⭐ Your Rights in a Public Park

Over the years, I’ve come to understand that many of my clients — and plenty of other dog owners — feel intimidated in public parks by people who pack walk or by owners who allow their dogs to rush others without consent.

It can be really stressful when you’re trying to support a reactive dog, a nervous dog or even just a dog who prefers calm interactions. And far too often, people don’t realise they’re allowed to set boundaries, or that they have rights in these situations.

So here’s a simple, confidence-boosting guide about your rights in a public park, especially when it comes to protecting your dog’s personal space and wellbeing.

⭐ 1. You have the right to ask for space

If your dog is:

on lead,
reactive,
recovering from injury,
in training,
or simply uncomfortable with certain dogs,

you are completely within your rights to say:

➡️ “Please give us space.”
➡️ “No greeting, thank you.”

Other dog owners (and walkers) are expected to respect that.

⭐ 2. You have the right NOT to allow greetings

Consent applies to dog–dog interactions.

You can always say no to an approaching dog — even a friendly one.

You do not owe an explanation.

⭐ 3. You have the right to protect your dog’s personal space

If another dog is:

rushing,
circling,
crowding,
or repeatedly approaching without permission,

you have every right to:

step between them,
move away,
ask the owner to recall,
or remove yourself from the area.

This is responsible handling, not rudeness.

⭐ 4. You have the right to expect other dogs to be under control

“Public park” does not mean:

dogs can approach anyone they like,
dogs can ignore recall cues,
walkers can let groups of dogs rush others.

UK dog law requires dogs in public to be under control at all times — off lead does not mean uncontrolled.

⭐ 5. You have the right to feel safe

A group of off-lead dogs surrounding your dog can feel frightening — and it is entirely valid to remove yourself and your dog.

Your safety and your dog’s welfare come first.

⭐ 6. You have the right to use the park for training

Professional or not, you are allowed to:

practise sits, stays, recalls,
work on focus or calm behaviours,
use treats or toys responsibly,
set up controlled training sessions.

You do not have to stop training because another walker refuses to give space.

⭐ 7. You have the right to speak up

If someone’s dog is behaving unsafely, you can calmly say:

➡️ “My dog needs space, please recall yours.”
➡️ “Please don’t let your dog approach.”

If they respond poorly, that reflects on them — not you.

⭐ 8. You have the right to report genuinely unsafe behaviour

If you witness:

repeated uncontrolled pack walking,
intimidating behaviour,
aggressive behaviour,
failure to recall,
dogs out of control around the public,

you can report it to:

your local council,
park management,
community wardens or enforcement officers.

This helps protect everyone who uses the space.

⭐ Bottom line

Your dog does not need to “just deal with it.”
You do not need to apologise for asking for space.
And you absolutely have the right to protect your dog in a public park.

Most people are thoughtful and considerate — and a little more awareness from all of us helps keep parks safer, calmer and more enjoyable for every dog.