For safe and happy walks with your dog, and to avoid causing problems for others:
- Ensure your dog is under effective control, which means:
- you have a short lead with you and use it when needed (e.g. around livestock, near cliff edges or where signage requests it)
- you do not let your dog off the lead unless you keep it in sight and close enough to come back to you on command
- Prevent your dog from approaching horse riders, cyclists, or other people and their dogs uninvited.
- Keep your dog with you on paths or access land and don’t let it stray into crops including fields of grass, fruit and vegetables.
- Between 1 March and 31 July, you must have your dog on a lead on open access land. This is a legal requirement.
- Never let your dog worry or chase wildlife or livestock. Follow advice on local signs to reduce disturbance to plants and animals.
- Stay SAFE around farm animals and horses:
- S – stop, look and listen before entering a field; be aware of any animals present
- A – always keep your dog on a short lead
- F – find the safest route around animals, giving them plenty of space and using paths or access land where possible
- E – exit the area calmly and quickly if threatened, releasing your dog to make it easier for you both to reach safety
- Always bag and bin your dog’s poo wherever you are. You can use any public waste bin or your bin at home.
- Never leave bags of dog poo lying around, even if you intend to pick them up later. Containers and deodorised bags can make them easier to carry.
- Ensure your details are on your dog’s collar and it is microchipped, so you can be reunited quickly if it is lost.
- Keep your dog’s vaccinations and worming up to date. Ask your vet for more information.
- Contact your local authority, or look out for signs, to get more information about what to do and where to go in your area.