Short answer: generally assistance dogs only — as a genuine wildlife park with birds and other animals on display, pet dogs would be a real welfare concern for the animals themselves.
With free-flying bird shows and enclosures throughout, a pet dog's presence would genuinely stress the animals and disrupt the experience for other visitors.
Hayle Beach and the Towans, a short drive away, are properly dog-friendly and give a proper alternative activity while other family members visit the park.
Given the park takes four to five hours to see properly, splitting the day — park for some, beach for others, meeting up afterwards — tends to work better than trying to compromise.
Wildlife park policies are genuinely unlikely to change, but a quick check before a special trip confirms current guidance.
The free-flying displays would be properly disrupted by a dog's presence among the crowd, which is the clearest illustration of why the wider policy exists rather than being an arbitrary rule.
The indoor soft play area operates under its own rules regardless of the wider park's dog policy — worth checking directly if that's the specific part of your visit in question.
Worth knowing before you plan the wider trip, because the answer varies a lot between sites that look similar. Here's every major Cornish attraction we've checked:
| Attraction | Dogs? |
|---|---|
| Bodmin Jail | Yes — throughout, indoors included |
| Trebah Garden | Yes — whole garden and the beach |
| Glendurgan Garden | Yes — on a lead |
| Trelissick Garden | Yes — woodland and river garden |
| Lost Gardens of Heligan | Yes — most of the site, on a lead |
| Lanhydrock | Parkland yes — house no |
| Pendennis Castle | Grounds yes — indoor exhibits no |
| Eden Project | Outdoor gardens yes — Biomes no |
| Minack Theatre | Daytime gardens yes — check for shows |
| St Catherine's Castle | Yes — on a lead, free entry |
| Tate St Ives | Assistance dogs only |
| Maritime Museum | Assistance dogs only |
| St Michael's Mount | Assistance dogs only |
| Newquay Zoo | Assistance dogs only |
| Cornish Seal Sanctuary | Assistance dogs only |
| Paradise Park, Hayle (this page) | Assistance dogs only |
Policies can change — worth a quick check with the attraction if a dog-friendly visit is the whole reason for your trip.
Ready to see what else is nearby?
Plan your day near Hayle →