Off-Leash Parks

Harmony Valley Park: Off-Leash Area

Harmony Valley Park contains a 10 ha off-leash area in Oshawa. The park is home to some of the most beautiful nature trails. It is an excellent opportunity to get outside and spend time with your family and friends while walking your dog. 

Park Rules

Harmony Valley Park is a multi-use park open to anyone who wants to enjoy it. Please remember the following rules when you visit with your dog.

• Be courteous and respect the rights of all users and remember that the park is for everyone
• Please stoop and scoop as per the Responsible Pet Owner's By-law
• Please dispose of the bags in the nearest litter container or at our household
• Please leash your dog when entering or leaving the off-leash area
• Respect the on and off-leash boundaries
• Dogs must be in view of their owners and under voice control. To ensure dogs are under control, there is a four dog max per walker
• Make sure your dog has a current pet licence. 
  
• Dogs should be vaccinated (puppies must have 12 week shots)
• Parents, keep a watchful eye on your children
• Respect wildlife and vegetation: Plants to avoid page
• Please remove prong collars in the leash-free areas (choke collars not advised)
• Don't litter
• Dogs in heat, sick dogs and aggressive dogs are not to use the park

Respect the On and Off-Leash Boundaries

Pet owners are responsible for ensuring their dogs do not run at large. A dog running at large is an unleashed dog off its owner's property. This means it is not under the physical control of someone.

There are both on and off-leash areas within Harmony Valley Park. Please follow the signage. Remember that only the trails in the southern part of the park are off-leash. Outside of this area, dogs are to be on a leash.

Have a leash in your hand and use it when entering and exiting the park. Dogs should never be loose in the parking lot.

Care and Maintenance

This park is within a natural environment. This means the trails are not paved and not maintained. Therefore, they can be steep and slippery.

Oshawa Durham Area Walkers Group (O.D.A.W.G.) are the stewards of the on and off-leash areas within Harmony Valley Park. Volunteers from O.D.A.W.G. watch the use of the park and provide ongoing education and awareness of responsible dog ownership. They also run fundraisers for park improvements. Voluntary annual membership fees and an annual O.D.A.W.G. calendar help to support park improvements.

Natural Environment

While visiting the park respect wildlife and vegetation: plants to avoid page. Stay on designated trails. This is a natural environment. We need to protect wildlife habitats, rare plants and tree species.

Owners and their dogs should stay on designated trails. Owners should avoid walking through naturalized areas. The best way to prevent contact with invasive species  is to become familiar with the plants appearance. This will help ensure that you, your children and your pets avoid the plants.