As it turns out, it depends who’s asking and when!
Recently, we asked a group of Run Free customers what their dogs’ favourite type of secure dog field was. We had a feeling large open grassy fields would come out on top, and they did. But what really interested us was everything else.
Because our survey reinforced something we’ve believed from the beginning – the perfect dog field is the field that’s right for your dog today.
We don’t all enjoy the same walk, and neither do our dogs
Some dogs can’t wait to sprint across a huge open field. Others are happiest taking their time, following interesting scents and investigating every corner. And we’ve probably all arrived at a field expecting our dog to race around for an hour, only to discover they’d much rather sniff every blade of grass instead!
Just like us, our dogs don’t always want the same day out.
Why we love open space
When we asked owners to choose their ideal field type, large open grassy fields came out ahead of everything else. That’s hardly surprising.
For many dogs, nothing beats the freedom of a good run. Whether they’re chasing a ball, stretching out into a full-speed sprint or simply enjoying being off lead, having room to move is one of life’s great pleasures.
Our secure dog fields give owners the confidence to let that happen safely.
But there’s more than one way to enjoy a field
Although open space was the favourite, nearly half of our respondents chose something else.
Some preferred woodland-style surroundings. Others liked having access to a mix of different field types.
When you think about it, that makes perfect sense. While we admire the view, dogs experience the world through their noses. Exploring somewhere new, following scent trails and investigating every interesting smell can be just as rewarding as charging across a field.
Why choice matters
One of the strongest messages from the survey was how much owners appreciate having options.
The same dog might want a full-speed run one day, then spend the next visit wandering through woodland or investigating the play equipment. A bit like us, they don’t always want to do exactly the same thing.
Having options means you can choose the field that’s right for your dog on that particular day.
What else did we learn?
Once we looked a little deeper, some interesting patterns began to emerge.
Hounds, including greyhounds, whippets and lurchers, were the biggest fans of large open grassy fields. Given these breeds were developed to run and chase across open ground, that probably won’t surprise anyone.
Working dogs were most likely to choose woodland-style environments, perhaps reflecting their enjoyment of exploring and investigating their surroundings.
Gundogs were the group most likely to favour a mix of field types. Many of these breeds were developed to work closely with people in a variety of environments, so it’s perhaps no surprise that their owners valued having a choice of places to run, explore and use their noses.
Age played a part too. Dogs aged between one and three years were the biggest fans of open grassy fields, while dogs aged 11 years and over were most likely to choose woodland-style exploring. Puppies love the play equipment.
Of course, every dog is an individual, but it was lovely to see these trends emerge.
Freedom means something different to every dog
As we read through the survey responses, another theme appeared. Some owners told us about rescue dogs, nervous dogs and dogs that simply couldn’t be trusted off lead in public spaces.
For those dogs, freedom isn’t necessarily about running flat out. It’s about having space without the distractions or worries that can come with busy public walks. Whether that’s other dogs, traffic, livestock or unfamiliar situations, a secure field gives many dogs the confidence to relax and simply enjoy themselves.
So what makes the perfect dog field?
Our survey says – it depends on your dog and it depends on the day!
Sometimes they’ll want to run.
Sometimes they’ll want to explore.
Sometimes they’ll enjoy play equipment or a new challenge.
And sometimes they’ll simply appreciate somewhere peaceful to be off lead.
That’s why at Run Free we’ve always believed in offering a genuine choice of experiences. From wide open spaces and woodland-style surroundings to sites with play equipment, our aim is to give you the freedom to choose the field that’s right for your dog on that particular day.
Our new website makes that even easier, with handy filters to help you find exactly what you’re looking for, whether that’s a large open grassy field, a peaceful single-field site or somewhere with woodland or wild areas to explore.
Thank you!
A huge thank you to everyone who took part in our survey.
Your answers have given us some brilliant insights and reinforced that every dog is an individual. Helping owners find the field that’s right for their dog means more dogs can enjoy the freedom, exercise and enrichment that suits them best.
