Breadcrumbs
Talking the walk - 08 September 2006
The UK’s approximate 6.2 million dogs and their 15 million owners are the focus of a new report launched by the Kennel Club, Hampshire County Council and the Countryside Agency.
Caroline Kisko of the Kennel Club said: “The report identifies the psychological factors affecting the behaviour and attitudes of dog walkers. The results of this research will help build more effective ways of getting clear and consistent messages to dog owners on where to go and what might be expected of them in the countryside, so that they can feel confident and fully enjoy their walks.”
Jo Hale of Hampshire County Council said: “We now have a much better understanding of how dog walkers use the countryside and what influences their choices on where to go and how to behave. Hampshire County Council intends to pilot recommendations made in the report and develop good practice that will be of use for anyone involved in managing access. In particular the pilots will test different ways of improving communication with dog walkers through consistent signage, information sheets, events and working groups so that they feel more welcome and valued, and so able to play a more constructive part in conserving our natural environment.”
Sarah Knight from the University of Portsmouth continued, “The aims of this project were to listen to people explain their behaviour toward their dogs and when out walking. The measures that we recommend are based on what we learned from dog walkers. These should help land managers communicate with dog walkers and manage their sites in ways that will benefit managers, dog walkers, and other visitors to the countryside.”
Abi Townsend of the Countryside Agency said: “The results provide us with a bigger picture. Little research has been done in the past on the behaviour of dog walkers and with nearly a third of visitors to the countryside being accompanied by a dog, we needed to know the best ways of providing information to such a major user group. All the data collected through this research will feed into future projects to do with dogs in the countryside, ensuring the needs of all countryside visitors can be met.”
Having ‘talked the walk’, the results will go towards making sure dogs and their owners are able to ‘walk the walk’ with confidence.
Ends
For copies of the report, please visit: http://www.countryside.gov.uk/LAR/Access/index.asp
For more information please contact the Countryside Agency press office on:
Nuala Murray: 01242 533398 or 07900 608 351
Matthew Heard: 01242 533476 or 07900 608 168
Notes to editors
In December a research contract was established with the University of Portsmouth and a steering group was formed chaired by a member of the Hampshire Countryside Access Forum. Dr Victoria Edwards, from the Faculty of Environment, and Sarah Knight, a psychologist, worked with the steering group to design and conduct a research study that examines the psychological factors underlying the behaviour of people walking with dogs. Data was collected from dog walkers who participated in focus group meetings, where they were encouraged to rationalise their attitudes toward dogs and their behaviour when walking with dogs. A group of site managers also met to discuss dog walkers who visited their sites.
This data was analysed and a number of psychological principles were applied in order to develop a number of management measures relevant to people walking with dogs. These were tested out during two subsequent focus group discussions and the end product of this research is a report entitled ‘Understanding the Psychology of Walkers with Dogs: new approaches to better management’.
The Countryside Agency
The Agency is changing as the result of Defra's Rural Strategy 2004 and the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill, which gained Royal assent in March 2006.
The New Act sets out the creation of:
- Natural England - a single new body that will integrate the Landscape, Access and Recreation division of the Countryside Agency with English Nature and most of Defra's Rural Development Service (RDS). Natural England will work for people, places and nature, with responsibility for enhancing biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas; promoting access, recreation and public well-being, and contributing to the way natural resources are managed - so that they can be enjoyed now and by future generations.
- Commission for Rural Communities – a single body that will act as a rural advocate, expert adviser and independent watchdog, with a particular focus on disadvantage. Currently operating as a division of the Countryside Agency, the Commission will become an independent body
These changes will come into effect in October 2006, at which point the Countryside Agency will cease to exist.
We may be changing, but our skills, knowledge and enthusiasm will continue to benefit people in rural England. To find out more about our work, and for information about the countryside, visit our website: www.countryside.gov.uk
