There are over 1000 secure dog fields in the UK which are a lifeline to some dog owners and provide many dogs with their only opportunity for off lead freedom.
But why are so many dog owners now choosing to use them?
Secure dog fields are ideal for dogs that are reactive, anxious or nervous, bitches in season and dogs with a high prey drive or unreliabe recall. Secure dog fields are also popular options for owners with reduced mobility or wishing to train their dogs without distractions and perfect locations for puppy parties, dog walkers and dog trainers.
Pippa of Coastal Canines Dog Training Club explains why owners of dogs who find public walks stressful are turning to secure dog fields:
There are a multitude of reasons why owning a dog is good for us. Having a dog encourages us to get up and get out into the fresh air all year round which is good for our mental and physical health. Recent studies have shown that dog owners are likely to be fitter, slimmer and overall healthier than their non-dog owning friends (Knapton 2019).[1] Dogs are undoubtedly good for your health! However, a recent study noted that only 40% of dog owners walk their dogs each day and 5% don’t walk them at all (OS:2022).[2] Whilst not all dogs need hours of exercise everyday all dogs do need some form of daily mental and physical stimulation. However, for some of us taking our dogs out for a walk or to a public place is simply not an option. Particularly if our dog has a behavioural issue.
How a dog acts in, or responds to, a situation or stimulus is an example of how it behaves. Dogs behave in ways that either come naturally to them or are rewarding for them. When we talk of behavioural issues in dogs this means that in a certain situation or when confronted with certain stimulus a dog is acting in a way that we find either unacceptable, believe to be stressful for the dog or dangerous for the dog or others. Most dogs will at some stage in their life develop some form of behavioural issue and there are many causes. For example, a dog could develop behavioural issues due to a noise phobia, a dislike of other dogs or a medical problem that causes pain. For many dogs with a behavioural issue exercise is not always as straightforward as putting on a lead and going for a walk.
It is both disheartening and upsetting when your dog begins to behave in a way that makes taking them for a walk stressful and unenjoyable. One of the main reasons to use a secure dog field for dogs with some form of behavioural issue is that for these dogs going for a walk can place them under extreme amounts of stress. The stress that the dog experiences can produce stress hormones in the dog. These can build up in their system and have both a physiological and behavioural effect on the dog and take some time for the dog to recover from. Stressful experiences make for stressed out dogs and so the walk is counterproductive. One way that owners can manage their dog's behavioural issues is by taking them to a secure dog field. The private booking of the open space creates a relaxing environment for the dog and the owner turning the walk or free play into a positive experience. It is important to try not to give your dog the opportunity to rehearse the behaviour that you do not want and so this setting is ideal. Moreover, if the dog is working through a behaviour plan with a professional using the secure dog field on a non-training day gives the dog a place that they can release some physical energy in a controlled environment.
Most owners try to raise their dogs to be friendly sociable animals that they can enjoy their life with and spend time with inside and outside the home. Unfortunately, for many of us this doesn’t not always go the way that we hope and sometimes you can do everything right but factors outside our control impact our dogs behaviour. This is why it is so helpful to have the option of using a secure dog field so we can set our dogs up for success by reducing the amount of stress that they experience in their day-to-day life.
