Play your part in keeping your dog and Eryri’s wildlife and animals safe.
The countryside is a great place to exercise your dog
The countryside is a great place to exercise your dog but this should be done responsibly and where your dog does not become a nuisance or danger to livestock, wildlife or other people.
Frequently asked questions
No, you can’t take your dog anywhere in the National Park. A lot of Eryri’s land is privately owned without access to the public.
However, there is a wealth of fantastic places to exercise your dog. You can walk your dog on any public footpaths or open access land.
You can also take a look at our Walks and Routes section to find suitable routes for walking your dog.
Whether you can let your dog off lead depends on the type of land you are walking your dog. Within the National Park, land’s have different types of access provisions. Access provisions determine what the public can and can’t do on the land.
One type of access provision is called ‘Access Land’ or ‘Open Access Land’. If walking your dog on Open Access Land, you must ensure your dog is on a short lead between 1st March and 31st July when livestock and ground nesting birds are breeding.
Another type of access provision is known as ‘Public Rights of Way’ which include public footpaths. Your dog only needs to be under ‘close control’ and not specifically on a lead on these paths. However, always ensure that your dog is on a short lead if passing livestock or wildlife.
Our general advice to all dog owners is to ensure that your dog is on a lead at all times when in the vicinity of livestock.
There are certain types of activities you should look out for when walking your dog in Eryri.
A large percentage of the National Park is used for agricultural purposes and at certain times of the year, you might come across landowners gathering their livestock from upland areas. Put your dog on a short lead immediately when seeing this activity to ensure the safety of both your dog and the livestock. The landowners will really appreciate your cooperation.
Please be aware that on some beaches restrictions may be in place that do not allow dogs in certain areas.
Dog Control Orders (Gwynedd Council)
Dog Control Orders (Conwy County Borough Council)
Dog owners may not be aware of the particular danger that cattle potentially pose, especially when they have young calves. Your dog can arouse protective instincts in cattle. You should always avoid cattle with young calves. Make sure to give them plenty of space while passing and keep your dog on a short lead.
If pursued, you should immediately release the dog’s lead and concentrate on your own safety. Your dog will very likely run away only to return to you later when you have removed yourself from harm.
In some areas of Eryri you may come across feral or other horses. Horses do not ordinarily pose a threat to humans but they may take a dislike to your dog, so it is best to avoid them where possible.
Dog faeces pose a significant risk to cattle. Cattle can be infected with parasites from dog faeces which cause cows to abort their calves.
It is imperative that you clear your dog’s mess and dispose of it properly to ensure the protection of Eryri’s wildlife, livestock and landscapes.
It is an offence to allow your dog to attack or chase livestock under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 and a farmer may legally shoot any dog that is behaving in this way without notice or any form compensation to the owner.