Friday 21 February 2020

Dog walking rules Belgium

In Belgium the rules around walking your dog are the same for every green space in the region. 

Dogs are allowed if and only if they are kept on a leash. 

Regarding their presence in children’s playgrounds, a leash is mandatory.

There are areas where you can let your dog off known as running zones   

In certain green spaces, free running zones are marked off so that your dog can be of leash. You must have very good control of your dog.

 
Be Aware of shooting Season in Belgium. This occurs between September - December. 
 You will see notices posted in Woods to say which days are shooting days. Example below;
 
 

Places to let your dog off in and around Mons

(I will be updating this information shortly)

There is an enclosed area on SHAPE where you can let your dog off. This is by the American High School, near the Luxemburg gate. Dogs can run free and meet each other.

Every Sunday there is a dog meeting on SHAPE in the baseball court at 13.30. Due to Covid these are currently postponed. Contact the HIVE for further details in the New Year.

Places to let your dog off in Brussels

In the Jette commune, there are a good number of leash free areas. At the edge of Est du Bois de Dieleghem, two big authorized fields are set up to accommodate free running dogs. Another zone measuring 300 meters long is available for your dog at Parc de la Jeunesse.

In Schaerbeek, your dog will can run free in the Duployer Square, in the Place de la Patrie and Albert Park (on the Guffen side.)

In Woluwe Park, two small valleys allow off leash, Clifford and all others to run free. Green panels mark off the leash free zones.

Duden Park have marked off three free running zones.

There are more free zones in Héronnière Park, Seny Park, Elisabeth Park, at the Cité modèle, Verregat Park, Cinquantenaire Park, and Marie José Park close to the start of Avenue Joseph Baeck.

Be extra careful in the Soignes Forest.

In the Brussels region, the Soignes Forest calls for dog owners to have a certain level of discipline. Basically, in order to protect the wildlife and plants in the woods, your dog is allowed to run free in certain areas (parts of Bois de la Cambre, the Rouge-Cloitre, Groenendaal, Tervuren Park), under the condition that he is completely under control. 

The forest reserves and the Natura zones 2000 are prohibited to dogs. Also, no one can let their dog go without having liability insurance.

Wherever you like to walk your dog, keep your eyes peeled for the panels that indicate leash free areas.

https://www.brusselslife.be/en/article/where-to-walk-your-dog-in-brussels