Hiking with Your Dog in the Forest: Rules and Tips in Belgium

A forest walk with your dog is one of the loveliest ways to enjoy autumn. Your dog sniffs at every leaf, while you enjoy the colours and the quiet. But may your dog run off the lead? What are the rules in Flanders and Wallonia? And what should you watch out for in autumn, with acorns, ticks and the hunting season? Pull on the Trail Rest Hoodie, with muddy hiking boots by the door, and read everything you need to know.

Can your dog run free in the forest?

Short answer: no, except in a designated dog zone. Across Belgium, a compulsory leash rule applies in forests and nature areas.

The rules in Flanders

• In forests and nature areas your dog must always be on a lead. This applies all year round, not just during the breeding season.
• Stay with your dog on the paths.
• Rules can differ from area to area, so always check the signs at the entrance.
• In Natuurpunt nature reserves your dog always stays on a lead. Some routes are temporarily closed during the breeding season.
• Fine: according to the Agentschap Natuur en Bos you risk €96, and more for repeat offences or with multiple dogs.

The leash rule has broad support: in a 2024 survey, 81% of Flemings backed the rule.

The rules in Wallonia

• In Wallonia too, your dog must be on a lead in the forest, as set out in the Walloon forest code (Code forestier).
• The Walloon government recommends a lead of no more than 2 metres. Some municipalities are stricter, for example 1.5 metres.
• Fine: an on-the-spot fine of €75, and up to €2,000 for repeat offences.

Why keep dogs on a lead?

A dog running free, however friendly, is a predator to wild animals.

• Nesting birds: on heaths and in forests, birds such as the tree pipit, curlew and nightjar nest on the ground. A sniffing dog can drive the parents away from their nest.
• Roe deer fawns and young hares: in spring they lie hidden and still in the grass. A dog can disturb them or even bite them to death.
• Wild boar: small wild boar run from a dog, but larger animals sometimes go on the attack. Read more in our article on wild boar in Belgium.

Wildlife needs peace in autumn and winter too, which is why the leash rule applies all year round.

Dog zones: where your dog can run free

In a dog zone your dog may run and play freely, as long as you supervise it. Flanders has around seventy dog zones, and new ones are added regularly.

How do you find a dog zone?

On the Natuur en Bos experience map (belevingskaart.natuurenbos.be) you can switch on the "dog zones" layer. That way you can see straight away where one is nearby.

A few examples

• Hoge Kempen National Park: several dog zones, including in the Mechelse Heide and Pietersheim walking areas. Note: dogs are not allowed in zones with grazing animals, not even on a lead. Your dog may not swim there.
• Kalmthoutse Heide Border Park: a dog zone at De Vroente, the dog play forest in Kalmthout and a zone in the Wildertse Duintjes in Essen.
• Natuurpunt also has reserves with an off-leash zone, such as Den Rooy in the province of Antwerp.

After an afternoon of running in the dog zone, your dog needs loyal friends, just like a wolf pack. That feeling of heading out together is captured in the Pack North Hoodie, with a wolf pack trekking through the snow.

Watch out in autumn

The hunting season in Wallonia

In Wallonia, wild boar drive hunts take place in the forest from 1 October to 31 January. On hunting days, the paths in the hunting area are off-limits. You can recognise them by red posters at the start of the paths, which are put up at least 48 hours in advance. Yellow posters provide extra information. On chasseonweb.be you will find a map of the planned hunts. During this period, it is best to wear bright clothing and keep your dog firmly on a lead.

Acorns and chestnuts

In autumn the forest floor is covered in acorns. They contain tannins, which can cause stomach ache, vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs, and even kidney problems if eaten in large amounts. So don't let your dog chew on them.

Ticks

Ticks stay active as long as it isn't really cold. Check your dog after every forest walk, especially on the head, ears and between the paws.

• Remove a tick as quickly as possible with a tick tweezer, as close to the skin as possible.
• Don't use alcohol or oil.
• Does your dog become feverish, listless or start limping? Then visit the vet: it could be Lyme disease.

Blue-green algae

Dogs swim and drink with their mouths open, and blue-green algae can damage their liver, kidneys and nerves. Don't let your dog swim in water with a green or blue scum on the surface. If he has been in the water anyway, rinse him off straight away. On kwaliteitzwemwater.be you can see where blue-green algae has been found.

African swine fever

African swine fever is harmless to dogs and humans: only pigs and wild boar become ill from it. Dogs can, however, spread the virus via their paws or coat. That is another reason to keep your dog on a lead and on the paths.

Practical tips for a forest walk with your dog

• Bring poop bags: according to Natuurpunt, dog poo in nature reserves is a real problem. Always take it home or put it in a bin.
• Bring water for your dog, especially on longer walks.
• Use a good lead of no more than 2 metres.
• Walking at dusk? In autumn it gets dark early. A light on the collar helps keep your dog visible.
• After the walk: check for ticks and rinse muddy paws. Wet and muddy walks are part of autumn; tips for staying dry yourself can be found in our article on hiking in the rain.

A warm layer for those crisp autumn mornings? The Trail Crest Sweatshirt, with a vintage hiking badge, is made for long walks with your most loyal companion.

Frequently asked questions

Can my dog run free in the forest?

No. In Flanders and Wallonia, your dog must stay on a lead in forests and nature areas. Only in designated dog zones may it run free, under supervision.

What is a dog zone?

A designated stretch of nature where your dog may run and play freely, as long as you supervise it. You can find all dog zones on the Natuur en Bos experience map.

What should I do if my dog has a tick?

Remove the tick as quickly as possible with a tick tweezer, as close to the skin as possible, without alcohol or oil. If your dog then develops a fever or becomes listless, go to the vet.

Out on the trail together

A dog is the best hiking buddy there is: always keen, never too tired for one more lap. Discover our designs for loyal walkers in the Wolf collection, such as the Silver Howl Hoodie with a wolf howling at the moon, or the Lone Dusk T-shirt with a lone wolf against a dusky sky. Shipping is free across the EU from €45 (otherwise €4.99).