Pittwater Unleashed

Home
Pittwater Unleashed

Supporting responsible dog ownership and shared use of Pittwater’s beaches. Access to Certain parts of Certain beaches at Certain times of day.
(1)

We care about clear rules, environmental protection and practical, time-and-place solutions that help people and dogs coexist in coastal spaces. Pittwater Unleashed is a registered community organisation representing the interests of families with dogs on Sydney's Northern Beaches. We came into being as a result of the community outrage surrounding a creeping regulation that has seen more and more places deemed off-limits to families with dogs. A prime concern was the inaction of the former Pittwater Council with respect to allocating new dog swimming areas north of Bilgola, following the closure of Careel Bay to dog swimming in 2003. In 2015, we kicked off with a database of over 5,000 locals, some of whom are on Facebook and follow us here. Due to local topography and the setting aside of large areas for bushland habitat, the best options for providing space for families to enjoy exercise with their dogs are to be found along the foreshore. We respect that public space has competing demands on it from different users. But we also believe families with dogs cannot be ignored. Our solution is the "Triple-C" Policy. This allows families with dogs to have restricted access to Certain parts of Certain beaches at Certain times of day. This is a policy that has the flexibility to accommodate all reasonable concerns from all parts of the community, just as it has done in other Council areas up and down the coast to great success. All material and information (including legal information) provided on this page is for information purposes only. It is provided “AS IS” with no warranties or guarantees. Any opinions expressed, including by way of comments posted, are not necessarily the opinions of Pittwater Unleashed or its individual members. Differences of opinion are welcome, but trolling and abuse are not. We reserve the right to remove any comments that we consider abusive or otherwise inappropriate to the page. You can read more here: www.pittwaterunleashed.com.

31/10/2026

🐾 PAWS & LEARN II – Behaviour Edition 🐾

Coming soon!

We're delighted to introduce Jess Sandstrom, a qualified behavioural dog trainer, who'll be joining Pittwater Unleashed for our next Paws & Learn series.

With more than a decade of practical experience, formal qualifications in canine behaviour and a role on the committee of the Pet Professional Guild Australia (PPGA), Jess brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for evidence-based training.

Together, we'll share short takes on what makes off-leash experiences so valuable for dogs, how to better understand their behaviour, and the little things we can do to make beach visits enjoyable for everyone.

Happy dogs, happy people!

Paws & Learn II - Behaviour Edition, with Jess & the PPGA, coming soon.

30/10/2026

🎃👻 HAPPY HOWL-O-WEEN FROM PITTWATER UNLEASHED! 🎃👻

Well, this is unexpected...

We knew the dogs were good at digging, but nobody mentioned there was a pumpkin patch beneath Mona Vale Beach (South)! 🎃

Apparently, the Halloween harvest is coming along nicely.

The dogs are taking their new responsibilities very seriously. The humans are just wondering how they're going to get all those pumpkins home.

Fortunately, it's all a bit of Halloween magic. ✨

Wishing everyone a wonderfully spooky Halloween, filled with happy dogs, sandy paws and more treats than tricks!

And remember, chocolate and Halloween lollies are for the humans, not the hounds.

Happy Howl-o-ween! 🐾🎃

27/10/2026

THINGS DOGS KNOW #63 🐾

"Last throw."

Interesting phrase.

Apparently humans use it to mean:

Last throw.

Then one more.

Okay, definitely the last one.

Oh, go on then.

ONE more.

Dogs have known this for years. 🎾

25/10/2026

LESS RANGER EDUCATION. SAME RESPONSIBILITY.

As the trial progresses, you’ll start to see a little less of the ranger education pop-ups at Mona Vale Headland.

Not because education isn’t important. But because Council is starting to direct some of those educational resources to other beaches where they can provide the same support.

That doesn’t mean Rangers are disappearing from Mona Vale. Regular patrols and compliance activity will continue - it’s the additional education pop-ups that you may see less often.

And for those of us using the trial area, nothing changes.

The responsibility has always been ours to know the rules and follow them, whether a Ranger is standing nearby or not.

And it usually comes down to a few simple things:

🐾 Stick to the permitted times
🐾 Stay within the boundaries
🐾 Keep dogs on lead on the access paths
🐾 Keep dogs under effective control
🐾 Pick up and bin as you go

Nothing complicated. Just consistency.

We’ve built something wonderful here. Now we keep doing what we’ve been doing.

Same rules.
Same responsibility.
Same respect.
Same great community.

23/10/2026

🏖️🐾 MEET BARNEY, THE BEACH BARKITECT! 🐾🏖️

Every great construction project needs someone with vision.

Someone to oversee the design.
Inspect the workmanship.
And make sure the finishing touches are just right.

Enter Barney. 🐕

As his mum Di explains, he's the Barkitect, not the builder.

And judging by those carefully decorated sandcastles, we'd say he's got excellent taste.

No digging required. Just a little creative supervision and a very satisfied smile.

Another masterpiece completed at Mona Vale Beach (South). 🏰💛

Photo credit: Barney's mum (thank you!)

21/10/2026

🐾 WHAT'S HELPED THIS TRIAL WORK? 🐾

A year into the Mona Vale Beach (South) trial, we've been thinking about what's helped it find its rhythm.

Council established the framework - the location, hours, boundaries and conditions.

Dog owners have done the most important part - turning up and, overwhelmingly, using the space responsibly.

And somewhere between the two has been community.

That's the part we're proud to have played a small role in.

Taking Council information and turning it into everyday reminders, answering questions, explaining why the conditions matter, sharing what we're seeing and hearing on the beach, and bringing community experiences back into the conversation have all been part of it.

Not everyone follows us. Not everyone will agree with everything we say. And we're certainly not suggesting the trial wouldn't have worked without us.

But we do think there's something valuable in the model.

Instead of Council setting the rules and then relying on hundreds of individual dog owners to interpret and follow them, there's been a community around the trial helping to build shared expectations about how we use the space.

🏛️ Council provides the framework
🐾 Dog owners make it work
🤝 Community helps connect the two

Maybe that's part of the recipe for shared spaces that work.

Whatever it is, we’re glad to be part of it.

📍 Mona Vale Beach (South), Pittwater

19/10/2026

🐕☀️ TAILS OF THE BEACH 🌊🐾

Sometimes the simplest reviews are the best ones - happy pups, happy people and a beautiful stretch of sand to enjoy together. Meet Lupo, 3 years old and another happy face of Mona Vale Beach (South). 💛🐾

"The Mona Vale Beach trial has been great. There are many happy puppies and happy owners enjoying the space together." says fur mum Claire.

We’ll happily take that review, Lupo! Three years old, sand under the paws and plenty of four-legged company - sounds like a pretty good beach day to us. 🌊🐶

17/10/2026

MEANWHILE, AT MONA VALE BEACH... 🐾

Some dogs come to run.

Some come to swim.

Some come to chase balls, dig holes and investigate absolutely everything.

And some apparently come simply to sit in the middle of the beach looking like a magnificent white cloud and watch the world go by.

No rush.
No agenda.
Just taking it all in.

We could learn something from this one. 😄

15/10/2026

🌊🐾 SOMETIMES WE NEED CONNECTION. SOMETIMES WE NEED QUIET. 🐾🌊

October is Mental Health Month, and this year's theme is "A Little Connection Goes a Long Way".

Something we see in different ways at Mona Vale Beach (South).

We know our dogs love the beach. The sand, the waves, the smells, the sheer joy of being outside.

But there's something in it for us, too.

Research suggests that spending time near the ocean, being physically active and connecting with others can all contribute to our wellbeing. And for many of us, our dogs are the reason we get out there in the first place.

Some days, a beach walk means conversations, familiar faces and the pleasure of feeling part of a community.

Other days, it's simply you, your dog, the sound of the waves and a little space to clear your head.

Both can matter to our wellbeing.

It's not a cure for life's challenges. But those small moments of connection, movement and quiet enjoyment can make a difference.

And that's part of what makes dog-friendly spaces so valuable. They're not just places for dogs to exercise. They're places where people can connect, feel a sense of belonging, or simply slow down and enjoy a little peace.

This Mental Health Month, we're celebrating the simple things that help us feel better.

The dogs who get us out the door.

The people who stop to say hello.

The sound of the waves.

And the little stretch of beach that gives us room for all of it.

Sometimes it's not just the dog who needs a beach walk. 💛

Address

Website

http://www.pittwaterunleashed.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Pittwater Unleashed posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Pittwater Unleashed:

Want your business to be the top-listed pet store/pet service?

Country:

City: