The New Forest Dog Owners Group is celebrating its silver anniversary this month. In the last 25 years, we’ve campaigned for dog walkers’ freedoms, promoted welfare, and helped to protect the forest environment and wildlife. 

Dog walking is by far the biggest recreational use of the New Forest (the National Park estimate 10,000 walks a day). So, it’s no surprise that we are the largest forest user group with well over 1,000 members. 

We thought you would like to know some of the ways we’re marking the event. Four highlights: 

• You’ll see our logo has, for this year, a 25th anniversary banner across it. This will be used in places such as Bark! magazine, our show stand, and any publicity we have to produce. 
• The next Bark! magazine (to be distributed by email or print in July) will tell the story of NFDOG; starting in the sitting-room of our founder Pauline Ludlow in Brockenhurst. It was her idea. 
• Our photo competition is about 25 – your dog(s) with ‘25’. That may be a sign, toys or treats, pine cones, whatever. Entries close at the end of the month (the prize is a £100 pet store voucher) and simply email your pictures to competition@newforestdog.org.uk . You don’t need to be a member to enter. 
• This month our social media is featuring 25 positive things we’ve achieved in 25 years – one-a-day highlighting our successes. Actually, we’ve come up with 30 examples (one-a-day for June). 
• The AGM on 29th October (1830 for 1900 at Brockenhurst Village Hall – wine and nibbles will accompany conversation) will be interactive. After the short formal business, and led by the co-Chairmen, we’ll talk about incidents and anecdotes, and welcome contributions from the audience. Please do try and come, it would be lovely to celebrate (we’ll have a toast with bubbly) our anniversary year with you!

Below you’ll find the list of our achievements. None of this would be possible without the support of people like you, and we thank-you. 

Yours sincerely,

Heather Gould and David Bennett. co-Chairmen. NFDOG. 

Our successes over the years: 

1. Campaigned successfully after Foot and Mouth restrictions for dogs to be allowed off-lead. NFDOG has continued to preserve the freedom for dogs to enjoy the forest, responsibly, off-lead. 
2. Pauline Ludlow, co-founder of NFDOG won the Lesley Scott-Ordish Award, twice, for her work personally and the success of NFDOG. 
3. Run the New Forest lost dog service, helping reunite owners with their missing pets. 
4. Launched and manage a web app for lost dogs, and also general welfare issues such as First Aid.
5. Responded to enquiries, including the media, on dog related matters and using messages about responsible ownership.
6. Promoted responsible ownership, not disturbing others or the wildlife, especially through events, our website and social media.
7. Collected (with others) tens of thousands of pounds to support work into CRGV /Alabama Rot. 
8. Promoted higher welfare standards – such as not leaving dogs in cars on sunny days, care during firework season, and protecting against dog theft. 
9. Campaigned to help wildlife by avoiding ‘spot-on’ flea and tick treatments which harm insect life in ponds, as well as supporting Forestry England warnings about dangerous algae blooms in water.
10. Worked with partners and led to try to persuade those who don’t to pick-up poo to do so, our largest campaign to date. 
11. Established confident and successful relationships with forest authorities, including sitting on several panels, to promote understanding of dog owners.
12. Joined with Police, FE and NPA to engage with car park users on a variety of topics (from us responsible ownership and poo, rewarding those with bags).
13. Introduced a popular annual photo competition.
14. Attended public shows each year from the intimate Frogham Fair to the three-day New Forest Show talking to owners, helping them with their dog issues. 
15. Held popular online winter webinars from training aids to first aid.
16. Promoted the New Forest country code, alongside a code for dog owners (with NPA).
17. Distributed posters to campsites, hotels and other visitor areas each year to help people holidaying here to understand the forest and dogs.
18. Worked with Wild New Forest and others to highlight the need to have close control (or preferably avoid) areas with Ground Nesting Birds.
19. Launched a ‘welcome’ campaign encouraging and signposting businesses and hospitality venues to allow well-behaved dogs with owners.
20. Helped members understand new regulations such as the 2026 Livestock Act and car park charging.
21. Supported (and helped write) the NPA Professional Dog Walking Charter.
22. Worked with wildlife groups and others to protect wildlife and especially birds on coastal areas, both publicising signposted areas. 
23. Supported (alongside The Verderers, and Commoners Defence Association) an independent university study into Neospora after cases reported. Dogs in the forest were shown not to be the cause.
24. Launched an Ambassador scheme to promote responsible ownership through dog-related businesses – and receive discounts for NFDOG members. 
25. Helping owners understand their dogs – if it is depressed, or hurt, the need for mental stimulation and well-being. 
26. We’ve co-funded a National Park Ranger specialising in ‘dog’ issues and working with owners and visitors.
27. Worked with partners to produce the New Forest dog walking code, and promoting it, including a popular cartoon poster. 
28. Helped the National Park Authority write the responsible dog-walking code, and the professional dog-walkers code.
29. Supported the Police’s Dogwatch campaign, encouraging walkers to report anything unusual they see while out and about. 
30. Featured in national media from ‘Dogs World’ to daily newspapers promoting our work for dog owners, and the New Forest.