Finland opens northernmost dog forest as numbers double

The number of dog forests in Finland has doubled in two years, reaching nearly 120, Yle reports. The country’s northernmost dog forest opened last week in Ivalo, where keeping dogs off leash in a reindeer herding area can be risky.

Dog forests are fenced woodland areas where dogs can run freely and be trained. The website Koirametsät.fi listed nearly 60 such areas across Finland in 2024. Uusimaa has the highest number.

Liisa Suoninen, communications manager at the Finnish Kennel Club, said dog owners increasingly need safe places where their pets can move freely.

The dog forest near central Ivalo gives owners a secure place to let their dogs off leash, said entrepreneur Elina Mantila. In reindeer herding areas, dogs may chase wildlife or reindeer, she said.

Mantila said many dog owners want to offer their pets more natural and unrestricted exercise. She became interested in the idea after seeing dog forests in southern Finland.

There are many hunting dogs, pets and dogs used for hobbies in the area, Mantila said, but previously there had been no large place where they could run free in peace.

Ritva Silparanta, who owns Remu and Sutki, said the forest also allows her to move around without worrying about her dogs. Although she lives in the middle of the forest, walking dogs in a reindeer herding area requires caution and often long leads.

Silparanta said the dog forest is also a safe environment for training dogs.

Sanna Kukkonen, who owns Utu and Sumu, said the fenced woodland close to the village centre makes it easier to leave home with her dogs. She does not have to worry about them chasing reindeer, hares or cows, she said.

Owners must book a time slot

New dog forests are still being established, according to Marko Valkeejärvi, who runs Koirametsät.fi. Requests to add new locations arrive on average twice a month, suggesting that demand is continuing to grow.

Most dog forests are ordinary woodland areas surrounded by sturdy fences. Paid dog forests are maintained by private forest owners and entrepreneurs, and visitors must book a time slot in advance.

No one other than the people accompanying the person who made the booking is present during the reserved period. At the Ivalo dog forest, one hour of exercise costs at least 27 euros, depending on the number of dogs.

The Finnish Kennel Club commissioned a survey a couple of years ago in which one in ten dog owners said dog forests were important.

Although Finland has extensive forests and land, opportunities for dogs to move freely are limited, Suoninen said. Many dogs live in cities or built-up areas, where they must be kept on a leash.

Under Finland’s hunting legislation, dogs must be kept on a leash throughout the spring and most of the summer. At other times, allowing a dog to run free also requires the landowner’s permission.

Suoninen said she expects dog forests to become more popular as people become more familiar with them and begin to want them in their own municipalities.