Dog must be kept on a leash in public places in all cities and municipalities across Flanders. However, municipal authorities are at liberty to decide if exception to this general rule should be made and where these exceptions should apply. Fines for failing to keep a dog on a leash can also vary from one municipality to another.
In the VRT News podcast ‘Mens erger je niet’, the VRT radio newsreader Chaima Saysay spoke of her fear when she is confronted with a dog that is not on a lead.
“I am afraid of many animals, including dogs”‘Even if the owners say, ‘Yes, but he won’t do anything’, I am not comfortable. Especially not if the dog is off the lead. Then I am even more scared and that happens regularly when I am walking down the street.”
Chaima Saysay asks herself whether dog owners are not obliged to keep their animal on a leash. Nathalie Debast of the Association of Flemish City and Municipal Autorities (VVSG) told VRT News that. “Each municipality decides for itself on the rules regarding dogs being off the leash in its area. Just about every local byelaw states that dogs must remain on a leash while they are being walked on public property and that dogs must be under control at all times.”
Even if your dog is on a leash, as an owner you should always be able to prevent it causing an accident or other incident. You should always be ready if the dog unexpectedly decides to pounce or threaten a person or another dog. In addition to this, aggressive dogs, should also be muzzled”.
When is a leash not mandatory?
Nevertheless, there are some exceptions where a leash is not mandatory. “Dogs used for hunting, for example, and sheepdogs don’t have to be on a leash. In addition to this, disaster and accident rescue dogs, the exception also appliers to police dogs being used in an operation to track suspects or illegal substances such as drugs or explosives.
The rules are also different in designated dog-exercise area. “In demarcated areas dog owners are allowed to unleash their dogs. These areas are specifically intended for allowing dogs run free. Of course, the dogs that are running free together there should not be aggressive towards each other. Owners should remain vigilant”.
Anyone who does let their dog run free where it is not allowed risks a fine. “The local police will indeed write out a crime report if they find that an owner has let their dog run free in places where this is forbidden. The byelaws are clear about this. It is the case that you can be fined as much as 350 euro”.
"However, I personally would advise against immediately notifying the police if you see a dog running loose. Try to speak to the owner first and ask politely to put their dog on a leash and feel free to say you don't feel comfortable”, Ms Debast said.