Melbourne's Inner North Is Getting an Outrageous Pop-Up Playground Just for Dogs

Melburnian pooches are in for the ultimate dog treat next month, when an experiential playground for pups arrives in the inner north. If you thought your very good boy or girl was spoiled before, just you wait until they find themselves living it up at Scratch Patch — the activity-filled pop-up dog park of their twitchiest doggy dreams.

The brainchild of locally-based ethical pet food company Scratch, Scratch Patch is set to take over Edinburgh Gardens from Saturday, March 5–Sunday, March 27. And oh boy, is it a mood. The playground will be filled with fun obstacles and activities for the four-legged crowd, from high jump and agility poles to ball pits and totem tennis. A dog-friendly pop-up pool is sure to get a workout, too.

If your pup is more of a book worm type, we're sure they'll be pretty stoked with a visit to the on-site stick library. No word yet on whether there'll be ruff fines for any late returns.

Meanwhile, a tuck shop will be slinging an array of healthy Scratch pet food and treats, because all that excitement is bound to get the appetite going. And, since no pet parent can call themselves such without a camera roll full of adorable snaps to prove it, there'll be photo ops galore. Make sure Boswell is looking the goods, because there'll be a bunch of installations and activations designed for taking pawsome pics in front of.

Each activity zone will be limited to five pups at a time, though there'll also always be a team of behaviour specialists on hand to facilitate harmonious playtime for all.

Scratch customers and City of Yarra residents can enjoy Scratch Patch for free, with a $10 cover charge for everyone else. As you can imagine, bookings are required — you'd better snap up a play slot for Luna so she doesn't get left out and have to hear about it from all her mates forevermore.

Find Scratch Patch at Edinburgh Gardens, Alfred Crescent, Fitzroy North, from March 5–27. It'll open daily from 8am–8pm.