Staffordshire has no coastline, so there are no seasonal beach bans to plan around. What it does have is Cannock Chase, a slice of the Peak District fringe and a patchwork of council dog rules, several of which are being renewed right now.
Council rules: a patchwork, partly mid-renewal
Stafford Borough Council has a 2023 order in force that expires around early December 2026 unless renewed, with a renewal consultation closing in August 2026. It requires fouling to be cleared, sets a four-dog limit per person, requires leads at named parks such as Victoria Park and Rowley Park, and excludes dogs from designated play areas. Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s 2023 order runs for three years from November 2023 and also bans dogs from fenced play areas; it caps one person at six dogs at seven parks including Apedale, Clough Hall and Silverdale. Lichfield District Council has a district-wide order requiring dogs to be on a lead when directed and excluding them from fenced play areas. Tamworth Borough Council lists a dog order requiring leads in formal play areas and specified locations. Cannock Chase District Council consulted on a new order in spring 2026 proposing a lead on or near roads, a six-dog limit and play-area exclusions, but we couldn’t confirm it is in force yet. We couldn’t find a dog order for Stoke-on-Trent, East Staffordshire or South Staffordshire, and the Staffordshire Moorlands position is unclear after a proposed renewal. If your route crosses a council boundary, check that council’s page before you go.
Cannock Chase
Staffordshire County Council’s spring guidance asks owners to keep dogs on leads and under close control on Cannock Chase and to stay on marked paths, because adders and ground-nesting birds live there. It advises avoiding tall heather and wet, marshy areas, and getting a dog bitten by an adder to a vet immediately. Tougher penalties for livestock worrying came into force on 18 March 2026. In July 2026 the county council issued a toxic blue-green algae warning for Chasewater and Cannock Chase Country Park; we couldn’t see an update, so check the council’s page before letting your dog near the water.
Shugborough and Trentham
Shugborough Estate (National Trust) allows dogs on a lead across about 900 acres of parkland; ring 01889 880160 about areas with livestock. Trentham Estate’s gardens welcome dogs on a lead of 2 metres or less, with one off-lead area on the walk towards North Park, but dogs aren’t allowed in the play area or Barefoot Walk. A common mix-up: Trentham Monkey Forest is a separate attraction on the same estate, and it does not allow dogs at all.
The Peak District fringe
The Roaches and the Staffordshire Moorlands sit within the Peak District National Park. On Open Access land, dogs must be on a lead of no more than 2 metres from 1 March to 31 July, and on a lead around livestock at all times.
A misconception worth correcting
Alton Towers is in Staffordshire, but pet dogs aren’t allowed in the resort or theme park, only assistance dogs, so it isn’t a day out for most of us.
Moving between heathland, parkland and moorland brings a lot of new smells and rule changes for a dog to keep up with. A calming bite can help take the edge off a busier day out. If your dog struggles to settle wherever you walk, that is worth a conversation with your vet or a qualified trainer. For everything else, see our Staffordshire dog services hub, and if you want a fenced field to let a reactive dog run, our secure dog fields in Staffordshire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are dogs allowed at Trentham Monkey Forest?
No. Trentham Monkey Forest does not allow dogs. The wider Trentham Estate gardens do, on a lead of 2 metres or less.
Do I need a lead on Cannock Chase?
Staffordshire County Council asks for dogs to be on leads and under close control, staying on marked paths, because adders and ground-nesting birds live there.
Can I take my dog to Alton Towers?
No. Alton Towers is in Staffordshire, but the resort only allows assistance dogs.
Written by Georgiana & Figo, who believes a heather path is best read with the nose.
