The end of the year in a new city can feel strangely quiet. Everyone has plans, and the group chats fill up with family dinners you're not part of. If it's mostly you and your dog this summer, these dog friendly events in Melbourne are an easy way to get out, meet people and let your dog do the introductions.
We checked every date on 2 November 2026. Organisers change things, so open their page before you head off.
What dog friendly events are on in Melbourne in November and December 2026?
Pawshare Club's Paws & Pints meetups run on 7 November and 5 December at The Angry Dog in West Melbourne, and Santa Paws is on 22 November in Thornbury. Other highlights include a Paw Parade at the Alliance Française Christmas Market, Moonlight Cinema from 2 December and the Big Day Out for Dogs on 13 December.
At a glance
| Date | Event | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 7 Nov, 3pm | Paws & Pints (Pawshare Club) | The Angry Dog, 435 Spencer St, West Melbourne | See event page |
| Thu 12 Nov, 5:30pm | Dog Life Drawing | Unassigned Gallery, 55 Edward St, Brunswick | From $27.78 |
| Sun 15 Nov, 2pm | Italian Greyhound Puppy Pub Crawl (sighthounds only) | Starts at Augie's Place, 460 Victoria St, Brunswick | From $16.99 |
| Sat 21 Nov, 10am | Dog Friendly Park Walk, Yarra Bend (Parks Victoria) | Studley Park Boathouse car park, Kew | Free |
| Sat 21 and Sun 22 Nov | Alliance Française Christmas Market, with a Paw Parade on Sunday 10 to 11am | Abbotsford Convent, Abbotsford | $12 plus booking fee |
| Sun 22 Nov, 2pm | Santa Paws: Oodles vs Cocker Spaniels (Pawshare Club with Petals and Paws) | 3 Ravens Brewery, 1 Theobald St, Thornbury | See event page |
| Thu 26 Nov, 10am to 4pm | RSPCA Healthy Pet Day | 90 Brunswick St, Fitzroy | Free, for concession card holders |
| From Wed 2 Dec | Moonlight Cinema | Central Lawn, Royal Botanic Gardens | Tickets vary |
| Sat 5 Dec, 3pm | Paws & Pints (Pawshare Club) | The Angry Dog, West Melbourne | See event page |
| Sun 6 Dec, 3pm | Kensington Puppy Pub Crawl | Starts at Bonehead Brewing, 86 Parsons St, Kensington | From $16.99 |
| Sat 12 Dec, 9am to 2pm | Regional Farmers Market | Abbotsford Convent, Abbotsford | $2 entry |
| Sun 13 Dec, 10am to 4pm | Big Day Out for Dogs and Canine Christmas Market | KCC Park, Skye | Not published yet |
| Sat 19 Dec, 8am to 1pm | Gasworks Farmers Market | Gasworks Arts Park, Albert Park | Free entry |
Paws & Pints: our monthly meetup
On the first Saturday of each month, Pawshare Club takes over a corner of The Angry Dog, a dog-friendly bar on Spencer Street in West Melbourne. It's a relaxed afternoon for dog owners, people who'd love a dog one day, and people who miss the dog they had. Most people come on their own the first time.
Dogs stay on a lead, and food and drinks are your own. November's is on the 7th and December's on the 5th, both at 3pm. Register on the event page so we know you're coming.
Santa Paws: a Christmas meetup for Oodles and Cocker Spaniels
On Sunday 22 November, Pawshare Club and Petals and Paws Melbourne are hosting a Christmas breed meetup at 3 Ravens Brewery in Thornbury, from 2 to 4pm. Bring your Oodle or Cocker Spaniel in its best Christmas outfit for the best-dressed competition. Ticket proceeds go towards donating goods to Second Chance Animal Rescue. See the event page.
A Paw Parade at a French Christmas market
The Alliance Française Christmas Market fills Abbotsford Convent on 21 and 22 November with artisan gifts, French food and music. Dogs on a lead are welcome in the outdoor areas, and Sunday morning has a Paw Parade from 10 to 11am. Tickets are for a specific day, so pick yours before you go.
A free health check for your pet
RSPCA Victoria is running a Healthy Pet Day in Fitzroy on 26 November, with free health checks, vaccinations, flea and worm treatment and microchipping. It's for local residents with a concession card, and each pet needs its own free ticket. Spaces are limited, so register early.
Movies under the stars, dog included
Moonlight Cinema returns to the Royal Botanic Gardens on 2 December and runs until 11 April 2027. Well-behaved dogs on a lead are welcome, and they can sit with you in the upgraded seating too. Gates open 90 minutes before the film, which is plenty of time for a picnic.
More dog outings around the inner north and west
- Dog Life Drawing, Thu 12 Nov. A relaxed, tutored drawing class at Unassigned Gallery in Brunswick, with two whippets as models. Materials, snacks and tea are included, and all skill levels are welcome.
- Italian Greyhound Puppy Pub Crawl, Sun 15 Nov. A 1.4km crawl from Augie's Place to Co-Conspirators Brewing and The Retreat Hotel in Brunswick. It's for Italian greyhounds and other sighthounds, kept on a lead in every venue.
- Yarra Bend park walk, Sat 21 Nov. A free, easy guided walk of about 1.5 to 2 hours on dirt tracks with small hills, run by Parks Victoria. It includes a stop at Deep Rock. Parking is limited, so arrive 15 minutes early.
- Kensington Puppy Pub Crawl, Sun 6 Dec. A 1.15km crawl from Bonehead Brewing to Bakery Hill Distillery and Hardimans Hotel, with treats for dogs and food and drink deals for people. Dogs stay on a lead inside.
Slow Saturday mornings at the markets
The Regional Farmers Market at Abbotsford Convent runs on the second Saturday of the month, and Gasworks Farmers Market on the third. Both are listed as dog-friendly by The Yap Pack, a dog events guide. Their organisers' pages don't mention dogs, so keep yours on a lead and go early, before the footpaths heat up.
The big one: Big Day Out for Dogs
Dogs Victoria opens its grounds in Skye on 13 December for agility, flyball, scent work, trick dogs and a Canine Christmas Market. Pet dogs are welcome if they're well behaved on a lead. It's an hour out of the city, so ask at Paws & Pints on the 5th whether anyone wants to share a car.
Keeping your dog safe on hot days and at Christmas
- Check the ground. Hold the back of your hand on the footpath for seven seconds. If it's too hot for you, it's too hot for paws.
- Go early or late. Plan outings for the morning or evening on hot days, and never leave a dog in a parked car.
- Watch the Christmas table. Chocolate, grapes, raisins and sultanas (think pudding and fruit mince pies), onions, cooked bones and sugar-free treats with xylitol are all dangerous for dogs.
If your dog eats something it shouldn't, call your vet or an emergency animal hospital straight away.
See you on the 7th
You don't need a big family Christmas to have a good end to the year. Sometimes it's a Saturday afternoon at The Angry Dog with people who get it. If this sounds like your kind of community, we'd love to have you.
More local guides: Brunswick, Melbourne CBD, Carlton and our November markets guide.