Calgary dog life
Sue Higgins Park off-leash guide
Ask a southeast dog owner where they go on a Saturday and the answer is usually Sue Higgins. It is big, it is fenced on the road side, it has the Bow running the length of it, and on a warm weekend it is packed. That is the appeal and the problem. This guide covers what the park is, what it does to a dog's brain, and what to train before you go.
Last reviewed August 26, 2026
What Sue Higgins is
The largest fenced off-leash area in Calgary, with the Bow along one whole side.
Sue Higgins Park, still Southland Park to plenty of locals (it was renamed in 2012), sits on the west bank of the Bow River in the southeast corner of Calgary, with Deerfoot Trail running along the other side. The City describes it as the largest fenced off-leash area in the city, and its map (area SOU-001) shows the fence along the highway side with the river forming the far edge. Inside: open grass, treed sections, flood plain, inland marsh and Canada geese in serious numbers.
For your dog, that adds up to the most stimulating hour in the southeast. Weekends here are as busy as off-leash Calgary gets: dogs everywhere in motion, balls in the air, and water at every turn. Arousal climbs fast here. A dog that is polite in a quiet neighbourhood area can tip into chasing, humping or guarding a stick within minutes, and the river means a wet, cold, over-tired animal by the time you reach the car.
- Fenced along Deerfoot, river on the east
- Busiest on weekends
- River access along the east edge
- Hours 5 am to 11 pm
Skills before Sue Higgins
Recall past strangers, leave it on the bank, and a calm walk to the car.
Three skills make this park work. A recall that fires past a strange dog mid-play. A leave it strong enough to beat a dead fish, a goose and someone else's ball on the riverbank. And a calm exit: leash on, heel from the grass, no dragging a soaked, wired dog across the lot. If your dog is shy, come on a weekday morning, walk the treed edges rather than the open centre, and leave while it is still going well.
The honest rule: a reactive dog does not start at Sue Higgins. Too many dogs, too much speed, nowhere to create distance, and every bad rehearsal sticks. That dog needs Behaviour Rehab first, five to six weeks of board and train from $4,850 plus GST after a full assessment, then quiet parks, then maybe this one. For a sociable dog with a soft recall, Functional Off-Leash builds the one that holds past other dogs, and the handover lesson teaches you to use it.
The programs
The training behind a good Calgary dog.
Recall, leash skills and calm in public are what make this city fun with a dog. These are the formats that build them.
SW · Weekdays, drop-off 8–10 am · pick-up 5–7 pm
Day Training
Professional training all day, your couch at night.
Includes weekly one-hour go-home lesson, daily structure
NE · 2-week board & train
On-Leash Foundations
If every walk is a wrestling match, pulling, barking, zig-zagging, this two-week program rebuilds the walk from the ground up with foundational on-leash obedience..
Includes handover lesson, follow-up session, lifetime support, slip lead + collar
E · 3-week board & train
Functional Off-Leash
Everything in the on-leash program, then the next level: reliable off-leash recall even around distractions.
Includes handover lesson, follow-ups, Educator remote collar
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Is Sue Higgins Park fully off leash?
The off-leash area covers most of the park and the City lists it as fenced, with its map (area SOU-001) marking the boundary. Dogs must still be leashed on pathways, with a leash no longer than two metres, and must stay in sight and come when called. Off-leash never means out of control.
Is Sue Higgins the same as Southland dog park in Calgary?
Yes. The park was Southland Park until City Council approved the renaming in November 2012, and plenty of people still use the old name. Same riverside site, same fenced off-leash area.
What are the Sue Higgins Park rules?
The City lists hours of 5 am to 11 pm Under the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw your dog must be licensed, under control and in sight in the off-leash area, leashed on pathways, and picked up after immediately. Dogs are not allowed in playgrounds or sports fields, so keep them clear of any posted no-dog zones.
When is the Sue Higgins dog park quietest?
Weekends are the busiest time by a distance, so a shy dog does better on a weekday, early. Walk the treed edges rather than the open centre and leave before the dog gets over-tired. Bring a towel; the river is cold.
Sources
- City of Calgary: Sue Higgins Park
- City of Calgary: Sue Higgins Park off-leash area map (SOU-001)
- City of Calgary: Off-leash area locations in parks
- City of Calgary: Dog off-leash areas in parks
- City of Calgary: Off leash dog areas and parks FAQ
- City of Calgary: Dog leash guidelines
- City of Calgary: off-leash areas and rules
Keep reading
Ready for the busy park.
A recall that holds past other dogs is a trained skill. Book a consultation and we will tell you which program fits.
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