Walking and exercising with your dog is fun, healthy and an essential part of owning a dog. However, it is important to consider non-owners when visiting parks and other outdoor spaces we all share.
Some people can be nervous around dogs and might not always feel comfortable around them. As a dog owner, you can help foster a safe and positive environment for your dog and people around you by following a few simple practices and remember that:
- any dog, regardless of breed or size, can cause fear, apprehension. Your dog should not be jumping up at strangers
- any dog has the capacity to bite, accidents can happen fast. Your dog should wear a muzzle if you’re unsure if he’ll bite
- you may understand how your dog is feeling, but anyone approaching your dog’s space may affect them and change their behaviour
- your dog should always be in control and not interfere with other park and open space users. This includes those having picnics where food may be snatched, joggers and for e.g. where there is a potential for someone to get knocked over.
What does being in control mean?
This is where the dog is not reasonably within eyesight of the responsible person and/or where a dog does not respond immediately to being beckoned (recalled) by the owner.
It is important to always:
- pay attention to your dog – dog walkers are often fixed to their phones while their dog is misbehaving or being a nuisance to others
- be mindful of other park users when playing ball or other games with your dog
- pick up your dog mess and dispose of this in the bins provided or where unavailable, take it away with you
- make sure that no more than 4 dogs being handled by a walker at any one time
- remember that dogs should not be permitted to attack trees or other structures within the park.
In areas where dogs can be kept off a lead, make sure you:
- keep your dog close and always in direct eyesight
- keep your dog on a lead where your dog does not respond immediately to being recalled
- keep puppies or under trained dogs on a lead.
Restrictions
Although you might be allowed to bring your dog(s) to some places, other places might have some restrictions in place and it is good to keep in mind that:
- there are specific areas where dogs must be kept on a lead
- there are specific areas where dogs are not permitted, these are clearly signed and include playgrounds, multi use games areas and tennis courts.
Paddington Old Cemetery
The following rules apply at Paddington Old Cemetery:
- do not let dogs walk across or urinate/defecate on graves. Please understand that dogs being permitted on gravestones can be deeply upsetting for grave owners
- please be respectful to people visiting their graves or at a funeral – keep your dog away
- please be aware that not all people like dogs or feel comfortable around dogs. Your dog should not be jumping up at strangers
- pick up your dog mess and dispose of this in the bins provided or where unavailable, take it away with you
- there is a maximum of 4 dogs per walker – this is not to be exceeded
Please respect the graves, the cemetery should not be used to play ball or other games with your dogs.
Public Space Protection Order (PSPO)
The London Borough of Brent is covered by a PSPO. A PSPO prohibits and requires specified ‘things’ to be done within a specific area. A £100 FPN will be issued to those who breach the PSPO and further enforcement action will be taken against those persons that persistently fail to follow the PSPO.
Visit the Public Spaces Protection Orders page for a full list of the prohibitions across Brent and to report a breach of a PSPO.