Under the Hunting Act, the period for keeping dogs on a leash ends nationally on Wednesday, 20 August, and, at the same time, the training of hunting dogs can begin in earnest. In urban areas, the end of the period for keeping dogs on a leash has no effect, as the same rules apply to keeping dogs on a leash all year round.

The end of the period for keeping dogs on a leash is related to hunting 

The period for keeping dogs on a leash is regulated in the Hunting Act, and the right to keep a dog off-leash is mainly related to hunting. According to the act, the holder of the hunting right – i.e. the landowner or often the local hunting club – makes the decision on keeping dogs off-leash. This means that not all dogs going for a walk in the forest have the right to run freely.

The period for keeping dogs on a leash ensures wild animals have a peaceful breeding season. The period always starts in the spring at the beginning of March and continues until the autumn, 19 August. When the period ends on 20 August, the duck hunting season begins at noon on the same day.

There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities in urban areas 

In urban areas, dogs should generally be kept on a leash, but there are also good opportunities for outdoor activities for dogs in urban areas. Dogs may be kept off-leash in dog parks, dog training areas and enclosed yards. Nowadays, there are also an increasing number of fenced dog forests which you can book for your own use. 

Walking, running and skiing with a dog on a public fitness trail or dog trail is permitted when the dog is on a leash, unless specifically prohibited by a sign. In protected areas, dogs must always be kept on a leash.

Dogs may not be off-leash on public beaches, in children’s playgrounds, in market places during trading hours, on ski tracks maintained for public use, or on sports fields, unless otherwise stated. You can read more about the regulations on keeping dogs on a leash here.

If you’re dreaming of longer hikes, the Metsähallitus website has tips for hiking with your dog.

Work on a reliable recall and update your dog's owner information 

Whether you’re walking with your dog in an urban area or in the forest, recall is an important skill, even for its own safety. You should begin practising recall with your dog right from puppyhood.

Sometimes, however, a dog runs away. In this case, a dog's identification marking and up-to-date owner information will prove their worth. Municipal animal shelters and authorities have the right to obtain the owner’s information from the Finnish Kennel Club based on the identification marking of the dog. Animal shelters can use their own credentials to search for information through the Kennel Club’s Omakoira service, regardless of the time of day. It is therefore very important that dogs living in Finland are registered with the Finnish Kennel Club.

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