Author: Lisa Maria Stöbich
Wild dogs, including wolves, jackals, coyotes and foxes, are found in a wide variety of habitats. They live, for example, in the prairies, in grasslands, in the arctic, in coastal regions, in rainforests and also in forests.
The forest attracts in all four seasons with its quiet atmosphere, the pleasant fresh air and many interesting impressions for dogs and humans. Whether you and your four-legged friend are looking for protection from the rain under the treetops or the cool shade in summer or simply want to enjoy the colorful leaves in autumn: A walk in the forest offers you an impressive one journey through nature. But what can you discover together and what do you actually have to consider when you are out and about in the forest with your nose?
Find out here which games and exercises you can use to let off steam together in the forest, when and where you have to put your dog on a leash and what dangers you should watch out for.
Dog and nature - What do I have to consider in the forest?
You are out and about with your dog in the forest and you really want to let off steam? There are many new tracks to look for and sticks to throw under the trees. But watch out: There are also rules that you and your nose have to follow.
Freewheel or off the leash?
As nice as it is to see your fluffy companion storming over hill and dale and leaving the leash at home, it is unfortunately not that easy. In Germany there is often Leash compulsory in the forest or at least partial restrictions on the free movement of your four-legged friend.
In Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia, you must always keep your dog on a leash. In Bremen, Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, leashes are compulsory during the closed season. It is intended to protect the young animals from losing their parents and is valid from March or April to mid-July, depending on the federal state.
In Berlin, Bremen and North Rhine-Westphalia, your nose can only move freely on marked areas or forest paths. On the other hand, if you are out and about with your dog in Baden-Württemberg, Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland or Bavaria, you can be happy, because here you can let your dog run free in the forest at any time and anywhere. Attention: This does not apply if your nose does not listen to you and likes to run away. Even if she likes to chase deer and other wild animals, she has to be on a leash in the forest.
Poaching dogs live dangerously
This not only has the reason to save your wallet from bitter fines of between 30 and 2,500 euros, but is also intended to protect the animal forest dwellers and your nose. Because in many states According to the hunting law, hunters are allowed to shoot at poaching dogs in the forest, if they endanger or prey on wild animals. So play it safe if your fluffy companion likes to chase after everything and put them on a leash.
But even if your dog is not allowed to roam freely, that is no reason to despise the forest. A flexible line offers a good solution here. You can adapt them to your activity and your four-legged friend can look forward to some exercise, because at 10 meters longer flexible lines are quite generously dimensioned. But be careful, because the leash can quickly become tangled, especially in the forest. Then you have to run in the slalom to catch up with your taster.
Whether your four-legged friend is on a leash or not, there are many exciting adventures waiting for you in the forest that you can tackle together.
Fun and games in the forest - fun activities for two- and four-legged friends
With its sticks and stones, roots and leaves, the forest offers you the perfect playground and allows you to take a well-deserved break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Just follow your nose
Let your sleuth test their talents by designing challenging hidden object games for them. Grab one of ours dog walking bags or Bumbags Hanover with washable treats compartment, stow your four-legged friend's favorite treats in it and off you go with the scavenger hunt.
Let your nose sniff out a track made of treats to get to the desired destination or throw the treat a few meters on the ground and test at what distance your dog can still find it. The better he gets at it, the farther you can throw the treat.
Scavenger hunt in nature.
Play hide and seek
Not only treats can track down your sniffing nose. If she is well trained and doesn't run away, you can try to hide from her. Find a thick tree and sneak behind it when your dog is busy on an exciting trail. If he then notices your absence, he will quickly be surprised and look for you. Once he has found you, you can praise him extensively and treat him to a treat.
Parkour in nature
Have you ever thought of designing your own agility park for your fluffy friend? The forest with its trees, tree stumps and roots offers the perfect environment for this. Often you don't have to change anything, just find the right way. Then your nose can run over lying tree trunks or crawl under obstacles. You can also include park benches or large branches in the game.
Maybe your four-legged friend will even manage to fetch via your self-made obstacle course. First find or build a route and train well on it. If your dog has mastered the parkour and can already fetch, you can combine the two tasks. With a little training, he will bring you his ball or toy back over hill and dale.
But with all the fun and games, don't forget that you're not in your own backyard. Even if forests in Germany are comparatively safe and not too many dangerous animals live in them, caution is always required.
What dangers lurk in the forest?
Wild boars live in many areas, and while these don't usually attack humans, it's smarter to stay away from them. If they are injured or if they think their young animals are threatened, they can become aggressive. If you meet one of the hairy forest dwellers, you should definitely stay calm.
If your four-legged friend is running around without a leash, call him over to you. You can lure him in with treats or toys if he doesn't listen to you right away. Put the leash on him and slowly back away. You should keep an escape route open for the imposing animals, as this will prevent them from feeling cornered and attacking.
Avoid frantic movements and don't run away in panic, because your escape could cause the boar to run after you. If your dog barks, don't try to stop it by shouting or swearing, as this can reinforce it and cause it to bark even harder. Once you have left a safe distance behind you, your four-legged friend will calm down by itself.
Much more than wild animals, however, people can often cause harm, because your fluffy companion can injure its paws or its snout when sniffing around due to the rubbish left behind, such as glass bottles or cans. Unfortunately, this is difficult to avoid, so it is best to always keep an eye on your sniffing nose and try to protect it.
Experience adventures in the forest
Your little friend will love romping around in the great outdoors.
Search games, agility parkour, or playing hide and seek, all these activities invite you and your fluffy friend to new adventures. And if you then watch him frolic and he seems to feel at home, that's no big surprise. Because maybe there is a resemblance to its wild relatives, who are at home in the forest.
Cover photo by Bruno Emmanuelle. More pictures from Cam Bowers and Yingchou Han.
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Hatice Kücükhüseyin is a content expert at inara writes. Words are her favorite tool. With them she brings color and life into every text. When she's not writing, she watches French cinema.
