Walk your Dog Month in Horsham

This month is ‘Walk your Dog’ month a time for getting out, regardless of the weather, to ensure your pet dog has all the exercise they need. Many of our dogs are suffering obesity with 8% of owners stating their dog gained weight during lockdown – potentially affecting 790,000 dogs. In 2018 the PDSA PAW report stated in the UK alone, an estimated 40% of dogs are overweight or obese. So, get your wellies on, grab the lead, and take some inspiration from a few of these local walks:

Riverside Walk, Horsham

At 13 miles long, the Riverside Walk is a loop around central Horsham following Channels Brook, Horn Brook, River Arun, and Boldings Brook. You can start the walk at Warnham Nature Reserve and look for Oaktree markers to guide you around. Find the whole route via this dedicated website or download a PDF leaflet of the walk. Taking in town and the countryside this walk travels around from Warnham to New House Farm, Leechpool Woods, Chesworth Farm, and Tanbridge. The leaflet also has some history of the names and places you walk through. Great for our four-legged friends as there is a good mixture of paths, greens, and woodlands with some waterways available for a little dipping if your dog feels the need to get a little wet!

Downs Link, West Sussex

A disused railway line makes the Downs Link excellent for anyone who doesn’t want to get too easily lost! The pathways are mainly surfaced so also good for those wanting to take bikes or buggy out with the dog/s. Without the trains, the Downs Link is now a green corridor and connects with other paths such as the South Downs Way and National Cycle Networks. You can find an old railway carriage at the West Grinstead Old Station still on site. Start on this section at West Grinstead or Southwater, Horsham. Find more information on the West Sussex County Council website or download the leaflet.

Leechpool & Owlbeech Woods, Horsham

These local Horsham woods are great for those who like mixed levels of walks and a choice of routes. Mix it up by taking a different coloured marked path each time. Five paths of various lengths take you through the two kinds of wood. Leechpool is mixed woodland and Owlbeech is more heathland. There are boardwalks and bridges and some surfaced paths, so a real mix. In a part of the High Weald area, you can read about the nature reserve and download the site leaflet which is also a sideboard in the woods. Free parking and a play area at one end of the Woodland Walk make it a more family-friendly place for good adventures, and the dogs can roam in amongst the trees and streams.

Chesworth Farm, Horsham

This farm and field land is just outside of town and features many fields with names like ‘Jenny Bare Legs’ and ‘Great Horsham Hill’ which have great views over parts of the town. Voted a ‘Hidden Gem of Horsham’ in the Horsham District Year of Culture 2019, we agree! A lovely place for walking your dog as it has such a range of landscapes from well-trodden paths to wet meadows, farmland, and grassland, the paths crisscross so you can make your own route. Be aware of the llamas and sheep which graze there. One Tripadvisor review rates it as ‘doggy heaven’ as a safe place for dog walking, we can’t beat that!

Remember the Countryside Rules:

• Clean Up after your dog. Bag it and Bin it.
• Keep your dog under control and insight. Some of these walks include fields with livestock and grazing animals, so take care.
• Follow the Countryside Code

Respect the Lead

As always, let your dog interact with others in a happy and safe way by respecting the lead. A dog may be on a lead for multiple reasons and being approached by another can make it feel insecure and can be dangerous for all concerned, both owners and dogs.

Don’t:

• Don’t let your dog run over to a dog that is being kept on a lead, they may be on a lead for a reason.
• Don’t let your dog off the lead if you cannot easily recall them.
• Don’t ignore warnings from other owners about their dog.

Do:

• Do check with other owners before letting your dog interact.
• Do remember that a seemingly friendly dog may react negatively if approached whilst on a lead.
• Do follow the three-second rule, see below for more details.

If you are walking a dog on a lead and meet another dog on a lead, ask the owner if it is ok for them to acknowledge each other. Once you have been given the ok follow ‘the three-second rule’, they can sniff and introduce themselves but after three seconds distract them away. It is best to keep the meeting brief.
Taking your dog for a walk should be an enjoyable experience for both owner and dog alike, and by remembering to Respect The Lead we can ensure a safe and happy environment for everyone.
See the Respect The Lead campaign website for full details, videos, and printouts.

Where in Horsham do you walk your dog?

Do you have a favourite local dog-walking spot? Why not share it on my Facebook page or in the comments below?