In the countryside with your dog

You can find the dog woods (hundeskove) on Udinaturen-kortet:

You can also find most of the dog woods in a folder:

This page tells you why your dog must be kept on a lead and which designated National Forest and Nature Agency areas permit you to take your dog out without a lead.

The signs mean:

No access to dogs

Dogs must be kept on a lead

Dogs may be taken off the lead if kept under control

In the countryside dogs must normally be kept on a lead

Exercise is healthy for people and dogs. But if you want to take your dog into the countryside it must be kept on a lead. Denmark’s Protection of Nature Act tells us why this makes sense:

  • because it distresses the wildlife:
    Dogs allowed to run free can frighten and cause distress to wild animals in the countryside. The smell of a dog means that it can take some time before some animals dare to return to their pastures or young. Dogs off their leads can start to roam, and there have been instances of roaming dogs that have mauled wild animals.
  • and because some people are afraid:
    Many children and adults are afraid of dogs, and these people also have the right to feel safe in the countryside. They have no way of knowing that your dog would never do them any harm.

 

However, you are permitted to take your dog off its lead – provided that you keep it under absolute control:

  • On beaches from 1 October until 31 March
    In the summer season dogs must therefore be kept on a lead. Moreover, on a number of beaches there is a total ban on dogs. You should therefore always read the local signage carefully.

  • In the dog woods
    In the woodland managed by the National Forest and Nature Agency there are 86 designated dog woods. Here your dog can be taken off its lead, but it must be accompanied. These dog woods are often small, marked off woodland areas with relatively small wildlife populations. As a rule they are situated near densely populated residential areas where it might otherwise be difficult to find a suitable place to let the dog off its lead.

Off the lead – but under your control and responsibility
According to the laws relating to dogs the dog owner’s responsibility also applies to the beaches and dog woods. It is therefore a requirement that you always keep your dog under total control. If you are in any doubt about your dog’s obedience you must keep it on its lead.

The dog woods too are meant for everyone to enjoy. If you yourself are a regular jogger you will no doubt know how unpleasant it can be to be chased by a loose dog – even if it only wants to play. Have you considered that another dog owner with his dog on a lead may be afraid that his dog might attack yours – and vice versa?

Show consideration

Even dogs on leads can be alarming. You should therefore always show consideration for other forest visitors. Consider, for example, that a barking dog might frighten a horse with rider and a cyclist and cause dangerous situations.

  • Remember that all dogs – even those that are otherwise harmless and welltrained – have a hunting instinct.
  • Remember that the basic rules still apply even if where there are signs.
  • Remember that there are special rules for how dogs should be trained. Contact the forest district if you are planning to do this.