Dog Walking in Fingal
Our Parks and Open Spaces provide wonderful areas for dog walking in Fingal but remember all dogs must be kept under effectual control or on a leash when in any public place whether it be a street, road, beach or public park etc.
Visit our dedicated Dogs page for other information with regard to Licences, Stray Dogs, etc
Where and when can I walk my dog
Please see links to the Control of Dogs Act, 1986, and the Control of Dogs (Amendment) Act, 1992.
The Dog Warden service looks after enforcement in relation to the Control of Dogs Acts
Parks
All dogs must be leashed when in Fingal County Council Regional Parks unless there is a designated off leash area. See Fingal Parks bye-laws and the maps of the off leash areas found in the User Guide to the Parks Bye-Laws
Beaches
Rules in relation to animals, including dogs, on our beaches can be found in our Beaches and Foreshore Bye-laws
Remember different rules apply to our Blue Flag Beaches at specific times during bathing season - see details of Restrictions on Dogs on Blue Flag Beaches during bathing season
Restricted Breeds
Certain breeds must always be on a short, strong leash, muzzled and accompanied by a person over the age of 16 years when in a public place. These include: American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Mastiff, Doberman Pinscher, English Bull Terrier, German Shepherd, Japanese Akita, Japanese Tosa, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rottweiler, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and every other strain or cross of the above mentioned breeds.
Summary of the control of dogs regulations, 1998 S.I. No. 442/1998:
A person shall not permit a restricted breed dog (or strains and crosses of them) in a public place unless such a dog is
- Being led by means of a strong short leash not longer than 1 metre, by a person over the age of 16 years who can control the dog.
- Securely muzzled.
- Is wearing a collar bearing the name and address of the owner.
