Walkies Good For Dogs, People And The Forest
Contact Details: David Dickenson
A fourteen-page report setting out NFDOG's definitive views on the freedom to walk dogs has been delivered to the New Forest National Park Authority (NPA).
The carefully researched paper, running to more than 13,000 words, was the work of veterinary surgeon and NFDOG committee member David Dickenson. It sets out, at times, passionately, the health benefits of walking dogs off lead, and how ill informed critics create problems for dog owners.
The paper was presented to NPA Recreation Officer, Saira Evans, and Director of Understanding and Enjoyment, Jeff Haynes, at a consultation meeting to discuss their proposed recreation strategy. David Dickenson was joined by fellow committee member Tony Marshall to present the paper.
It points out that the pleasure an owner derives from watching their dog exercise freely is often considerable. The massive public reaction in 2001, when Foot-and-mouth restrictions on dog walking were left in place in the Forest, showed how deeply this is felt. The report adds: "Non-dog owners are often unable to appreciate the powerful emotions this evokes in many dog owners, and there is a potential for conflict."
David Dickenson goes on: "Dog owners perceive (and as a veterinary surgeon, I would support this) a huge difference in the quality of life for a dog allowed to run off lead in the countryside, provided it is kept under proper control, compared to being forced to walk on a fixed or extending lead.
"From the physical point of view, no amount of walking on lead would be enough to satisfy the needs of most dogs. From the mental point of view, the dog derives much pleasure from being able to interact socially with other dogs or their owners, and explore the surroundings in a natural way.
"Walking on a lead is unnatural and frustrating to a dog. I have always strongly encouraged my clients to train their dogs to be able to be walked off lead in a responsible manner, from the earliest days of acquiring them as puppies. Obesity is common in dogs walked on lead, but dogs given regular off lead walks remain alert and slim. The dog's frustration if kept on lead is keenly felt by their owner, who also gets less pleasure from the walk."
The Dickenson report then goes on to set out the health benefits of dog walking for the owners. "People have an absolute passion for the New Forest, and walking their dog provides them with much happiness and a feeling of well-being. NFDOG invited members to submit a copy of a questionnaire filled in for the England Marketing Report. We received many beautiful and poetic descriptions in answer to the question 'What do you most enjoy about your visits to the New Forest countryside?' with the word 'freedom' figuring prominently.
"At a national level, a number of government departments are working together to promote active daily living by integrating policies on health, education, sports, leisure and recreation, transport, town and rural planning, social exclusion and employment. Walking is listed as a 'health enhancing physical activity'.
"Dog walking is a duty for the owner as well as a pleasure, and thus there is a far lower opt-out of regular exercise because of laziness, indifferent health and bad weather. This is clear to see on any rainy day in the New Forest. Many car parks are still nearly full of cars, virtually all owned by people out walking their dogs. Dog walking is especially recognised as excellent for the mental and physical health of old people, encouraging them to remain active, and giving them a feeling of usefulness and companionship.
"A benefit that dog walkers provide to the New Forest is that, because of their wide penetration into the woods and heath land, they act as very useful eyes and ears. This lessens inappropriate behaviour in other users, and in particular provides warning of injured or diseased wild animals and livestock."
The report spells out that NFDOG wishes to see responsible dog walking, off lead, retained throughout the New Forest. "NFDOG is concerned at the constant barrage of anti-dog sentiment that seeks to lessen or remove the right of the public to do this. This concern is placed against a backdrop of increasing anti-dog restrictions all over the country, pandering to ill-informed sentiment, often using pseudo-scientific babble to support their case. One example of this was the recent England Marketing Report that drew quite unsupportable conclusions from an indifferent marketing survey. Those conclusions were then highly publicised by the Forestry Commission with the addition of other misplaced anti-dog statements on posters all around the Forest, and a national media campaign. This effectively destroyed what should have been a harmonious clean-up campaign of benefit to all. Dog owners therefore feel very much under threat.
"Both the Forestry Commission and NFDOG have since re-established a good relationship, and are working together, albeit not always in agreement.
"NFDOG recognises that a poorly controlled dog can be harmful, and dog owners carry a strong duty to act responsibly. In no way will NFDOG act as an apologist for inappropriate behaviour."
The report finishes with this heartfelt plea. "The overwhelming wish of NFDOG members is to be left alone to get on with their quiet enjoyment. They are very happy with their current freedom, and to a large extent their interaction with other Forest users works well. All wish this freedom to be protected for future generations. They do not wish to become a threatened species."
After the meeting, David Dickenson said: "It was clear the NPA were there to listen to our views, and they did that well. Now they are gathering more views informally from other groups before full public consultation, leading to the publication of plans for their recreation strategy in Spring 2008. We are optimistic that full account will be taken of our views, especially since we are by far the biggest user group in the Forest."
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Article by David Dickenson for NFDOG www.naturescene.co.uk, from newsletter of New Forest Dog Owners Group, January 2007
Walkies Good For Dogs, People And The Forest was published by The Dog Scene on 07 Feb, 2007. © All rights reserved. You may download and print this article for personal or non-profit use only. Please feel free to link to this article.
Walkies Good For Dogs, People And The Forest was published by The Dog Scene on 07 Feb, 2007. © All rights reserved. You may download and print this article for personal or non-profit use only. Please feel free to link to this article.
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07 Feb, 2007
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