Campsite Etiquette: It's a Lead, Not a Personal Attack
There seems to be a growing epidemic sweeping across Britain's campsites.
No, it's not midges.
It's not the weather.
It's not people burning sausages on disposable barbecues.
It's the mysterious inability of some dog owners to read a sign that says "Dogs must be kept on a lead."
Now, before someone starts clutching their biodegradable poo bags and muttering, "My dog's friendly...", let's get one thing out of the way.
I don't care.
Your dog may genuinely be the friendliest dog on Earth. It may cuddle newborn lambs, rescue hedgehogs and make a cracking cup of tea. That's wonderful.
But none of that changes the campsite rules.
And those rules weren't written because the owners fancied wasting money on signs.
They exist because campsites are shared spaces.
"My Dog's Friendly..."
Let's translate that phrase into what the rest of us hear.
"My dog is about to ignore my recall, sprint across your pitch, stick its nose in your dinner, sniff inside your awning and introduce itself to your dog without permission."
Every experienced dog owner has heard those words seconds before chaos unfolds.
Some dogs are recovering from surgery.
Some are elderly.
Some are nervous.
Some are reactive.
Some are in training.
Some simply don't appreciate being dive-bombed by a Labrador travelling at Mach 3.
None of that matters to the approaching dog because nobody stopped it.
And suddenly your quiet afternoon becomes an unwanted training session.
Your Pitch Isn't a Public Park
Here's another concept that apparently needs explaining.
When someone books a pitch, they're paying for that little rectangle of grass.
It's temporarily their garden.
You probably wouldn't wander into a stranger's back garden at home and let your dog relieve itself next to their deckchair.
So why does it suddenly become acceptable because there's a caravan attached?
Watching someone stand there while their dog casually empties its bladder on another person's pitch is genuinely baffling.
Even more baffling is when they look surprised that anyone objects.
Grass doesn't magically become communal property because it's inside a campsite.
People sit there.
Children play there.
Dogs lie there.
People eat there.
Nobody wants to spend the evening wondering whether that damp patch beside their chair is morning dew or someone else's dog's contribution to nature.
"It'll Only Take a Minute"
Rules don't stop applying because you're only walking to the shower block.
Or emptying the toilet cassette.
Or popping to the tap.
Or "just quickly" taking the bins out.
Dogs don't schedule their bad decisions.
Many of the incidents I've witnessed have happened because someone thought they didn't need a lead for thirty seconds.
Thirty seconds is plenty of time for a dog to spot another dog, decide life is exciting and make a beeline across three pitches.
The Dedicated Exercise Field
Here's the part that really makes me scratch my head.
Many dog-friendly parks now provide enclosed exercise fields.
Not tiny patches of grass.
Proper secure fields.
Often completely free.
They're designed specifically so dogs can run, sniff, play and enjoy being dogs without bothering everyone else.
It's the best of both worlds.
Dogs get freedom.
Everyone else gets peace.
Yet somehow there are still people insisting on letting their dogs wander around the campsite instead.
Why?
Walking another thirty metres to the exercise field isn't exactly an endurance event.
If your dog genuinely needs an off-lead run, the campsite has already solved that problem for you.
Use it.
Reactive Dogs Have Every Right to Be There
Let's tackle one of the biggest misconceptions in dog ownership.
A reactive dog has exactly the same right to enjoy a holiday as your sociable one.
People spend months—sometimes years—working through behavioural issues.
They choose quiet campsites.
They manage their dogs carefully.
They keep them on leads.
They create distance.
They do everything they're supposed to do.
Then along comes someone whose off-lead dog barrels over because "he just wants to say hello."
Congratulations.
You've just undone ten minutes of careful management in about three seconds.
The irony?
The owner of the reactive dog is usually the one actually following every rule.
If Someone Reminds You About the Rules...
Here's a revolutionary idea.
Say:
"Oh, sorry."
Put your dog back on the lead.
Carry on with your day.
That's it.
No eye rolling.
No muttering.
No passive-aggressive comments.
No dramatic sighs.
And certainly no acting as though you've been personally victimised because someone expected you to follow the same rules as everyone else.
Being reminded of a campsite rule isn't a personal attack.
It's not bullying.
It's not people being miserable.
It's simply someone asking you to respect the place you've both chosen to stay.
Why We're Losing Dog-Friendly Campsites
This is the part that genuinely worries me.
Dog-friendly campsites are disappearing.
Not because dogs are the problem.
Because irresponsible owners are.
Every complaint about uncontrolled dogs...
Every pitch covered in urine...
Every dog fight that could have been prevented...
Every owner who ignores the rules...
Every argument created because someone couldn't be bothered clipping on a lead...
It all adds up.
Eventually campsite owners decide it's easier to ban dogs altogether.
And who loses?
The responsible owners.
The people who pick up after their dogs.
The people who keep them under control.
The people who use the exercise field.
The people who actually read the signs.
We all end up paying the price for a small minority who believe rules are optional.
Common Courtesy Costs Nothing
Owning a dog comes with responsibilities.
Not just towards your own dog, but towards everyone sharing the space.
Keep your dog on a lead where required.
Use the facilities provided.
Don't let your dog wander onto someone else's pitch.
Don't assume every dog wants to meet yours.
Don't allow your dog to toilet where people are living for the weekend.
And if someone politely reminds you of the campsite rules...
Smile.
Apologise.
Clip the lead on.
It's really not that difficult.
Dog-friendly campsites are a privilege, not a right.
If we want them to still exist ten years from now, then every one of us has a part to play.
Otherwise, don't be surprised when another campsite quietly changes its website from "Dogs Welcome" to "No Dogs Allowed."
And when that happens, the people who followed the rules all along will be wondering why they're being punished for someone else's laziness.
The Ten Commandments of Campsite Dog Etiquette
1. Thou shalt read the signs.
They're not decorative artwork. If it says dogs must be on a lead, put the lead on.
2. Thou shalt not utter the words "Don't worry, he's friendly."
Your dog doesn't need to greet every dog, child, cyclist, barbecue or human it encounters.
3. Thou shalt remember that another person's pitch is their temporary home.
If you wouldn't let your dog pee on someone's garden at home, don't let them do it on a campsite.
4. Thou shalt use the dog exercise field.
The campsite has kindly provided a place where your dog can run free. Use it. That's literally what it's there for.
5. Thou shalt respect reactive, nervous and elderly dogs.
Not every dog wants a new best friend. Give them the space they deserve.
6. Thou shalt not assume thy recall is perfect.
If your dog's recall only works when nothing exciting is happening, it isn't reliable enough to ignore the lead rule.
7. Thou shalt clean up after thy dog... every single time.
Leaving presents behind isn't sharing the countryside—it's just being inconsiderate.
8. Thou shalt accept a polite reminder with grace.
A simple "Sorry, my mistake" is far more impressive than an eye roll and a muttered complaint.
9. Thou shalt remember that dog-friendly campsites are a privilege.
Every ignored rule gives another campsite owner a reason to ban dogs altogether.
10. Above all else, thou shalt remember one simple rule:
Good dog owners don't just look after their own dogs—they make life easier for everyone else too.
Because in the end, campsite etiquette isn't about being strict. It's about respect. Respect for other campers. Respect for other dogs. Respect for the campsite owners who have chosen to welcome us.
If we can't manage something as simple as clipping on a lead, keeping dogs off other people's pitches and using the fantastic facilities many parks provide, we shouldn't be surprised when those welcomes start disappearing.
Let's prove that responsible dog owners are still the majority—because the future of dog-friendly campsites depends on it.