How to walk safely and respectfully with the dog in the forest? If you're looking for helpful tips for relaxed forest walks with your four-legged companion, you've come to the right place!
As a dog owner, you know how much your dog loves running around in the forest, exploring the many smells and enjoying the freedom. However, the forest is not just a playground, but also the habitat of many wild animals. We humans and our four-legged friends are only guests there. To make a walk in the woods enjoyable for everyone involved, it is important to know and follow a few rules and tips.
In this article, I would like to give you the ten most important tips and information for walking your dog in the forest. Use them to show consideration for nature and offer your dog an enjoyable experience at the same time. Let's go!
1. inform yourself about the leash requirement and adhere to it
The compulsory use of a lead in the forest serves to protect your dog as well as wild animals and other walkers - and applies in most German federal states throughout the year. In some forest areas or regions (e.g. in Lower Saxony), dogs are only allowed to run off the lead outside the closed season or even completely free (e.g. in Bavaria).
However, I would advise you to do this regardless of the leash requirement, always leash your dog in the forest (e.g. with a slightly longer tow line) and do not let him run free.
This is because, apart from possible fines, in many places hunting license holders are allowed to shoot a dog that is poaching in the forest. In addition, the Behavior of dogs in forests generally not completely predictable.
2. observe the breeding and setting times
According to Forest etiquette it is good manners to stay on the designated forest paths, not to leave any garbage behind, not to cut down any trees, not to make any noise at night and not to go into the forest at all during thunderstorms or storms.
However, if you are out and about in the forest with your dog, you should also pay attention to the breeding and setting seasons. This means above all the Months from March to July This refers to areas in which wild birds breed and furred game breed and raise their offspring.
An uncontrolled dog could, for example, destroy nests, chase pregnant deer to their deaths or frighten parent animals to such an extent that they have to leave their offspring alone. It is therefore important to adhere to the Leash obligation in the breeding and sowing season to hold, especially in the period mentioned to be particularly careful and leave the animals alone.
3. show consideration for wild animals and their habitat
As I said: together with our dog, we are only guests in the forest. The wild animals welcome us to their home, which is why we should behave sensibly. Stay on the forest pathsdon't trample anything, keep your dog on a lead and, above all, avoid sensitive areas such as breeding grounds or water sources. This is also wildlife protection.
A respectful treatment of the wildlife habitat contributes not least to the Biodiversity conservation with. The animals already have enough under the Deforestation of the forests to suffer at the hands of us humans.
Important: Of course, you should also be considerate when interacting with other visitors to the forest. If you come across a walker with a dog, you should put your dog on a lead at the very latest.
4. train basic obedience and recall in advance
If you have discovered walking in the woods, you should make sure that your dog listens and comes when you call him to you. If he responds appropriately to your recall and other commands, this can Prevent critical situations and make the walk more pleasant for everyone involved. A well-trained dog is naturally easier to handle in the forest and is more likely to run free without a lead.
I once had the situation myself where I had to Dog lost in the forest and didn't know what to do. If your dog ever runs away: It is actually best to wait at the respective location (as easily visible as possible) and report the loss of the dog to the nearest police station and/or the public order office.
To such Avoid stress for everyone involvedyou should train your dog accordingly. The recall can be trained, for example, by regularly calling him with a friendly voice, a clear command (e.g. "Come-Come") and an inviting posture and then reward him with a treat.
5. be prepared for unexpected encounters with wild animals
Of course, encounters with aggressive wild animals such as a wolf are very unlikely, but possible. Knowing what to do in the event of such dangers can both protect yourself, your dog and the wild animal.
If you come across a wolf, you should speak to it loudly and clap your hands. This will usually scare it away. However, the best protection is to keep your Dog always on the leash to have when you're hanging out together in wolf territory.
However, it is somewhat more likely to make acquaintance with a wild boar. Here it is important to remain calm and to slowly move backwards together with your dog. If he is not on the lead, you must call him to you as quickly as possible or lure him to you with a treat.
6. do not let your dog eat anything from the forest
Another thing to watch out for when walking your dog in the forest is that he doesn't suddenly eat something. The forest is home to many things (especially poisonous plants, mushrooms, berries and unfortunately also placed by human hand Poison bait), which can be fatal for dogs. Also on found Bones he should not chew, of course.
To avoid serious health consequences for your dog, it is therefore best to keep him on a lead. What to do if your dog does eat something in the woods? I would immediately at the first suspicion go to the veterinary clinic or veterinarian - especially if the dog is behaving strangely.
Tip: What dogs are generally not allowed to eatyou can find out in the linked, detailed blog article.
7. remove your dog's droppings
If you are out and about in the woods with your dog, you should of course always pick up the dog's excrement and not just leave it lying around. After all, it can also contain bacteria and worms, so that Transmitting diseases to wild animals.
However, a single dog turd may not be such a big problem - the Total dog poo from all forest visitors and their four-legged friends, however, do. Therefore, set a good example, always take a Dog waste bags collect the droppings and dispose of them in the residual waste at home.
Tip: If you're walking through the woods with your dog anyway, you can also take another small bag with you and pick up some litter when you find it. This way you can give your Take a walk and at the same time still something against the Plastic waste in the environment do
8. take fresh drinking water with you
If you are planning a longer walk or if it is Outside in the fresh air is pretty hotyou should definitely always have a water bottle with fresh water for your dog. Because even if the dense trees in the forest are already a little cooler, the usually still humid air and the high temperature can cause your dog to get cold. Dog dehydrated.
9. protect your dog from ticks
Unfortunately, dogs can also suffer from Lyme disease or the Tick-borne encephalitis which is transmitted by tick bites. And the little animals like to live where it is green - i.e. in the forest, undergrowth, in flat grasses, bushes and shrubs.
To protect your dog from ticks, you should, in consultation with your vet, regularly Take prophylaxis against ticks.
But be careful: Synthetic insecticides harm not only the dog, but also the environment. The dog may with a spot-on preparation under no circumstances in natural watersotherwise it may kill or cause lasting damage to local organisms.
Fortunately, there is a whole range of natural remedies against ticks (e.g. garlic, black cumin oil or brewer's yeast), so that strong insecticides only have to be used in exceptional cases.
Apart from tick repellents, you should of course avoid woods where your dog is constantly roaming through the grass and where experience has shown that the blood-sucking ectoparasites are particularly keen to wait for you. It is also more than advisable in this case too, to stay on the forest paths at all times.
10. like to use the forest to train your dog
Of course, dogs are allowed to have fun and be kept busy in the forest, despite being on a lead! The diverse structures and attractions of the forest can, for example, be wonderfully used as Training environment use
What can you practise with your dog in the forest? One idea, for example, would be targeted scent work through the Mantrailing. Your dog is allowed to sniff out another person in the forest. Of course, this also works as a somewhat simpler search game with a specific object, such as a food bag. Another suggestion? Balancing on fallen tree trunks is also great fun for dogs.
Through joint activities in the forest Ultimately, you are primarily promoting your dog's concentration and body awareness. But always take care not to cause any damage or disturb the wild inhabitants of the forest.
Tip: How you can help anxious and insecure people in particular Give dogs other security I will be happy to explain how you can do this in the linked article.
Walking the dog in the forest? No problem!
A walk in the forest can be an unforgettable and fun experience for you and your dog. However, always remember that the forest does not belong to you, but to its inhabitants. It is a complex, sensitive ecosystem and home to numerous wild animals and plants. So always be attentive and walk through the forest with your four-legged friend in a considerate and respectful manner.
"Some people go through the forest seeing nothing else but firewood."
Leo Tolstoy (more at Forest Quotes)
Finally, I would like to give you a few suitable, further articles that may also be of interest to you:
- Adopt dog from animal shelter
- Saving the rainforest - What you can do for tropical forests
- Feeding dogs a vegetarian or vegan diet - is that possible?
- Forest bathing - what's behind it?
I hope that the tips in this article will help you to enjoy a respectful and safe walk in the woods with your dog. Do you have any questions, suggestions or further advice and information that you should take to heart when walking your dog in the forest? Then I look forward to your comment.
Stay animal and environmentally friendly,
PS: Are dogs actually climate sinners? In the linked article you will now find out whether there is perhaps a grain of truth behind this steep thesis and how you can improve the CO2 pawprint of your four-legged friend if necessary. Have fun!
