Dog Parks

"Where is the local dog park?" Is a common question in the Facebook groups. My mom regularly takes my brother's dog to the local dog parks back home but they are not much of a thing here in Britain and especially in the rural area around the bases. Dog parks are common in the US because of the dog leash laws and the lack of free time people have.

The British tend to integrate their dogs into their life's rather than compartmentalise them. They take them on walks on local footpaths, parks and other places to exercise them. The British tend to walk as a hobby or a sport so take the dog along with them.

When we took Dusty to his puppy classes, they told us to work on our recall. This is very important if you are going to be taking your dog out. What I did was take him out to a part of a walk where he would be closed in by kissing gates and reward him every time he came back to me or stopped to wait for me.

I was determined when we got Dusty that despite how our lives changed, we would ensure that he got the exercise he required. Mr B and I work as a team to accomplish this. As you know I started running with him when he was a puppy and I walked him 2 miles every morning up until I gave birth to Bug. At the moment, Mr B takes him out in evening but as Bug and I are settling into a routine, we will start walking him in the mornings again and I will start running in the evenings with him as I must start training for the Cambridge Half Marathon at the end of February. Eek!! Bug and I also make special days out with Dusty so we can spend time together.

The U.K. Laws on dogs being on a lead/leash (from the UK Government website)
Controlling your dog in public

1. Overview

It’s against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere, such as:

• in a public place
• in a private place, eg a neighbour’s house or garden
• in the owner’s home

The law applies to all dogs.

Some types of dogs are banned.

Out of control

Your dog is considered dangerously out of control if it:

• injures someone
• makes someone worried that it might injure them

A court could also decide that your dog is dangerously out of control if either of the following apply:

• it attacks someone’s animal
• the owner of an animal thinks they could be injured if they tried to stop your dog attacking their animal

A farmer is allowed to kill your dog if it’s worrying their livestock.
Penalties

You can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to 6 months (or both) if your dog is dangerously out of control. You may not be allowed to own a dog in the future and your dog may be destroyed.

If you let your dog injure someone you can be sent to prison for up to 5 years or fined (or both). If you deliberately use your dog to injure someone you could be charged with ‘malicious wounding’.

If you allow your dog to kill someone you can be sent to prison for up to 14 years or get an unlimited fine (or both).

If you allow your dog to injure an assistance dog (eg a guide dog) you can be sent to prison for up to 3 years or fined (or both).

More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public/overview


There are places that you can take your dog locally for a walk:

-Lakenheath (Maids Close) Take the B1112 into lakenheath then turn on Mill Road by Wok 'n Rock then right when the road T's and it'll take you to the park and it'll be on your right.

-Mildenhall Woods

-Brandon Country Park

-Thetford County Park

-Newmarket Heaths after 1 pm. You can walk through The Rowley Mile Racecourse or the Heath off of Bury Road or Cheveley Road.

-Three Churches Walk