Whether ambling along leafy lanes, rambling through forests, or exploring new access land, the countryside is a great place for 
you and your dog to explore and enjoy.
Six steps to worry-free walkies by following the Countryside code:
- Control your dog so that it does not scare or disturb farm animals or wildlife.
- When using the new access rights over open country and common land, you must keep your dog on a short lead between 1st March and 31st July - and all year round near farm animals - and you may not be able to take your dog at all on some areas or at some times. Make sure you follow any official signs.
- As a general rule, keep your dog on a lead if you cannot rely on obedience. By law, farmers are entitled to destroy a dog that injures or worries their animals.
- If a farm animal chases you and your dog, it is safer to let your dog off the lead - don't risk getting hurt by trying to protect it.
- Take good care that your dog doesn't scare sheep and lambs, or wander where it might disturb birds that nest on the ground and other wildlife - eggs and young will soon die without protection from their parents.
- Everyone knows how unpleasant dog mess can be and how it can cause infections, so always clean up after your dog and dispose of its mess responsibly.
Wherever you go, following these six steps will help keep your pet safe, protect the environment and demonstrate that you are a responsible dog owner.
Find out more about these rules from http://www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk or for specific queries, call 0845 100 3298.