First of all according to §16 Lag (2007:1150) om tillsyn över hundar och katter, between March 1st and August 20th, dogs have to be kept from running loose in grounds where there are game. This is because the dogs should not follow, hunt or scare the game the time of year when they have their young.

Within the law that regulates this there is no word saying that the dog has to be on a leash but the law means that the dog is not allowed to run loose in these kind of grounds. Some say you could compare that kind of control over your dog with an invisible leash.

This rule is valid for all kinds of nature grounds, even bigger parks.

§16 also states that during the rest of the year your dog is not allowed to follow game unless it is used for hunting according to §16 Jaktförordning (1987:905). This sort of means that you have to have your dog within eyesight all the time and be able to recall it if it were to encounter game.

According to §17 (2007:1150) the person or association who’s got the hunting rights on the ground in which your dog is running loose has the right to catch the dog to return to the owner.

Nature reserves have their own rules and the general rule is that dogs have to be kept on leash at all times when visiting. Änggårdsbergen for example has a permanent rule to keep dogs on leash every part of the year. You can find every reserves individual information regarding this on lansstyrelsen.se.

In Botaniska Trädgården dogs are not allowed at all between March 1st and September 30th. During the rest of the year leashed dogs are welcome.

Last but not least, remember that alot of dogs don’t appreciate other dogs coming up to them (with or without leash) no matter how nice and friendly the dog is. Remember how you would feel if a total stranger rushed up to you in the street, you would probably be confused, uneasy, scared even. If your dog won’t listen to you when off leash, keep your dog on leash. We have lots of beautiful dog parks in and around Gothenburg where your dog can run around off leash!

Reference:

https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/lag-20071150-om-tillsyn-over-hundar-och_sfs-2007-1150

https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/jaktforordning-1987905_sfs-1987-905

https://www.naturvardsverket.se/Var-natur/Allemansratten/Det-har-galler/Hundar-i-naturen/

https://www.lansstyrelsen.se/vastra-gotaland/besok-och-upptack.html

https://goteborg.se/wps/portal/start/kultur-och-fritid/fritid-och-natur/parker-lekplatser/hundrastplatser/!ut/p/z1/04_Sj9CPykssy0xPLMnMz0vMAfIjo8ziAwy9Ai2cDB0N_N0t3Qw8Q7wD3Py8fSwCzIz1wwkpiAJKG-AAjgb6kUD95vEmRu4Ghl4mht4WZk7mBo4-3s7GZt7mrkEmhvrB-lH6UcWpRWWZyakllQWp-pFa-gW5EVUhjoqKACDpe-I!/dz/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/