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 from the guide via Meetup advising otherwise. We rarely cancel walks, but if the weather conditions are too unpleasant as the 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 throughout the year in response to changing temperatures, and the days 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 - has 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 (including labradors, dachshunds, staffies, blue heelers, german shepherds, australian shepherds, and 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 as long as you stay far enough away from other people and dogs to avoid entanglements.

We ask all members to pay an annual membership fee (or ‘membership dues’ as Meetup calls it) to be a member of Canberra Dog Walks.

The membership fee is equal to the cost of participating in one of our guided social pack walks - currently $7.50 per adult human.

However the first walk you attend after paying the membership fee is free. (Any further walks you attend in your membership year will cost $7.50 per adult human as usual.)

In other words, if you attend at least one walk per year you are essentially just paying in advance for your first walk.

After joining Canberra Dog Walks, you have 30 days to pay the annual membership fee. You can do this in two ways.

The best way is to attend one of our walks within the 30 day trial period so you can pay the guide directly. You will only be charged $7.50 and this first walk is free. The guide will have a card reader so you can pay with a card or phone/watch. (Note that we don’t accept cash.)  After the walk, the guide will manually ‘waive’ your membership fee/dues on Meetup.

Alternatively, if you can’t attend a walk during the 30 day trial period, you can provide your credit card details on Meetup and you will be charged $US 7.50 at the end of the trial period. (Unfortunately this option means you will be charged in US dollars.) Meetup uses a secure payment system powered by Stripe, which is an established multinational financial services company. Your transactions will be as private and secure as current walk payments to the guide using their mobile Square card reader.

If you decide not to pay the annual membership fee, your membership will lapse after the 30 day trial period. You can rejoin at any time but will have to pay the membership fee straight away.

You can pay the annual membership fee (membership dues) in two ways.

The best way is to attend one of our walks within the 30 day trial period so you can pay the guide directly. The guide will have a card reader so you can pay with a card or phone/watch. (Note that we don’t accept cash.) You will only be charged $7.50 and this first walk is free. After the walk, the guide will manually ‘waive’ your membership fee/dues on Meetup.

If you can’t attend a walk during the 30 day period, you can provide your credit card details on the Meetup page and you will be charged $US 7.50 at the end of the trial period. (Unfortunately this option means you will be charged in US dollars.) Meetup uses a secure payment system powered by Stripe, which is an established multinational financial services company. Your transactions will be as private and secure as current walk payments to the guide using their mobile Square card reader.

The step-by-step instructions to set up a payment on Meetup are as follows. Note that you will not be charged until the end of the 30 day trial period.

If using a computer or laptop:

• log in to Meetup and go to the Canberra Dog Walks group page. This is the same page where all the upcoming walks are listed, as well as a link to our ‘about’ info, etc.

• Below and to the right of the big photo of our walking group, you’ll see a small clear box/button labelled ’30 trial days left’ or whatever number of days you have left. 

• There is a faint arrow next to that text. Click on it and a drop down menu will appear including the option to ‘pay dues’.

• Click on ‘pay dues’ and the next page allows you to enter credit card details to make the payment.

If using the Meetup app on your phone or tablet:

• open the app and click on the ‘home’ icon at the bottom left of your screen to go to the ‘home’ screen.

• The groups you are a member of will be listed on the ‘home’ screen.

• Click on the Canberra Dog Walks box.

• This will take you to the Canberra Dog Walks home page and you will see a box/button in the middle of your screen labelled ’30 trial days left’ or whatever number of days you have left.

• There is a faint arrow next to that text. Click on it and a drop down menu will appear including the option to ‘pay dues’.

• Click on ‘pay dues’ and the next page allows you to enter credit card details to make the payment.

We charge an annual membership fee (membership dues) to be a member of Canberra Dog Walks, But you only need to provide your credit card details to Meetup if you won’t be able to attend a walk in your 30 day trial period and you wish to remain a member.

If you attend a walk during your 30 day trial period, you can pay the guide directly, and the guide will later manually ‘waive’ your membership fee/dues on Meetup.

If you can’t attend a walk during the 30 day period, you have two choices. You can either provide your credit card details on the Meetup page and you will be charged $7.50 in US dollars at the end of the trial period. Or you can let your membership lapse.

If you let your membership lapse, you will always be able to rejoin but you will no longer have a 30 day trial period before having to pay the membership fee.

Unfortunately, Meetup only allows payment of membership fees/dues in US dollars. This is out of our control. However, you can avoid paying in US dollars by attending one of our walks within your 30 day trial period. Then you can pay the walk guide directly in Australian dollars by card or phone/watch.

After running Canberra Dog Walks social pack walks for many years, we noticed that many people joined on Meetup but never actually attended any walks.

Introducing an annual membership fee (called 'membership dues' by Meetup) has made a big difference in encouraging new members to try us out, and encouraging existing members to participate more regularly.

Remember, payment of your annual membership fee means your first walk is free.

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, regular 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.