Unregistered dogs are hindering Gold Coast City Council efforts to identify where new dog parks are needed and how many there should be, the council says.
Dog lover Hermann Vorster heads the council's Lifestyle and Community Committee.
"We don't have enough dog parks," he said.
There are 139 dog parks across the city, and six of the off-leash areas are along beaches.
The next new dog park will be in the burgeoning Coomera area, but the decision process is a bit of a guessing game.
"Our investment in facilities for our fur babies is driven by the population we have registered with council," Cr Vorster said.
"Anecdotal evidence suggests only about 60 per cent of dogs are, in fact, registered. We don't know where the other 40 per cent are.
"If we know where they are, we can be planning for more facilities."
Most popular dog parks
Russell Cole walks his 23-kilogram bordoodle, Neville, daily at Palm Beach but finds the popular off-leash zone is too busy, particularly on weekends.
"Saturday mornings are crazy." Mr Cole said.
The picturesque park attracts dog lovers from around the region.
Lawrence Drury's four dogs, Bear, Poppy, Tinkerbell and Gypsy run there most days.
"I live at Currumbin, and I've got two dog parks I can go to in my immediate area," Mr Drury said.
Number one suburb for dog attacks
Miki Nakagawi loves the dog park at Southport's James Overell Park, even though her Maltese shih tzu, Gigi, has been attacked twice there.
"Grumpy dogs sometimes attack him," she said.
Ms Nakagawi was satisfied with an apology from the other dog owners.
But new figures have revealed Southport is the hot spot for dog attacks on the Gold Coast.
In the past financial year, there were 55 dog attacks in the suburb.
Other suburbs to top the list are Upper Coomera, Nerang, Labrador and Coomera.
Sandra Pemberton chose James Overell Park for its safety.
"I don't go to parks that don't have a good reputation," she said.
Legal loopholes
Overall in the past financial year, there were 703 dog attacks across the Gold Coast.
Cr Vorster concedes that's too many, but has warned current state laws mean owners of dogs who have attacked, don't have to identify themselves.
"People can simply turn on a dime and walk away without facing consequences," he said.
"This would be a political winner for the government because it's not anti-animal, it's pro-animal"
"There's nothing that stops a dog from being moved into an adjacent local government area and being able to wreak havoc again." Cr Vorster said.
The Local Government Association is lobbying the Palaszczuk Government over the issue.
The ABC has approached the state government for comment.
