All walkers participate entirely at their own risk and are wholly responsible for their own and their dog's behaviour. By rsvping to any walk, you understand and agree to this condition.

However, as well as leading participants on a fantastic, dog-friendly route, the guide also aims to provide everyone - both human and dog - with as pleasant an experience as possible. This means that all participants must follow the walk guide's directions, including in relation to their dogs. For example, individual participants may be asked to walk their dog/s on-leash for part or all of the walk if, in the guide's judgement, it is necessary for the consideration of others in the group, or other members of the public. The guide will gladly provide a refund to any participant if they are not happy for any reason.

Canberra Dog Walks complies with the latest ACT Government restrictions and advice.

Consistent with current advice, we expect that human participants will:
- practice good hygiene while on our walks
- when required, maintain an appropriate distance from other human walkers
- stay home if they are experiencing any COVID or flu-like symptoms.

We only accept payment by card, phone or smart watch, using the guide's card reader.

Canberra Dog Walks reminds you that:
- you walk entirely at your own risk
- you are wholly responsible for your own, and your dog's, behaviour.

All our walks have been completed by a six year-old and an 80 year-old. However, you should read each walk meetup description carefully to see whether you might have any difficulties. Each walk description includes an approximate time/distance as well as information about unpaved tracks, rough paths or steep hills. We walk at a relaxed pace, with stops to have a drink, let the dogs play and take photos.

The walk is on unless you receive a direct email via Meetup from the guide advising otherwise. We rarely cancel walks, but if the weather conditions are too unpleasant as the walk start time draws near, we will send a cancellation email directly to everyone who has rsvp'd on Meetup or is on the waitlist. We try to do this a minimum of an hour before the start time. If you don't receive an email, the walk guide will turn up regardless of the weather to meet anyone else who turns up, and a joint decision will be made then whether to go ahead or not.

That's no problem. But try to change your rsvp from 'yes' to 'no' on the walk Meetup page, or message the organiser, even if it's at the last minute. That way people on the waitlist have the opportunity to come along and we don't wait around at the start for walkers that aren't coming.

No. The Meetup software will automatically send you notifications of new walks that have just been scheduled. But if you have no intention of going, there is no need to rsvp 'no'. Just ignore the invitation. We only need to know if you are coming (rsvp 'yes'), and then if you subsequently change your mind (change your rsvp 'yes' to rsvp 'no').

No. We vary the walk start times and the day so that people with regular commitments can still make some of the walks. So it's important to check the start time and day for each walk on Meetup.

Yes, please! Around a third of our walkers prefer to keep their dogs on-leash, and several of our routes offer only limited off-leash opportunities anyway. Dogs should only go off-leash if they are well socialised and reasonably obedient. So if you have any doubts, it's best to be cautious. You and your dog will still have a great time!

There are multiple reasons why the walk guide may ask you to walk your dog on-leash. Reasons include:
- a particular section of the walk is in an 'on-leash only' area according to Government regulations
- the guide considers it is necessary for the consideration of others in the group or other members of the public
- any other reason according the guide's judgement.

We ask that you comply with the guide's requests. The guide is using their best judgement, after leading hundreds of walks with many different dogs, to ensure as far as possible that everyone - both humans and dogs - have a pleasant walk.

Our regular walkers have calm and well socialised dogs so our walks provide a good opportunity to get your dog used to other dogs. If you are bringing an anxious dog for the first time, let us know so we can advise other walkers to give you and your dog some space. We find that most dogs settle and become calmer as the walk progresses and improve even more after several walk experiences. We carefully monitor off-leash dogs - for example if they harass/annoy other dogs - especially any dogs walking on-leash. If off-leash dogs cause a problem for any reason, they must go back on leash.

If you think this is a possibility, your dog must stay on leash and may need to wear a muzzle. We have had several regular walkers whose dogs wear muzzles (a labrador, two dachshunds, a staffy, two blue heelers, and two greyhounds). It removes any risk or worry and lets everyone relax, including your dog.

We encourage you not to use extendable leads or ‘long line’ leads when walking with our group.

Although everyone tries to be careful, long leads can easily and quickly wrap around other dogs' and humans' legs, and it is much more difficult to keep control of your dog at a distance.

If you still prefer to walk your dog with an extendable lead, you will need to keep the lead in the locked position, at a setting no longer than a normal lead length, while walking with the group during on-leash sections and while gathering at the beginning of the walk before it starts. Likewise, if you are using a long line, you’ll need to keep it at normal leash length in the above situations.

If you don't let your dog off-leash during the off-leash sections, you may lengthen the lead in the off-leash sections only, as long as you stay far enough away from other people and dogs to avoid entanglements.

The guide carries a card reader. Adult walkers pay the guide at the beginning of the walk with a card, phone or smart watch (no cash is accepted). Children (under 18) walk free of charge.

We will gladly provide a refund if you are not happy for any reason.

We operate on a not-for-profit basis. We charge a small fee to help cover costs associated with providing the walks. Costs include a six monthly Meetup subscription, annual public liability insurance, annual first aid training for all guides, website costs, travel costs, etc.

All income and expenditure is itemised for all our members to see on the Money page. We are happy to answer any questions you have about our costs.

Your money will be gladly refunded if you are not happy for any reason.

If you'd rather not pay for a guided walk, you can get free detailed directions with a google map of nearly all our walking routes from our Canberra Dog Walks website.

If you have rsvp'd for a walk that hasn't yet been held, the Meetup software will note you as 'unpaid' because you only pay for the walk on the day. The walk guide updates the details of members who have turned up and paid, usually within a few hours after the end of each walk. Please don't worry about this. No one else but the walk guides can see any details about your payment status. And we know when you've paid!

We usually limit the number of adults who can rsvp for each guided walk to around 35 (kids and dogs unlimited). It helps keep the group manageable and everyone happy and relaxed - including the guide! If you're waitlisted on Meetup, it means that the walk has already reached its rsvp limit. However, there's a good chance you'll 'move up' the list closer to the date, as people update their rsvp status. Meetup will automatically send you a notification if you've moved up the list.

The vast majority of Meetup emails you receive are automatically generated by the Meetup software and out of our control. However, you can greatly reduce this spam by editing your email and notifications preferences. Just go to My Profile, then Email Updates and click on both 'about you' and 'about your groups' to see and customise a list of the type of emails you wish to receive. If you're using the mobile app, you can regulate the notifications you receive through the settings cog.

Make sure however that you leave 'checked' the boxes relating to emails about any events to which you have rsvp'd 'yes'. Otherwise you may miss out on important emails from the guide advising about a walk cancellation or other change that may impact on the walk.