It looked like a clever shortcut—but it quickly raised eyebrows and sparked outrage online.

A motorist was spotted using an unusual method to exercise their pets near one of Australia’s most popular seaside towns.

But behind the bizarre scene lies a serious warning for all dog owners.

A motorist was spotted using an unusual method to exercise their pets near one of Australia’s most popular seaside towns. But behind the bizarre scene lay a serious warning for all dog owners.

The strange footage was filmed in Blairgowrie, a coastal suburb on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula, last week.

On a sandy road close to the beach, a car cruised slowly along while two dogs—one large and fluffy, the other small and sprightly—kept pace beside it on leads.

The driver remained inside the vehicle, letting the dogs trot alongside as the car rolled forward.

From behind the camera, an amused voice could be heard narrating the moment, calling it the ‘future of dog walking’. They added: ‘The peak of Mornington Peninsula innovation for when you want to walk the dogs but can’t be bothered getting out of the car.’

But not everyone found the scene so entertaining.

The clip sparked a fierce reaction after it surfaced on social media, with viewers questioning the judgement—and the legality—of the motorist’s approach.

‘Horrible. It’s so easy for this to go horribly wrong. Dogs are f****** i*****. I love them, but they cannot be trusted in matters of self preservation,’ one person wrote.

Another chimed in: ‘If dogs are i*****, we’re going to need a new adjective for the people walking them with a car.’

While it remains unclear if the driver had a medical condition preventing them from walking, experts have urged pet owners not to follow in their tyre tracks.


Veterinarian Aaron Koey, from the Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH), warned that walking dogs from a moving vehicle was not only irresponsible, but dangerous.

‘This way of walking dogs has the potential to train dogs to chase cars, result in choking on the lead, and traumatic injuries from accidental motor vehicle injuries,’ he shared.

‘If the dog was to be run over, injuries sustained could include fractures, internal injuries, and potentially result in death.’


Koey, who works at one of Australia’s only two veterinary trauma centres, said he’d witnessed firsthand the damage that vehicles could inflict on pets.

‘We see a number of dogs and cats who present to emergency for motor vehicle injuries. Common scenarios are injuries from dogs being run over by cars off-lead but also unsecured dogs jumping out of cars and utes while in motion,’ he said.
He emphasised that the traditional way was still the best: ‘Walking the dog by foot is a safer (and healthier) way to walk dogs, both for dogs and the owner. We would encourage owners to maintain control of their dogs all the time, focusing on the dog and surroundings.’

Victoria Police later confirmed that leading an animal while driving or riding in a vehicle was an offence. Anyone caught doing so could face a fine of $592.

Walking the dog used to be a simple joy—but shortcuts like these are raising serious concerns about safety, responsibility and common sense. Have you ever witnessed something similar in your own neighbourhood?

Whether it’s beach tracks or public parks, the way we walk our dogs can raise more questions than we think—especially when safety is at stake. This isn’t the first time an everyday outing with pets has sparked concern among Aussies. A recent incident in a popular park also put the spotlight on how easily things can go wrong.

Read more: Woman’s terrifying park walk sparks urgent call for change after dog injury