Orders about keeping dogs on leash

Learn the rules about when to keep your dog on a leash

The Public Order Act aims at securing the safety and well-being of people in densely populated built-up areas. The Public Order Act orders that dogs must always be kept on a leash in built-up areas.

The Hunting Act aims at securing a peaceful breeding season for wild animals. Dogs older than five months must therefore be kept on a leash outside built-up areas from 1 March to 19 August.

Only dogs used for certain tasks are allowed to differ from the orders above, if the task requires it.

Dogs must always be kept on leash in built-up areas

Section 14 on dog control in the Public Order Act regulates that dogs, including puppies, must be kept on a leash in built-up areas around the year. Only dogs on duty may be kept off leash while performing their tasks.

Built-up area refers to a densely built area, marked with a specific traffic sign.

In built-up areas, a dog may be kept off leash on enclosed yards, dog training areas, and fenced-in exercise areas specifically designated for dogs. In these areas, the dog must be under supervision and control of its owner so that it does not cause danger or damage to people, property, or other animals. A dog owner or holder also has a responsibility to make sure that the dog cannot escape the closed-up area.

A leashed dog must be kept so that it does not disturb or cause danger to other dogs or people. This is why it is important that the dog is walked by someone who to his or her size is able to control the dog. Attention must also be paid on the proper equipment of the dog.

Some places in built-up areas are off limits for even leashed dogs

In built-up areas, dogs have no access whatsoever to public beaches, children's playgrounds, or marketplaces during trading hours. The provisions do not apply to a dog assisting a physically handicapped person, a guide dog for a visually impaired person, or a hearing dog for a hearing-impaired person. The Public Order Act allows taking a leashed dog to a graveyard; however, many people find this to be against public decency.

Walking or running with a leashed dog on a public exercise track is allowed, but if the exercise track is remade to a ski track for winter, taking a dog there is forbidden, unless specifically allowed.

Dogs must be kept on leash outside built-up areas from 1 March to 19 August

The Hunting Act regulates, amongst other things, about the obligation to keep dogs on leash, dog trials, dog training, and impounding of dogs. According to Section 51 of the Hunting Act, a dog must be kept on leash when outdoors from 1 March to 19 August, or so that it may be immediately put on a leash. A dog may be kept off leash only in a yard, garden, or a fenced area reserved for keeping of a dog.

The obligation to keep dogs on leash does not apply to puppies younger than five months nor dogs in herding, guiding, or guarding tasks. Also, dogs carrying out tasks for the police, Customs, Defence Forces, or the Border Guard or dogs trained for such tasks may be kept off leash during this time.

Derogation from the obligation to keep dogs on leash may also be made when a dog other than a hound is being used for hunting unprotected game animals or when a pointer or other bird dog is being trained.  In addition, the Finnish Wildlife Agency may grant a permission to derogate from the obligation to keep dogs on leash when holding a dog trial or to train a dog. All derogations above require that hunting, the dog trial, or training is carried out in a way that does not disturb protected game animals during their breeding season. (Hunting Act, Section 51 and 52)

Dogs may be kept off leash outside built-up areas from 20 August to 28 February with permission of the landowner or holder of hunting rights

Dogs may be kept off leash outside built-up areas from 20 August to the end of February. Still, dogs are not allowed to be kept off leash wherever even there. Keeping a dog off leash always requires permission of the landowner or holder of the hunting rights (Hunting Act Section 53). Permission to take your dog off leash must be asked either in person or by sorting out in some other way if dogs may be kept off leash in the area in question.

Primarily, dogs must always be kept on leash in national parks and nature conservation areas. Hunting, also with dogs, is however allowed in some national parks (see Nature Conservation Act, Section 18 and 20).

Landowner refers to a private person, municipality, congregation, private business, company, or state that owns the lands. A landowner may choose to rent out the lands for hunting purposes, for instance to a local hunting society, making the society the holder of hunting rights.

In a hunting situation, a dog may derive to a forbidden area for no longer than half an hour. If the owner does not pick up their dog during this time, the landowner or the holder of hunting rights is allowed to interrupt the hunting situation either by removing the dog from the area or by impounding it. The owner, if known, or the police must immediately be informed that the dog has been impounded. The dog owner must pay a fee and compensation for taking care of the dog to the person who has impounded the dog or to the state. (Hunting Act, Section 55)

Violation of provisions or carelessness may lead to fines and compensation of damage

Violation of provisions in the Public Order Act and the Hunting Act may lead to fines. A dog owner or holder may also be sentenced to a fine if an animal that is dangerous to people is left without proper supervision (Criminal Code of Finland, Chapter 44, Section 15). The Court may also sentence the dog to be put down if it is well-founded due to the dog’s dangerousness. The dog owner or holder may be liable for damages caused by the dog, if the damage has been caused by wilful, careless, or incautious actions of the dog owner or holder.