The MyPAWfectPlace Dog Code

The Forest Dog Code by Forestry England is really just a clear, kind way of sharing outdoor spaces so everyone – dogs, wildlife and people – can enjoy them. It was written with forests in mind, but the same rules make life easier on beaches, moors, village greens and in town parks too. Thinking of it as your everyday MyPAWfectPlace Dog Code means you and your dog arrive as the visitors landowners hope to see.​

What the Forest Dog Code actually means

For MyPAWfectPlace dog owners, the Forest Dog Code boils down to four habits:

• Keep your dog close and under control
  Effective control means your dog stays within sight, comes back when called the first time, and does not approach people, dogs, livestock, or wildlife unless you choose to let them. If that is not guaranteed, a lead or long line turns an unpredictable situation into a calm, safe one.
• Follow paths and local signs
  “Paws on paths” protects ground‑nesting birds, small mammals and plants, whether you are in deep forest, on heathland or walking through restored nature in a city park. Temporary signs (e.g. lambing, nesting season, conservation areas) are not suggestions – they are the site telling you how to keep access safe and open.
• Bag it, bin it – every time
  Dog poo can spread parasites and disease to people, dogs, livestock and wildlife, and leaving bags “to pick up later” is still littering. If there is no bin, the code expectation is simple: carry it out.
• Share the space kindly
  Forest guidance asks owners to prevent dogs from chasing or worrying wildlife, livestock, cyclists and other visitors. That same mindset in a town park or on a beach – calling your dog in, stepping aside, popping the lead on around families or nervous dogs – is what makes everyone feel welcome.

Why this should be your “everywhere” code

The Forest Dog Code was built around the real risks land managers see daily: stock being chased, wildlife flushed from nests, children and adults frightened, and paths spoiled by fouling. Those issues are not forest‑specific; they are exactly the problems that get dogs banned from parks, nature reserves and beaches. Using the code everywhere:

• Shows landowners and councils that dog walkers are part of the solution, not the problem.
• Helps keep more paths, reserves and historic sites open to dogs in the long term.
• Makes walks calmer and safer for your dog – fewer confrontations, fewer hazards.

Treating the code as your default also means you only relax standards in clearly secure, dedicated environments (like off-lead dog fields), rather than assuming full freedom everywhere and reining things in only when challenged.

Action points for MyPAWfectPlace dog owners

You can turn the Forest Dog Code into a simple, repeatable checklist for every walk:

1. Before you set off
   • Check your route for livestock, wildlife sensitivities, or seasonal restrictions (e.g., lambing or nesting season).
   • Pack: leads/long line, plenty of poo bags, treats and water.
   • Decide your off‑lead zones in advance – where is recall safe and appropriate, and where will you keep your dog on lead?
2. On every walk, your “always” rules
   • Keep your dog within sight and close enough to call in quickly.
   • Pop the lead on whenever you see livestock, horses, cyclists, runners, play areas or nervous people/dogs.
   • Stick to paths where requested, especially through woods, dunes, moorland, meadows and nature reserves.
   • Bag every poo and bin it or take it home – never leave “bag trees”.
3. In wildlife and livestock areas
   • Assume on‑lead by default in fields with stock, during lambing and in signed bird‑nesting areas.
   • Turn and give space instead of letting your dog “say hello” to livestock, horses or other dogs.
   • Avoid throwing balls or toys through resting livestock or flocks of birds.
4. Around other people and dogs
   • Ask before letting your dog approach: “Is your dog OK to say hello?” and respect “no”.
   • Call your dog to heel or clip the lead on as families, runners, and cyclists pass by.
   • If your dog is worried by crowds or other dogs, choose wider paths and quieter times and keep sessions shorter.
5. After the walk
   • Check your dog for ticks, seeds and thorns – especially after woodland, bracken or long grass.
   • Review how the walk went: did recall slip, did your dog find the environment too exciting? Adjust your next outing (shorter, quieter, more on‑lead) if needed.
   • Found something new about the location, then add it as a review on MyPAWfectPlace for others to learn from.

Using the Forest Dog Code as a MyPAWfectPlace everywhere dog code gives you a ready‑made standard for good dog ownership that fits forests, coast paths, moors, historic sites, canals and city parks alike. It keeps your dog safer, keeps landscapes wilder and cleaner, and helps protect the access that makes all those future adventures possible.