Dog owners in France reminded of spring lead rules

Dog owners in France are being reminded of rules that require pets to be on lead in forested areas throughout the spring. 

Between April 15 and June 30 dogs must be kept on lead when being walked outside of all designated ‘lead-free’ forested paths.

This means the pets must be on lead on all non-designated paths, forest trails and even along roads in forested areas.

Owners who fail to follow the rule risk a €750 fine, as stated in Article R428-6 of France’s environmental code.

General rules state that outside of this period, dogs cannot stray more than 100 metres from their owner when walking in the forest, and, whilst not obligatory, leads are recommended.

Rule aims to protect wildlife

In force since 1989, the rule is designed to minimise the impact of dogs on forest wildlife, including birds and newborn animals. 

“Due to their highly developed sense of smell, dogs can easily locate newborns in the forest as well as birds nesting on the ground in open areas,” says the Service public government website about the regulations. 

“Their mere presence can disturb and stress forest animals, which are particularly sensitive during this period… dogs can jeopardise the reproduction of part of this wildlife,” it adds. 

Note these rules only apply to forested areas, and not towns/villages, or other rural spots. 

What are wider lead rules for dogs in France?

In general, it is advised to keep your dog on a lead, particularly if you feel it may present a danger to others (people and animals) or itself. 

If your dog is classified as a category 1 or 2 pet (dangerous breeds) it is required to keep the pet on a lead at all times when outside. 

Rules can differ, but most departments require dogs being walked on public roads in ‘inhabited areas’ (anywhere from a village street to a city centre) to be kept on lead. 

You can find the exact rules for your department on the prefecture website, usually by looking for the ‘règlement sanitaire départemental’.

In addition, mairies can introduce bylaws that ban dogs – even when on lead – from public areas such as village gardens. 

Note there is a difference between a dog being ‘off-lead’ – but still controlled by its owner – and ‘roaming freely’.

A dog is considered to be roaming freely in the following situations:

• It is no longer under the effective supervision of its owner

• It is out of earshot or beyond the range of any audible device used to recall it

• It is more than 100 meters away from its owner or the person responsible for it

Owners should never allow their dog to roam free outside of designated areas or risk a fine regardless of the location.

More information about keeping dogs off-lead outside of forests is available in our article here.