Visiting National Trust places with your dog

A visitor with their dog leaving the Muddy Paws café at Lyme Park, Cheshire — A visitor with their dog at Lyme Park, Cheshire | © National Trust Images/Joanne Crawford

Discover how our pawprint rating system is making it easier for you to plan a visit with your dog(s) and read our Canine Code. You’ll also find dog-walking tips to help everyone enjoy the places we care for and protect wildlife.

We've teamed up with natural pet food maker Forthglade to help make it easier for you to plan a visit with your dog(s). Together we've created the Canine Code and introduced a pawprint rating system that helps you see at a glance the facilities you and your dog(s) can expect when visiting the places in our care.

Pawprint rating system

To find out what’s on offer for you and your dog(s) at the places we care for, check the web page of the property you want to visit. You’ll find all you need to know about their pawprint rating under the visitor information section.

All places with a pawprint rating welcome pet dogs, but the number of facilities differs, with 3 pawprints awarded to places that have the best facilities for dogs.

Best: Three pawprints

Three pawprints shows the very best places you can visit for a day with your dog(s). You’ll be able to take your dog(s) to most areas, including indoors for a cup of tea and a treat. You can expect clearly signed dog zones and dog-friendly experiences.

Good: Two pawprints

These places have water bowls, dog bins and dog-friendly walks. You’ll be able to take your dog(s) into some areas, but not everywhere. If there’s a food and beverage outlet, you can have a cup of tea with them, probably outside.

Standard: One pawprint

Dogs are welcome here, but facilities are limited. They’ll be able to stretch their legs and walk in the nearby open spaces, depending on the season.

Dogs at sensitive nature sites

Whilst we're now able to welcome dogs at 87 per cent of the places in our care, some of the other places we care for are very sensitive sites for nature. Some of these places welcome assistance dogs only, whilst others — that are home to seabird and grey seal colonies for example — are unable to welcome dogs, including pet and assistance dogs.

A dog on the lawn with dog treats from the Forthglade range at Ickworth House, Suffolk — A dog on the lawn with dog treats from natural pet food maker, Forthglade at Ickworth House, Suffolk | © Forthglade

The Canine Code

We want you and your dog(s) to have a stress-free day when you visit us. We also want to protect farm animals and precious wildlife habitats, as well as ensure that everyone can enjoy the countryside, whether they’re visiting with a dog or not.

During your visit you can help by following the Canine Code:

Keep them close: Using a short lead helps to keep your dog(s) from disturbing ground-nesting birds and farm animals. It's essential to use a short lead around sheep. But 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.
Pick up the poo: Please always clear up after your dog(s). If you can't find a bin nearby, take the poo bags home with you.
Watch the signs: Keep an eye on local signs and notices wherever you're walking. They'll tell you if a beach allows dogs all year round, seasonally or if it's a dog-free beach for instance. They'll also let you know if a path has been diverted, or if you're in an area where dogs can run off lead.
Stay on the ball: Remember that not everyone is confident around dogs. Some people may be nervous or fear them. If you're visiting with your dog(s), you can help by making sure they don't run up to other people, especially children.

A person and their dog walking in Murlough National Nature Reserve in County Down in Northern Ireland — Murlough National Nature Reserve, County Down, Northern Ireland | © National Trust Images/Christopher Heaney

Top tips to help walk your dog on the lead

When dogs pull, walking them on the lead can be quite a challenging experience. However, there are times when, to help protect wildlife and allow everyone to enjoy their day, walking dogs on the lead is essential. To help make lead training easier, our partners at Forthglade have shared their top tips, so both you and your dog can get the most out of a walk on the lead throughout the places in our care.

A visitor's arm is visible holding a dog's lead beside the Rotondo at Stowe Landscape Gardens, Buckinghamshire. — Dog walking at Stowe, Buckinghamshire | © National Trust Images/John Millar

Begin with the right tools

Use a comfortable lead and collar that doesn’t tighten when your dog pulls. A front-fastening harness or headcollar can help dogs learn to walk on the lead, making for a more enjoyable walk.

Dog walking at Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire — Visitor putting their dog on a lead | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Start the walk with a relaxed lead

It takes two to pull. Try beginning the walk with your dog at your side (but be consistent with your choice of side) and with the lead just loose enough to have no tension in it when they're standing next to you. Avoid starting the walk with your dog out in front, at the end of a short, taut lead, as this will encourage your dog to pull.

Visitor walking her dog at Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire — Walk confidently with your dog by your side | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Walk forward with purpose

Next, start walking confidently forward. Lead training is all about getting your dog used to walking calmly next to you, so they recognise this is the behaviour you’d like whenever you put their lead on. When your dog is at your side, you walk. If they creep forward and start to pull, stop, and encourage them back to your side with a tasty treat. Swiftly praise, and then walk purposefully forwards again.

Winter dog walk at Ashridge Estate, Hertfordshire — Dog walk at Ashridge Estate, Hertfordshire | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

When things aren’t going well

When training isn't going as well as you'd like, a few tips may come in useful. Firstly, if your dog has too much energy to focus on learning, find a safe, enclosed place to burn off some of their energy, then start training. Alternatively you could try pulling up on the lead rather than backwards, as this enables you to better communicate with your dog. Finally, dogs pick up on our emotions so if you’re feeling tense, your dog probably is too, and this won’t help their training. Take a few minutes to stop, stroke and fuss over your dog to relieve the tension.

Visitors walking their dogs in the bluebell woodland at Hatchlands Park, Surrey — Visitors walking their dogs in the woodland at Hatchlands Park, Surrey | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Make the most of this time

Walking your dog on the lead gives you both time to enjoy the outdoors together and deepen your bond. Scatter their favourite treats on the path for a fun enrichment activity or enjoy doing your favourite tricks together, as both will boost your levels of oxytocin, the ‘love hormone’.

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