Follow some basic rules and you and your dog will enjoy some fantastic walks around our area this summer.
The Dog Walking Code for England and Wales was launched in 2015 to give concise, practical and positive advice and is endorsed by government bodies, farmers and the Kennel Club.
- Ensure your dog is under effective control which means:
you have a short lead with you and use it when needed — around livestock, near cliff edges, or where signage requests it for example.
you do not let your dog off the lead unless you keep him in sight and close enough to return 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 him stray onto crops, including fields of grass, fruit and vegetables.
- 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: Stop, look and listen before entering a field: be aware of animals present. Always keep your dog on a short lead. Find the safest route around animals giving them plenty of space, using paths or access land where possible. 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 he is microchipped, so you can be reunited quickly if he 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 on what to do and where to go in your area.
Watch out for yellow dogs! If you see a dog wearing a yellow ribbon, bandana or similar on his lead, he needs some space. Do not approach the dog or his people with your dog. The yellow indicates that their dog cannot be close to other dogs. The Yellow Dog Project is a registered charity created to bring awareness to dogs who need space while training, recovering from surgery, or being rehabilitated. For more information, and to get a free yellow ribbon for your dog, go to yellowdoguk.co.uk
There’s a new code of practice for professional dog walkers. Developed in collaboration with Dogs Trust and RSPCA, it provides guidelines to ensure the highest standards of welfare and covers issues such as transport, exercise, and group walking. For more information see www.petcare.org.uk
