Love Parks Week (24 July to 2 August 2026) is the ideal time to explore the great outdoors with your four-legged friend. But paws up, who knows the etiquette around walking your dog, especially if you’re visiting the countryside? Our top tips will help you and your dog to enjoy your walk, while being respectful of other people and animals around you.
Pick up after your dog
This is an easy one, and something every dog owner should be doing. Make sure you are stocked up with plenty of poo bags, as picking up after your dog on a dog walk is a legal requirement in most areas.
It can take up to a year for your dog’s poo to fully decompose, creating problems for people (ever stood in a pile of poo? It takes a lot of cleaning to fully get rid of it!) but also other animals and wildlife if it’s left on the ground or in a bag.
Always throw dog waste away in a public bin, and if you can’t find a bin, take it away to dispose of it when you find one.
In sight and under control
You might be a dog lover, and your dog will probably think every person they come across is too, but this isn’t always the case. Not everyone is comfortable or confident around dogs, so before you let your dog off the lead in a public place make sure they have good recall and always check if your dog can approach another person or dog before they do. Putting your dog on lead if you’re unsure is always the best choice.
If your dog doesn’t have basic recall, or if they do but could easily be distracted by children, other dogs or animals, runners or cyclists, or even horse riders, keep them on lead.
Stick to paths
When walking in open areas, it’s always best to keep yourself and your dog on the footpath. In the spring, bluebells can be damaged forever if trampled on, and in the warmer months some bird species nest on or near the ground and can be easily disturbed.
Follow signs
When in larger parks, they may be a working environment where nature conservation, land management, or farming work takes place. Signs keep you and your dog, plus the environment around you, safe.
Close gates, keep out of rivers, stay on the footpath – all examples of possible signs you may see.
Keep your dog safe
Keep them on a lead, including when getting in and out of the car
- Make sure their identification tag and microchip details are up to date
- Have a plan in case of emergency, like your vet’s number and a dog (and human) first aid kit
- Carry water in warmer weather, for your dog as well as you
- Never ever leave your dog in a car, the temperature can climb incredibly fast, putting their life at risk