| Countryside Access - where you can go with your dog |  |
We hope you have been enjoying the long hot summer and have had some opportunity to take your dogs for country walks. New laws mean that large areas of Open countryside such as mountain, moor, heath, and common land has now been opened up to walkers with dogs.
There are thousands of miles of open country for you to enjoy with your dog, as long as you keep him in sight and under close control or on a lead.
When you use the new open access rights, the law requires that:
- Dogs are kept on a lead of no more than 2 metres long between 1st March and 31st July
- Dogs are also kept on a lead of no more than 2 metres near farm animals
- In some places there may be wider restrictions, including the exclusion of dog walkers in order to protect wildlife or meet land management needs.
- In other areas there may be temporary restrictions to ensure your safety or prevent fires.
Plan ahead to avoid disappointment. Any restrictions can be viewed on the maps at the countryside access website: www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk This website will give you information on where you can go and what you can do, from beaches, to hilltops.
Public Rights of way
There are also miles of public footpaths, bridleways and tracks for you to walk your dog. Paths are often indicated by official signs at the roadside and may have coloured arrows like these along the way to indicate the route.
Other Access
There are many other areas you can walk with your dog, such as country parks, green spaces, forestry commission woodlands, beaches, National Trust access land and local agreements where government and local councils help farmers provide extra paths.
The law protects your right to walk these paths at any time. However, along with these rights there are also responsibilities that require you to take simple steps to prevent harm to wildlife, farm animals and other people.
Follow the countryside code
- Be safe - plan ahead remember your rights to go on to some areas of land may be restricted whenever there is work being carried out, or during breeding seasons. Follow advice and local signs.
- Leave gates and property as you find them. Please respect the working life of the countryside. Our actions can affect people's livelihoods as well as the safety and welfare of animals.
- Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home. We have a responsibility to protect our countryside for future generations, so please make sure you don't harm animals, birds, plants or trees.
- Keep your dogs under close control. The countryside is a great place to exercise your dogs, but it's every owners duty to make sure their dog is not a nuisance or danger to farm animals, wildlife or other people.
- Consider other people. Please show consideration for others. Not everyone likes dogs, and they can feel uncomfortable if even the most friendly dog approaches them.
Let people see the best in your dog. Even one bad experience can make people - especially children - frightened of dogs for life.
You can help by:
- looking out for horse riders, cyclists and joggers. They can startle your dog, or your dog can startle them. A startled dog can behave unpredictably, and may run off getting lost, or bark, or even try to attack the thing that has frightened them. (even the steadiest of dogs can be frightened by something). Call your dog in close and keep it on a lead or under control until riders, joggers etc have gone by.
- Don't let your dog run up to other people or their dogs unless you are sure they are happy about this. Not all dogs are friendly and your dog could end up with more than it bargained for. If you see an owner calling their dog in close, or putting on a lead as you approach with your dog, try to appreciate that their dog may not be as well behaved as yours. This is usually a sign that they feel uncomfortable about your dog approaching.
If your dog is off lead and causes trouble or concern to a dog that is on lead, you could be found guilty of having a dog dangerously out of control. If found guilty the courts can ban you from keeping dogs, and in some cases order that your pet be destroyed.
- Make sure your dog is well trained. Walks are much more fun, and safe, if you know that your dog will always come back to you when called, doesn't pull on the lead, or jump up on people that he wants to greet (with muddy paws). If you are experiencing any of these problems, a few sessions with a professional dog trainer can help make for a more pleasurable companion to take on your walks.
- Clear up dog mess and dispose of it. It can cause infection in people and other animals and affect special soils that rare plants need to survive.
Please take care and enjoy your country walks country.
Please ring us if you have any questions, or see our website www.k9centre.co.uk
Carol Martin (AACC)
Edmiston House
Nethermill
DUMFRIES
DG1 3NG
Tel: 01387 860322
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