Frustrated at lack of good off lead dog walks

[familyconflict]

I’m feeling so frustrated at restrictions being placed on free spaces for dogs. Trying to move and find a place with good access to walks in the South.

I have owned dogs for many years. Have excellent control, responsible owner, leads near livestock, pick up poo etc.

On a walk - for the majority of time, I want my dogs to run free. They are a breed that need to. It is not ‘dog friendly’ to say dogs on leads. It is the same as saying kids can only walk not run. It isn’t fair and doesn’t work. Dogs need to run and that is part of the joy of walking them. ( I have kids BTW)

I live near a town with very low ratio of square meters of green space per person. Thought I had found a location on the outskirts with good walks but the National Trust who own a small bit and council have decided that the main bit of accessible greenery ( that lots of people use) is going to have a few grazing livestock on for “wildflowers/eco” reasons. All going through and sign are going up demanding dogs will need to be on 2 m leads.

It is making me angry so I am trying to find info or a database with details of good spaces, free of restrictions. Just wondered if anyone is aware of anything online?

Is renting a dog field by the hour an option?

More dog fields are popping up nowadays but unfortunately need paying for. I'm surprised to hear there are so few places to let them off lead though! I live in Cumbria, we are surrounded by livestock, but I still have tons of places I can let them off that are livestock free or at least have the livestock restricted to certain parts- country parks, normal parks, forests etc.

I agree with what you mean about off lead. I have a terrier and a springer. The terrier is fine being walked on a lead as he only potters about anyway, the springer needs to be off lead. Have you asked around on local groups?

If you are in Hampshire, I have several walking routes that are good for off lead walks. PM me if you are.

As a dog owner myself, I think it's a good idea. We need dogs to be better controlled.

Too many tossers out there who let their "friendly" dogs run riot and then get shitty with you for asking them to remove their badly trained dog from your ankles.

Mine is now reactive because she's been attacked by so many friendly dogs and it's an absolute nightmare.

Dog ownership has changed again in the last decade.

We've moved away from dogs being left routinely home alone all day and white dog shit littering the streets to dogs being taken into inappropriate environments, being carried in handbags and wearing clothes, and expecting them to cope with it.

If your dog needs off lead time, hire a field. Otherwise, you'll just have to keep it on a lead and walk with it. Same as I do. We go a couple of miles a day on the lead and more at weekends.

All trails app is good!! Not sure what part of the south you're from but we like manor farm for some lovely off lead loops.

You may have bought the wrong dog for your location. You have a breed that needs to run free? Then you need to own or rent a field. What breed do you have?

It is bird nesting season from 1st March, dogs will need to be on lead. You've still got a few days to find suitable areas close to you, you should have done this homework before buying a dog.

I have a HPR breed and I need to put the effort in to find or pay for areas she can run. I knew this before I bought her.

I have access to 12 miles of off road tracks. Very rural. But dogs on a short lead at all times. It's the right decision for everyone and wildlife. Rent a field by the hour sounds your best bet. Or buy a property with enough free running space that you own, control and maintain. A few have killed it for all the others I'm afraid.

It must be frustrating.

We live by the coast so we're very lucky that we have the beaches - none of them are restricted for dogs so they can easily run free there.

I'd hate to have to keep my dog on a leash all the time when I knew he was perfectly well behaved off.

Same Hampshire here and tons of fab walks with on and off lead dogs.

Dogs under control can be off-lead in most public footpaths.

I have HPRs and would keep them on-lead or at off-lead heel where I knew there were ground-nesting birds or sheep, but have no problem finding off-lead walks for them. Virtually every local footpath is fine. We have very few problems or issues with other dogs or owners.

Huh? Why?

If you train your dog iron clad recall why is that the case?

I've put hundreds if not thousands of hours into training my high drive working breed so he can live a free and happy life... safe in the knowledge I can call him back at any moment and he will come.

Why on earth would I put him on a lead in the environment you describe?

Dogs that need to run free don't need dog fields. Dog fields are pretty much for training and for dogs who like to play in a safe environment.
I get you OP. My dearly departed dog was a run free type and needed a good hour off-lead walk to keep her healthy and happy. Luckily where I live there are several country parks with lots of different walks and also open countryside which we got to know well enough to find some safe lead free walks.

We walk ours off lead all the time. Lots of locations to choose from. I’m surprised there’s anywhere in England without off lead options for well trained dogs. My two spaniels are trained to the whistle so we always get them off lead away from roads.

My vet would disagree with you. Spaniels are not dogs to walk on leads.

Because the land owner insists. If you want access, for free, you comply. Too may people haven't, which has lead to death of sheep, deer, game and ground nesting birds. Plus horses and cattle bothered. Loose dogs bothering sheep, will be shot. Everyone local understands that. It goes further, no walking after dark, due to shooting. It's all about the people with the worst trained dogs, not the best. I have pulled Spaniels off dying sheep, who were the best trained dogs in a training environment. Sadly not when their blood was up.

I am amazed that you can not find dog walking areas in the South that allow off lead dog walks. Unless you are in the middle of a city.

Download the OS maps and just look at footpaths in your area. You will see if they are through farm land but you should find loads.

If you want specific details give us more info on your location.

Nesting birds 1st March is an issue in some places but just change our walking area during nesting times.

Walking fields are ok but usually way too small to give most dogs a good run

Dogs that need to run free don't need dog fields.

Totally agree. Most dog fields are incredibly boring - fine for maybe doing some agility or for training, but most dogs will get bored wandering around the same small space for an hour.

We've used dog fields for breed meets which have been fine as a one off for the dogs to play in a secure area, but if I took my dog to one on his own he would just look at me and bark constantly, lol.

Download the OS maps and just look at footpaths in your area.
How does that help, a footpath is a public right of way, 2 metres wide, it doesn't give and your dog access to the whole field?

Download the OS maps and just look at footpaths in your area

I came to say this. I live in the midlands and our local country parks are literally overrun at in school holidays & weekends - a development of the last 5 years or so. Think no parking spaces, overcrowded footpaths and lots of dropped food.

OS app & maps have generated some lovely peaceful walks with a mix of field & canal/ river walks. No more negotiation unruly dogs, but we do meet horse riders & livestock regularly... and then there is the winter mud!!!! 😄

We have miles of beaches, some of them have restrictions in summer, but most don’t. I agree with OP, dogs need agency and to be able to make decisions and sniff and roll in bad stuff.

Totally agree about your kids walking analogy. Keeping a dog on lead all the time breaks their spirit. Imagine having a horse and only allowing it to walk on a lead rein. Sorry there aren't more places by you. A hired field is an option but once you've walked round it, I suppose you can play ball, but what if your dog isn't into that? I've only ever walked miles into the countryside on footpaths and done a mix of on lead when through a livestock field and offlead when not. Can you get a footpaths map and start exploring? Onlead at first until you find the safe areas.

@Ifailed this is what OS comes up with for walks in a search area. You can then walk it with the app or paper maps until familiar with the route! There's plenty of walks where it's fine for dogs to run off lead and have a run & a sniff.

We've found this website useful

https://walkiees.co.uk

Bad dog owners have ruined it for others.

Thanks for all the responses. It’s interesting seeing the mix of comments. I disagree with those saying - I’ve chosen the wrong breed, I should own land if I want to run a dog, keep it on a lead and only go in a paid for (boring) field.

I feel there are more people thinking like this and I think it’s a shame. I defo see more and more dogs on leads, and when they see how obedient my dogs are, it is clear from their comments their dogs are not trained. Perhaps having not had the ability or put the time and effort into training. So sad for the dog. ( possibly from so many dog clubs closing but that’s another argument)

Some beaches are fine on a cold winter day but we looked at moving near the coast. Hit the beach on a normal weekend and it was packed with too many people, children & dogs. It is a heavily populated area all going to the beach - so it’s too busy for off lead dogs. We ruled out that location.

I currently can walk to off lead walks. Or I can get in my car and find mix of off lead/on lead walks. When I move I want the same and most people want the “everyday walk” place, the before work or lunchtime walk or just the walk you don’t want to drive to.

In trying to relocate that’s what I’m trying to ensure I have within walking distance to me. So when I look at an area/house on Rightmove, I immediately look at what greenery is nearby, and then try and google is it off lead suitable.

Thats for the OS walk app suggestions. I have apps but they don’t say on/off lead. I think some people get what I’m saying and thanks for the offers of PM.

I was just feeling frustrated yesterday that i thought i had found somewhere suitable, and its wrong that a council can remove that lovely freedom of space for so many by adding cattle for for a few wild flowers and to be eco friendly.