Maintain effective control of your dog.
* Bring any equipment your dog requires, including a secure lead, properly fitted collar or harness, water, waste bags and weather-appropriate protection.
* Promptly clean up after your dog.
* Follow reasonable safety instructions from Pup Dates representatives, venue staff, transport providers and relevant authorities.
* Ensure another responsible adult takes control of your dog if you need to leave temporarily.

Dogs must not be left unattended, secured to furniture or handed to Pup Dates representatives for supervision.

🐶 Leads and Off-Leash Areas

Dogs must remain on a secure lead and under the effective control of their owner or responsible handler at all times during a Pup Dates event.

A dog may only be taken off lead when:

* The location is a legally designated off-leash area;
* The individual Pup Dates event expressly allows off-leash activity; and
* The owner can maintain effective control of the dog, including reliable recall.

The existence of an off-leash area does not automatically mean that a Pup Dates activity will be conducted off lead. Pup Dates may require dogs to remain leashed in any setting when considered necessary for safety, comfort or event management.

Local laws, venue conditions and event-specific instructions must always be followed.

🐶 Health, Vaccination and Identification

Dogs attending Pup Dates events must:

* Be microchipped and registered as required by law.
* Be up to date with age-appropriate vaccinations under a veterinarian-recommended schedule.
* Be free from infectious or contagious illness.
* Be in a suitable state of health to participate safely and comfortably in the particular activity.

Please do not bring a dog displaying symptoms such as coughing, vomiting, diarrhoea, unusual discharge or other signs of contagious illness.

If a dog cannot receive a standard vaccination for a documented medical reason, please contact Pup Dates before booking or attending so that the circumstances and risks can be considered.

🐶 Behaviour and Socialisation

Dogs attending Pup Dates events must be well socialised and comfortable around other dogs and people in the type of environment described for the event.

Owners are responsible for assessing whether an event is suitable for their dog. A dog should not attend if it:

* Has shown aggressive, threatening or seriously disruptive behaviour;
* Is likely to become excessively distressed or overwhelmed;
* Cannot be safely controlled in close proximity to dogs or people; or
* Is subject to legal restrictions incompatible with the event.

Owners must disclose any known behavioural concern that could affect the safety or comfort of other attendees before the event.

Pup Dates cannot guarantee how individual dogs will behave or interact. Even well-socialised dogs can respond unpredictably in unfamiliar, crowded or stimulating environments.

🐶 Pup Dates Is Not a Dog-Minding Service

Pup Dates organises social events and shared experiences for dogs and their people. It is not a professional dog-minding, dog-daycare, boarding, training, veterinary or animal-handling service.

Booking or attending a Pup Dates event does not transfer the care, custody, control or supervision of your dog to Pup Dates, its representatives, contractors, venues or event partners.

Pup Dates representatives cannot watch, walk, feed, transport or otherwise take responsibility for a dog while its owner is absent unless a separate service has been expressly agreed to in writing.

🐶 Event Suitability

Not every event will suit every dog. Owners must consider their dog’s:

* Size, age and physical condition;
* Temperament and level of socialisation;
* Mobility and stamina;
* Familiarity with travel, crowds and unfamiliar environments; and
* Ability to settle safely around food, people and other dogs.

Each event listing may include additional requirements relating to dog size, transport, venue capacity or the nature of the activity. These requirements form part of this policy.

🐶 Unsafe or Disruptive Behaviour

Pup Dates may ask an owner to move, leash, separate or remove a dog if its behaviour or condition presents a safety, welfare or significant comfort concern.

This may include persistent uncontrolled barking, aggression, repeated lunging, biting, fighting, escape attempts, serious distress or continued failure by an owner to follow safety instructions.

Where immediate departure is required, any refund will be considered in accordance with the applicable booking terms and Australian law.

🐶 Incidents and Emergencies

Any injury, bite, escape, altercation, illness or other safety incident must be reported to a Pup Dates representative immediately.

Owners remain responsible for obtaining and paying for any veterinary treatment their dog requires. In an emergency, Pup Dates may contact emergency services, venue management, council officers or other appropriate authorities when reasonably necessary.

🐶 Acceptance of Risk

Dog-friendly activities can involve risks, including unpredictable animal behaviour, physical injury, illness, escape, property damage and interaction with members of the public.

By attending, owners acknowledge these ordinary risks and accept responsibility for supervising and controlling their dogs. Owners are also responsible for loss, injury or damage caused by their dogs to the extent provided by law.

Nothing in this policy excludes, restricts or modifies any right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded under Australian law.

🐶 Acceptance of This Policy

By booking or attending a Pup Dates event, you confirm that:

* You have read and agree to follow this policy;
* Your dog satisfies the event’s health, behaviour and participation requirements;
* You will remain responsible for your dog throughout the event; and
* The information you provide about your dog is accurate and complete.

These requirements help us create Pup Dates experiences that are safe, enjoyable and welcoming for everyone at both ends of the lead.

There’s lots of fun places we go including parks,
coach trips to the Hunter Valley, Blue Mountains,
the Central Coast and the Southern Highlands.