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Secure dog fields: what they are and how to book one

A secure dog field is a private, fully fenced field you hire by the hour, so your dog can run off the lead with nobody else's dog, livestock or traffic to worry about.

What is a secure dog field?

It's a privately owned field, enclosed by fencing high and tight enough to stop a dog getting out, that you book for a set slot. During that slot the field is yours, or shared with a small number of other bookings the owner allows. You let your dog off the lead, play, train or just walk, and leave when your time is up.

Most are run by farmers, smallholders and landowners who've fenced a paddock specifically for dogs. Some are simple grass fields. Others add parking inside the gate, agility equipment, shelter, water and even lighting for winter evenings.

Who are they for?

Almost any dog benefits, but secure fields are a lifeline for:

• Reactive or nervous dogs who find meeting other dogs on walks stressful.
• Dogs still learning recall, where a mistake on an open walk could mean a road or a cliff.
• Puppies and newly adopted rescues who need a safe place to build confidence.
• Females in season, who can't safely mix with other dogs for a few weeks.
• Sighthounds and escape artists: lurchers, whippets, huskies and anything that bolts after a scent.
• Older dogs who want to potter at their own pace without being bowled over.
• Owners in livestock country, where sheep and cattle make most open land a lead-only walk.

What to check before you book

Not every fenced field suits every dog. Before you book, look for:

• Fence height. Many dog fields use 6 ft (1.8 m) fencing. If your dog is a jumper or climber, make that your minimum.
• The bottom of the fence. Diggers need fencing that's buried or meshed at ground level, with no gaps under gates.
• The entrance. A double gate, or parking inside the fence, means your dog can't slip out while you're arriving or leaving.
• What's next door. A road, a footpath or a field of sheep right against the fence matters for some dogs.
• Size and ground. A big open field suits a sprinter; a smaller, varied field may suit an anxious dog better.
• Exclusive or shared. Some fields are booked by one party at a time; others allow a small set number of dogs together.
• Facilities. Water, shade or shelter, a bin, somewhere to sit, and lighting if you're booking after dark.

Every field on WONDA lists its fencing, safety details and real photos, and shows how many dogs it takes at once, so you can check all of this before you pay.

How booking works on WONDA

1. Find a field on the map or list. If you're already standing at a field's gate, type the field code shown there instead.
2. Pick a session, date and start time. Each field sets its own session lengths, such as 25 or 55 minutes, and sessions start on the hour or half hour.
3. Pay by card through Stripe. You see the full price, including WONDA's 50p booking fee, before you pay.
4. Check your email. Your confirmation arrives straight away, with the gate code if the field uses one.

Plans change. You can cancel from the Bookings tab up to 15 minutes before your slot starts, and the refund goes back to your card automatically.

Dog field etiquette

• Arrive and leave on time. Someone else's dog is often waiting for the next slot.
• Walk the fence line when you arrive and tell the owner if you find a gap.
• Shut every gate behind you, every time.
• Pick up after your dog and use the bins provided, or take it home.
• Leave toys and equipment as you found them, and report anything broken.

Where can I book a secure dog field?

WONDA is based in Bideford, North Devon, and is welcoming its first fields across Devon and Cornwall. New fields appear in the app as soon as they're approved.

• Secure dog fields in DevonNorth Devon, Exeter, Torbay, Plymouth, Dartmoor and the South Hams.
• Secure dog fields in CornwallBude, Newquay, Truro, Falmouth, Penzance and everywhere between.
• Questions about bookingPrices, cancellations, gate codes and how many dogs you can bring.