Worry-free walks with your dog

The countryside is a great place to exercise dogs, but it’s every owner’s duty to make sure their dog is not a danger or nuisance to farm animals, wildlife or other people.

• By law, you must control your dog so that it does not disturb or scare farm animals or wildlife.  You must keep your dog on a short lead on most areas of open country and common land between 1 March and 31 July, and at all times near farm animals.
• You do not have to put your dog on a lead on public paths as long as it is under close control. But as a general rule, keep your dog on a lead if you cannot rely on its obedience. By law, farmers are entitled to destroy a dog that injures or worries their animals.
• If a farm animal chases you and your dog, it is safer to let your dog off the lead – don’t risk getting hurt by trying to protect it.
• Take particular care that your dog doesn’t scare sheep and lambs or wander where it might disturb birds that nest on the ground and other wildlife – eggs and young will soon die without protection from their parents.
• Everyone knows how unpleasant dog mess is and it can cause infections – so always clean up after your dog and get rid of the mess responsibly. Also make sure your dog is wormed regularly to protect it, other animals and people.
• At certain times dogs may not be allowed on some areas of open land or may need to be kept on a lead. Please follow any signs. You can also find out more about these rules from the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) or by phoning the CCW Enquiry Line on 0845 130 6229.

Local veterinary surgeries

Before you visit the area with your dog, it would be worth checking out where the veterinary surgeries are located in and around the National Park.

Please follow the Countryside Code at all times.