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Paws for thought!

The Wildlife Trusts and Dogs Trust explain why we encourage owners to keep their pooches on leads on Nature Reserves.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust ask all dog owners to keep their pets on leads during visits to Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves.

Springtime brings with it the arrival of many exciting migratory species, which have travelled thousands of miles to nest at nature reserves throughout the UK. Many of these birds nest on or close to the ground, where they're particularly vulnerable. Disturbance from dogs can lead to them abandoning their nests and losing their eggs or chicks. Some bird species are already struggling and disturbance by dogs can make it even harder for them to survive.

By keeping your dog on a lead, it will help protect ground-nesting birds such as skylarks, lapwings, meadow pipits and nightjars, as well as other birds such as robins and dunnocks that nest close to the ground. Unsupervised dogs can unintentionally cause harm, so it is vital that they are kept under control.

Lapwing at Blashford Lakes nature reserve

© Ian Cameron-Reid

Nightjar on ground, The Wildlife Trusts

© David Tipling/2020VISION

A meadow pipit on the grass, looking back at the camera over its shoulder

Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

When visiting Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust nature reserves we ask you to:

  • Please make sure you are allowed to walk a dog on the nature reserve you are visiting and follow any signs on gates and notice boards. 
  • Where dogs are allowed on our nature reserves, we ask you to keep them on a lead at all times in order to minimise disturbance to wildlife, as well as to ensure that visitors can see and enjoy the wildlife.  
  • Between March and September, rare ground-nesting birds could have eggs or chicks, and may abandon their nest if disturbed. 
  • Always keep dogs on leads around livestock. Do not allow your dog to chase livestock, deer or other wildlife. 
  • It’s essential to use a short lead around sheep. If cattle approach you, it’s best to let your dog off the lead and call them back when it’s safe to do so. 
  • Ensure dogs are kept out of the water. The impact of dog medication, such as flea treatment, can be very toxic for wildlife.  
  • Please ensure you always pick up after your dog and put bagged dog poo in a bin or take it home. 
Peter Cairns/2020VISION

Peter Cairns/2020VISION

Did you know the nutrients in dog mess make it much harder for wildflowers to thrive?

They need low nutrient soils and dog poo adds nutrients, which encourages an over abundance of thistles and nettles that outcompete the wildflowers. 

Common parasites in dog poo can also cause serious disease and death in sheep, and make pregnant cows lose their young.  

Sara Booth-Card, Campaigner for The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“I love exploring wild spaces with my dog. However, as a nature lover and a sheep owner I am aware of the devastation just one dog can have on ground-nesting birds, a pond, a herd of sheep, or the excess nutrients from dog waste that enter the soil. My dog is well behaved, gentle and has brilliant recall, but she is still a dog. Even though I trust her, I always have her on a lead in nature reserves where dogs are allowed, but also more generally in spaces where there might be wildlife. One in three households in the UK now have a dog so the risk of wildlife disturbance and possible damage is at an all-time high.”

Dr Jenna Kiddie, Head of Canine Behaviour at Dogs Trust, says:

“Dogs enrich our lives, but they also bring a level of responsibility. Whilst many of us enjoy taking our dogs for long walks, especially as it becomes a bit warmer, we urge dog owners to consider their surroundings, particularly when visiting areas where they might encounter wildlife. When visiting rural areas, owners should keep their dogs under control and ensure they do not worry other animals or stray from the path, as well as dispose of their dog's waste appropriately. We would advise keeping your dog on a short lead, and close to you, especially whenever livestock are nearby. It is important to remember that chasing is normal dog behaviour, and that any dog is capable of chasing, irrelevant of breed, type, age or size.”

Clare Webb, Countryside Code Project Manager at Natural England is supportive of The Wildlife Trusts’ initiative. She says:

“The Countryside Code helps us all respect, protect and enjoy our outdoor spaces.  Many of us enjoy nothing better than a walk with our dogs in the fresh air and the Countryside Code sets out how we can do this responsibly by keeping dogs on a lead, checking local signs, respecting livestock and those who work in rural areas.”

Many dog owners are passionate about nature and want to avoid harming it. However, even the most well-behaved dogs can unintentionally cause distress or damage wildlife, simply by following their natural curiosity. Birds perceive dogs as predators; when dogs roam freely, birds may abandon their nests, leaving eggs and chicks cold and unprotected. From designated walking paths to understanding wildlife seasons, there's plenty we can do to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience – on two legs or four.

Our top canine questions answered:

My dog is well-behaved, has a great recall and gets on with other animals; why do I still need to be careful on nature reserves?

Keeping your dog close on a short lead helps to minimise distress and disturbance caused to wildlife. If your dog is off the lead and out of sight it may well be causing disturbance to wildlife, which can cause a reduction in breeding success and ultimately a decrease in population numbers. Wildlife Trusts welcome a wide variety of visitors to their nature reserves, from wildlife enthusiasts to school groups. It’s important to be aware that dogs can scare other users even unintentionally.  

How do I know whether to keep my dog on a lead in a nature reserve?

It’s best to keep your dog under control and in sight at all times when exploring wild places. Please consider wildlife around you and other users. Remember to pick up all dog waste and dispose of it in appropriate bins or take it away with you. Dog poo adds excess nutrients to the soil that can have a major effect on the type of plants that can grow there.

Why can't my dog enter ponds, rivers or other water bodies?

Please do not encourage your dog to swim in ponds, rivers or other water bodies. These areas are home to wildlife that your dog can disturb and there is also a risk of your pet getting injured. Dogs may also pollute waterbodies with chemicals used in flea treatments – these can be extremely harmful to aquatic life.

There's so much space on my local beach/sea front, where does my dog have to be on a lead?

Beaches can be home to ground-nesting birds such as terns and ringed plover as well as other marine wildlife – so look out for signage which indicates areas where dogs are best to be kept on a lead. The birds that nest on beaches are often very well camouflaged to hide from predators whilst sitting on their eggs. This makes them very difficult for people to spot, so you might not even know they're there. But they're still sensitive to disturbance. When a dog gets too close, they are likely to leave the nest, making the eggs or chicks more vulnerable.

I have a guide-dog – can you advise on how accessible your nature reserves are?

It’s best to check the reserve’s website for up-to-date information about accessibility and each site’s particular requirements before you set off to visit; signs on-site will also tell you about any restrictions. If you see someone else with an assistance dog, please remember they are not pets and are highly trained which means they will not wander freely around a reserve, will remain with their owner at all times and are unlikely to foul in a public place.

How can I give my dog the exercise it needs and run around outdoors?

There are lots of great places for your dog to exercise and stretch their legs safely outside that are not nature reserves. There are also a growing number of canicross events nationwide, which exercise your dog on a lead whilst you run or jog.

Can I still walk my dog on nature reserves where there are grazing animals?

The majority of our sites are managed with the help of grazing animals. Please take extra care when walking your dog near grazing livestock, keep them on a short lead and heed the warning signs on the nature reserves – they are there to protect you, other visitors, your dog and other animals.

If cattle approach you, it's best to let your dog off the lead, and call them back when it's safe to do so.

Please clear up after your dog as dog poo can cause illnesses in livestock, as well as to people and wildlife.

We are often asked why we allow visitors with dogs on our nature reserves when there is so little space left for wildlife.

Connecting people with nature is vital if we are to restore wildlife and bring back abundance and diversity. We are facing both a climate and ecological emergency, and nature needs to be part of everyone's everyday life in order to be cherished, respected and protected. Allowing managed access to visitors on our reserves allows us to share the wonders of the natural world with people to foster that deeper connection with nature and encourage pro-environmental behaviours. When dogs are walked responsibly in defined areas, it allows people to enjoy our reserves whilst in the company of their four-legged companion.

It is true that research shows that dog poo and wee changes the ecology of an area and also that walkers with dogs cause wildlife disturbance. However, by ensuring poo is taken away and binned, by staying on marked paths and keeping dogs on leads in defined areas, all these things can help control impact. The positive effects for people enjoying a walk with their dog is valuable for their health and well-being.

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