Frequently Asked Questions
What is the point of a dog park?
There are several ways in which a dog park might improve the quality of life in a rural location. Some potential outcomes might include:
A dog park is a great place for people to meet and mingle because it's a community gathering place for dogs and dog owners.
Dog parks provide a secure space for dogs to stay active and interact with other dogs, promoting both their physical and mental well-being; providing a designated space for off-leash play can greatly contribute to their overall well-being. Moreover, spending quality time with dogs has been scientifically shown to have a beneficial effect on human physical and mental health, aiding in the reduction of stress and promoting a sense of overall well-being.
A well-designed dog park can become a unique attraction for dog owners from surrounding areas. This can boost tourism, especially if the village is situated in a picturesque location. Visitors who own dogs may opt to visit the village for the purpose of enjoying the dog park, which in turn helps support the local business economy.
Dog parks commonly enforce rules and regulations that encourage responsible pet ownership, including waste disposal requirements. This can help create a cleaner and more organised community, encouraging dog owners to take responsibility for their pets.
Providing a dedicated space for off-the-lead activities guarantees that our furry friends can freely enjoy exercise and playtime in a supervised setting, minimising the chances of any altercations or disagreements with other pets or people. This can help enhance the safety of the community as a whole.
some dogs (and humans!) are shy or reactive, so the safe enclosed space of a controlled environment can allow training, socialisation and confidence building to take place.
The area of land is currently freely accessed by members of the local communities and tourists to enjoy the view, fish, access the water and ‘wild’ camp. How are you going to mitigate the impact on these users?
Jahama Highland Estates, the current owner of the area, has offered a lease to Dog Country. We aim to improve the area by addressing current issues such as litter, human waste and fly-tipping. We look to promote the area by offering a wide range of established businesses, such as campsites, hostels, restaurants, and pubs, along with other outdoor and water-based activities. Encouraging visitors to make use of these can assist with the regeneration of surrounding areas and increase socialisation opportunities (for dogs and humans!)
Additionally, we welcome engagement with local groups who anticipate an impact from the development of Dog Country alongside being able to offer wellbeing retreats, secluded areas, and nature bathing to local charities such as Ewan’s Room and Lochaber Woman’s Aid
Have any alternative options been explored?
After extensive discussions over the course of the last four or five years with Highland Council, Kinlochleven Community Trust, Highlife Highland and Jahama Highland Estates, it was determined that no suitable areas could be found that fulfilled the criteria of our vision were available from the landowners, or were affordable. These included sites within the village of Kinlochleven and the town of Fort William. Jahama Highland Estates offered two final sites along the lochside they were looking to lease, with one requiring further investigation regarding wader scrapes. Once it was established this was unsuitable, the final site at Caolasnacon (the narrows of the dogs) was offered to us.
Isn’t this the only ‘green’ space available for locals and visitors to access for fishing, photography, wild camping, and picnics?
Luckily, there are many other opportunities on both sides of Loch Leven for all these activities
Photography, walking and picnics can be enjoyed at Ballachulish viewpoint, Ballachulish quarry, Glencoe Lochan, Loch Leven viewpoint, Seagull Island, Island Park Kinlochleven, Old Pier Kinlochleven, Grey Mares waterfall alongside large lay-by offering similar access to green spaces and loch entry.
Camping, caravans and motorhomes are welcomed at Caolasnacon Caravan & Camping Park; Blackwater Hostel has glamping, camping and hostelling, and Invercoe Highland Holidays offers pods and motorhome pitches. Kinlocheven Community Trust is in the process of creating an Aires motorhome stopover point with electric hookups.
Kinlochleven Angling Club controls the fishing on the Blackwater Reservoir, Lochan a'Chlaideimh, Loch Eilde Moor, Coie na Staoineig, Lochan Tom Alin, Loch na Staoineig, Lochan a'Chium Dheirg, Garbh Lochan, Lochan na Craoibhe and the river Leven.
Although Kinlochleven slipway and pier are currently not in general use, Glencoe Boat Club offers facilities and access to the Loch for boating and a range of water sports.
Won’t it become a mess with compost bins, plastic equipment and increased litter and dog waste from Dog Country users?
There are many similar facilities now available all over the country, and it’s found that users maintain them in a clean and safe manner in the expectation that is how they will find it. If you’ve ever used or driven past one, you’ll know it doesn’t benefit the users to leave a mess. Dog Country will be manned during opening times by an operative who will be carrying out grounds maintenance and offering on-site assistance.
The compost bins we will use are Subpod, an in-ground composter that works with nature, using worms and microbes to compost organic waste without the odours, vermin and hard work of traditional composting. Already discreet, they can be easily concealed further by integrating them into flower beds.
Visually, all obstacles and platforms would be made from existing natural elements such as logs, rocks and landscaping to create natural trails. There would be no plastic tunnels, hoops, cones or apparatus.
There are hundreds of miles of hills, paths, open spaces and tracks and trails, why cant I just let my dog off lead wherever I want?
It doesn’t get much better than enjoying Scotland’s majestic scenery with your dog by your side.
Scotland’s outdoors has so much to offer dogs and their owners. And as long as you act responsibly, the Scottish Outdoor Access Code gives you the right to be on most land for recreation.
However, when not kept under proper control, such as being on lead, dogs can cause distress to or even injure farm animals, wildlife and people.
Under the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010
A dog does not have to attack a person or another animal to be out of control.
Your dog is out of control if:
you do not keep it under control effectively and consistently
its behaviour causes someone to fear for their own safety or that of another person or animal
You may not be keeping your dog under control if:
your dog's behaviour causes alarm and fear
you leave it alone in public places, or you let it stray
it does not come back when you call it
it nips or bites another person for any reason (your dog should wear a muzzle if you think it may bite)
you do not put it on a lead or keep it under close control around sheep and other livestock
Recent events have highlighted the risks surrounding responsible dog ownership and maintaining control, especially when in public. Responsible dog ownership can significantly reduce the risks and create safer environments
Why do you say ‘enclosed’ instead of ‘secure’
We have taken great care to ensure the safety of our zones while also providing ample opportunities for dogs to explore freely.
We have extended our perimeters to include the low tide line, ensuring that there is plenty to keep your furry friends engaged. Please take care when approaching the perimeters and consider using a long lead or taking extra care. You must ensure that YOU are happy to make use of the site as per the terms & conditions of Dog Country.
Are the fences dug into the ground? My dog likes to dig!
We strive to minimise our impact on the beautiful environment surrounding us. Instead of using dug-in deterrents like chicken fencing, we focus on creating an enriching and rewarding experience away from the fence line. We also incorporate natural landscaping along the fence line to deter diggers while also creating spaces where dogs can freely explore and enjoy getting their feet dirty!
If you're concerned about your furry friend getting away, why not consider hiring one of our PitPat trackers? They're a great way to keep an eye on your pooch and give you peace of mind whilst using the park.
Can I just turn up and get into Dog Country?
Our three regions (Highlands, Lowlands, and Flatlands) are only available for pre-booking. This allows us to make the greatest use of our team while we develop the site, with the goal of opening Lowlands to the general public in the near future.
Visitors are kindly requested to arrive on time for their allocated time slot at Dog Country. In the event of arriving early, you will be directed to a designated holding zone until your booked area becomes available. Once your allocated booking time begins and the previous patron has exited the area, the Dog Country paddock you have booked will be exclusively yours for the duration of your reservation.
Is there a reason why aversive tools and negative training methods are not allowed at Dog Country?
The team at Dog Country are committed to promoting positive reinforcement (R+) dog behaviour and training with kindness, empathy and compassion. We firmly believe in the importance of treating our furry friends with kindness and respect. Multiple scientific studies have highlighted the negative consequences of employing aversive techniques in dog training and ownership. We firmly disapprove of these methods.
At Dog Country, we prioritise creating an environment where your dog can freely engage in their natural behaviours and enjoy a fulfilling and positive experience. We understand the importance of ensuring their comfort and safety, which is why we offer harnesses and flat collars that you can borrow, if needed, for the duration of your stay with us at Dog Country.
Dog Country is committed to promoting a safe and compassionate environment for all animals and strongly opposes any form of aversive dog training methods. If any member of our team witnesses any form of dog or animal cruelty, you will be kindly requested to leave Dog Country immediately. We will also inform the relevant authorities, if necessary, to address any concerns.
I don't have a car; what other transport options are available to me?
Dog Country is here to help. We are fully insured and licenced to transport dogs. For a small fee, we can provide pick-up services for you and your beloved canine companion, making your journey together hassle-free.
Car Share. Our booking options are perfect for those who want to bring along multiple furry friends. You can add up to 10 additional dogs, so why not gather your pals, split the entrance fee, and have a fantastic doggie party!
Why is it necessary to use the provided orange waste bags? (within the Dog Country development)
At Dog Country, we prioritise minimising our impact on the local environment and the planet as a whole. That's why we're introducing the use of our eco-friendly poo bags, which are made with cornflour and can be composted at home. You can conveniently dispose of these bags in the designated 'in-ground' compost bins, where we also add cardboard, paper, and food scraps to create nutrient-rich compost. This compost is then used to nourish our beloved plants and trees.
I would like to use my own compostable bags for waste disposal as I find them preferable.
No problem. Please kindly consider either taking these home to compost or disposing of them in the litter bin. In order to maintain a clean and uncontaminated environment in our composters, we take the necessary steps to remove any items that are not our distinctive orange poo bags.
What about the visual and environmental impacts of Dog Country?
The fencing we propose consists of 6ft deer fencing for the perimeter and 4ft stock dividing fences within. These types of fences are commonly seen throughout the Highlands.
We strive to have a container conveniently located near the gate, offering a space for small office use, retail purposes, and assistance. Additionally, there is the option of having another timber clad container for storing maintenance equipment. These will have a similar style and colour as the neighbouring structures, creating a common aesthetic.
Either Highland Council or Lochiel Logistics will provide litter and recycling services, with wheelie bins available on-site. Our goal is to compost all paper and cardboard in our poo bag composters. We prioritise sourcing locally produced items with minimal packaging.
We will install shelters using recycled and upcycled wood, seamlessly blending them into the existing landscape. Along with the planned obstacles for pooches, this will create a harmonious and natural environment.
We will include information about the local fauna and flora on notice boards, leaflets and the website. Our goal is to raise awareness and management practices will be implemented to support the local wildlife, including controlling invasive non-native species, nurturing and protecting native vegetation, conducting surveys of fish and wildlife populations, and creating habitats for bees and butterflies through the installation of nesting boxes and planting. There is also a specific location where you can find a variety of plants that are beneficial for dogs to self-medicate.
We are committed to fostering partnerships that will protect, nurture, and enrich the heritage and culture of the site.