The question of whether dogs should be kept on a lead comes up every single time you step out the door with a dog that's itching to get going. The answer depends on where you are, what time of year it is, and how well your dog responds to your recall. In Denmark, the starting point is clear: your dog must be kept on a lead in public places unless you have full control over it, and there are a number of areas where the lead is never up for discussion.

But the rules are only half the story. The other half is about how you achieve walks where the dog is both mentally satisfied and physically exercised, whether the lead is on or off. That's where everyday life becomes good.

What do the rules say about dogs on a lead?

The Danish Dog Act states that a dog on streets, roads, paths and squares with public access must either be kept on a lead or be under full control. Full control means in practice that the dog obeys immediately, stays close to you and does not run up to strangers or other dogs without your permission. If you're in doubt about whether your dog lives up to this in a stressful situation, the lead is the right choice.

In forests and nature areas, their own rules apply. In state forests and in private forests with public access, the dog must as a rule be kept on a lead, and it is the owner or the authorities who, through signage, tell you what applies in that location. Across the country there are also dog forests where dogs may run freely, and they are worth their weight in gold for dogs with a high activity level that need to stretch out without a line holding them back.

May dogs swim at the beach, and when does the lead rule apply there?

The beach is the place where most dog owners become uncertain. From 1 April to 30 September, dogs must be kept on a lead on Danish beaches, while during the winter months from 1 October to 31 March they may run freely if you have full control over them. This means that the question of whether dogs may swim at the beach largely comes down to the season. In summer your dog can easily take a dip, but it must be on a lead while doing so, and you must respect the municipal signs that in some places completely prohibit dogs on bathing beaches in the high season.

A trip by the water is at the same time one of the best forms of exercise a dog can get. Swimming places minimal strain on the joints and uses the body effectively, and many dogs come home pleasantly tired in a way that an ordinary walk rarely provides. In return, they also burn considerably more energy, and that places demands on what awaits in the bowl afterwards.

The breeding season and the periods when the lead must always be on

During the period from 1 April to 15 July, the entire open countryside is subject to special considerations for the sake of wildlife's breeding season. Here dogs must be kept on a lead in nature, so that roe deer, hares and ground-nesting birds get the peace to raise their young. It is a rule many overlook, because spring is precisely the time when the urge for long, free walks is greatest.

Outside the fixed periods, a simple rule of thumb applies: the more unpredictable the situation, the stronger the argument for the lead. Encounters with cyclists, runners, sheep in fields or dogs you don't know are all situations where even a well-trained dog can react differently than expected. The lead is not a restriction, but a tool that enables you to take responsibility for your dog's choices before it makes them itself.

How to make walks on a lead just as rewarding as free walks

A dog on a lead can easily have a fantastic walk if you let it sniff. Scent work drains more energy than speed, and half an hour where the dog sets the pace itself along a fence or a woodland edge often does more for the calm at home than an hour of running. Use a longer line in open areas, and let the sniffing walk be the day's actual activity rather than a stretch of transport between A and B.

Recall training is the investment that in the long run determines how often the lead can come off. Reward every single time the dog returns, even when it comes slowly, and make the reward worthwhile. Here something tangible works best, and a natural chew such as MARROW BONE DELIGHTS is well suited to the calm moments after the walk, when the dog needs to settle again.

Activity level, meals and the balance of everyday life

How much your dog moves, and how often it is allowed to run freely, is directly linked to what it needs to eat. A dog that works, hunts or runs long distances several times a week has different energy needs than a dog with a more moderate everyday life in town and park. For the most enduring dogs, many thrive on STAMINA WORKING & SPORTING or ESTATE WORKING & SPORTING, which are formulated for dogs with a high activity level and prepared from fresh, human-grade ingredients in Our finest British Heritage Kitchens.

If several of your walks are on a lead along pavements and gravel paths, the balance between intake and expenditure is even more important. CONTOUR is formulated with daily weight balance in mind, while BALANCE suits dogs where a gentle nutritional profile is the right choice. If you're in doubt about where your dog stands, you can read more about how to assess whether your dog has a healthy weight, and you are always welcome to call, write or chat with ESSENTIAL FOODS' nutrition advisers, who know our dog meals inside out and are happy to help find the right daily amount. Behaviour and wellbeing are closely linked to nutrition, and the idea behind Behaviour Optimizing Food is precisely that the right composition supports a dog that is easy to take out into the world.