Dogs in the countryside

Dogs are a welcome sight in the countryside but there are a number of issues to be aware of relating to other users, livestock, and clearing up of dog waste.

Dogs on 'access land'

There are additional rules regarding dogs relating specifically to land designated as 'access land'. 

Here, where livestock are present, dogs must be kept on a fixed lead of less than two metres (unless in response to aggressive cattle: see above). 

Between 1 March and 31 July all dogs must be kept on a 2-metre lead to protect ground nesting birds such as skylark and lapwing.