Conservation Week NZ: How Dog Parents Can Help

Conservation Week 2022 is taking place in NZ from 5-11 September and is all about protecting our precious NZ wildlife. As a dog parent, you play a big role in this. Many pet parents don’t know the effect their dogs can have on wild animals even when they’re innocently playing, especially with the species that inhabit our beaches and coastline.

PD Insurance NZ recently partnered with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to launch the Lead the Way Auckland programme to educate people on native wildlife habitats and responsible dog ownership.

In particular, Lead the Way is about urging better pet management by using leads when you’re spending time with your fur kid in coastal areas.

So, how do your pup’s actions threaten NZ wildlife and what can you do about it?

Dogs on beaches

Dogs love the beach. It’s open, free, and there are plenty of interesting sights and smells. It’s natural for pet parents to want to let their dogs run free at the coast.

However, not only is ‘free running’ not the best thing for your dog (find out why in our Lead the Way launch event video), your dog’s innate ability to sniff out, stalk or injure wildlife – even when just innocently curious – poses a risk to these species as well as other dogs.

New Zealand’s beaches are home to a wide variety of native species. For some, their numbers are in decline, like fur seals/kekeno, little penguins/kororā, red-billed gulls/tarāpunga, NZ dotterel/tūturiwhatu and many more. Even little dogs can disrupt seals, scare penguins, or destroy the beach nests of birds such as dotterel, fairy terns, godwits, and oyster catchers.

Leads are key for NZ wildlife safety

This Conservation Week in NZ, consider how an off-lead dog also poses a risk to other dogs and people. Many pet parents have experienced the shock of having their dog scared by another dog that’s gotten too enthusiastic, or worse. Even if the dog does it with the intention to play, it can be a negative experience for both pet parent and dog.

Not all people are ‘dog people’, and a dog running towards them can be terrifying, even when the dog isn’t aggressive. Responsible pet parenting is about respecting animals and other people.

Beaches can also be risky places for your pup’s safety, with plenty of things from sea slugs to swallowing too much saltwater having the potential to cause issues. This article on keeping your pet safe at the beach or lake mentions just some of them.

Long and short leads are a valuable tool in keeping your dogs and others safe when enjoying coastal areas. Plus, in NZ it’s your responsibility as a dog owner to have a lead on you at all times when you’re in the great outdoors with your dog.

Lead the Way, then!

Celebrate Conservation Week by following the urge to lead the way by using a lead with your precious pup. Not only are you able to use it to steer them away from mischief or danger, but a special Lead the Way lead will act as a cue to other pet parents of your dog’s temperament.

This is what the colours mean for your dog:

• Green – it’s well socialised and content to be around other dogs and people.
• Orange – it isn’t always comfortable around other dogs and people.
• Red – it doesn’t like socialising with unfamiliar dogs or people.
• Yellow – it’s disabled or vulnerable in some way to interactions.

Keen on getting your own lead? Part of Lead the Way’s efforts include a three minute quiz that educates and then tests people on their knowledge of the coastline’s animals and risks posed to both wildlife and dogs. Why not quickly take it now and do your bit for conservation?

Once you’ve finished the quiz, you’ll unlock the ability to purchase a high quality, NZ-made Lead the Way lead.

Native habitats of NZ wildlife

Another way dog parents can protect the coastlines this Conservation Week in NZ and beyond is by becoming more aware of the habitats our wildlife are dependent on to survive. Here are some of them:

Dunes

Penguins and shore birds use sand dunes for shelter and nesting. Others nest in driftwood high up on the beach. When walking your dog, it’s best to keep them away from the dunes. The mere presence of a dog is enough to stress shorebirds, and they need to conserve their energy to survive, feed chicks and/or recover from migration.

Flightless birds such as kiwi and weka, and birds that nest on our beaches such as dotterel, fairy terns, blue penguin, godwits, and oyster catchers, are particularly vulnerable to dogs.

Wet sand

It’s best to walk your dog on wet sand where they’ll disturb as little of the NZ wildlife as possible. With that said, be aware that many birds arriving from migration will forage in the wet sand. Never let your dog loose to chase birds; being disturbed could mean the difference between life and death for them as they need to regain their energy.

Off-leash dogs that chase birds interrupt the foraging, resting and nesting time of shorebirds, and the birds expend large amounts of valuable energy escaping pursuing dogs.

Being mindful of NZ wildlife: The must-do’s

Here are some handy tips for dog parents at the beach you can follow from this Conservation Week in NZ onwards:

Research first

Every webpage for a DOC track has clear dog access rules. Check before going to see if there are any restrictions. You can also find dog-allowed tracks by ticking that option when searching for one.

Councils regularly update their bylaws, setting the rules for dogs. Signs can become outdated, so for the most current information check your council website. Several have interactive maps to show where you can and can’t walk your dog. For example, this Wellington City Council one.

Scan and plan

Before you set out, visually scan the beach for any NZ wildlife. Some animals are well camouflaged, so make sure you don’t mistake a sleeping fur seal for some driftwood. Once you know where the wildlife is, plan your dog’s walk away from those areas or pass at least 20m away from them.

Take a toy

Toys make great distractions. Always take along one of your pup’s favourite toys and a treat so you can quickly divert their attention before they start racing after an oystercatcher, for example.

Share your intel

If you see other people or dog parents on the beach, let them know where the wildlife is. This is especially helpful for well camouflaged animals.

Take your lead!

This is required by law. Even if you’re exercising in an off-lead area, have it handy in case you need close control while you walk past a distraction.

Find out more

• Read more info on Conservation Week NZ here.
• Visit the DOC’s website to learn more about the Lead the Way programme.
• Read the DOC’s Guidelines here and Auckland Council’s dog rules here. 
• If you haven’t taken our Lead The Way Quiz yet, here’s the link again.
• Check out the PD Insurance resources webpage about Lead the Way.

Another must-do for responsible pet parents

Despite being the best pet parent, accidents and illnesses can still happen. Your pup can have a run-in with dangerous NZ wildlife, including toxic algae, puffer fish, sea slugs and blue bottles. Even swallowing too much sand or salt water in a game of ‘catch’ can be dangerous to their health.

Make sure you’re covered with a dog insurance plan by PD Insurance NZ. We offer value-rich, month-to-month cover to suit your needs. Why not take two minutes to get a quick, free quote?