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Thank you to everyone who voted kiwi for Bird of the Century! Congratulations to the Pūteketeke for winning the coveted title.
The kiwi may not have won Bird of the Century, but it still needs your help
Aotearoa used to be home to millions of kiwi. Today, there are 70,000 left. Save the Kiwi is on a mission to rebuild the kiwi population – but we need your help. Save a Kiwi for as little as $5 a month and help guarantee that future generations will see our national icon – the kiwi – in the wild.
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What is a roaming dog?
A roaming (or wandering) dog is any dog that’s in a place it shouldn’t be.
- A pet dog that is let off-lead to run around and stretch their legs unsupervised is a roaming dog.
- A farm dog that is sent off to round up the cows but gets distracted is a roaming dog.
- A hunting dog that picks up the scent of a pig and runs off into the bush to follow it without its owner it is a roaming dog.
- A seemingly lazy dog that lies on the veranda all day then, unbeknownst to its owners, heads out on adventures overnight is a roaming dog.
- A feral dog that has no home is a roaming dog.
- A dog that technically has a home but its owner doesn’t supervise it or keep it at home is a roaming dog.
- A cuddly fur baby that’s great with kids but gets bored during the day so jumps the fence and explores the neighbourhood is a roaming dog.
How to exercise your dog in a way that doesn’t threaten kiwi
Dogs need plenty of exercise to stay in ship-shape condition. Here are some ways dog owners can exercise their dogs in a way that doesn’t threaten kiwi and other wildlife.
- If you are in an area where kiwi may live make sure you always use a lead, and only walk your dog during the day when kiwi are asleep.
- Use identified off-lead areas or public parks.
- Use private, bookable off-lead parks. These can be particularly useful for reactive dogs.
- Arrange regular doggy playdates with other friendly dogs. Playing with other dogs burns loads of energy and teaches important social skills (just make sure the other dogs are friendly and well-socialised).
- Try going for a ‘sniff’ rather than a walk. Go at their pace and let them explore using their nose. Smelling the world around them fires their brain into action, which in turn uses up energy. You may like to use a different lead, or a different route so your dog learns when it is a walk, and when it’s a ‘sniff’.
- Use food as a game, like scattering small dry dog food around your lawn. This gives the dog a reason to move and gets them using their all-important scent function. Remember to factor this food into their daily intake so they aren’t over-fed. This works really well for food-oriented dogs!
- Play with your dog. If you have an active game your dog loves, like fetch, regular playtime is a great way to exercise your dog without even having to leave your property.