Councils are being urged to make socially distancing while walking dogs easier for pet owners.

Latest government advice on getting exercise is to use open spaces near your home, and not travel unnecessarily.

But with many public spaces such as parks, beaches and sports pitches under public protection orders, the Kennel Club is worried about the impact this could have on pet owner's abilities to practice social distancing when out walking their dogs.

Holly Conway, head of public affairs at the Kennel Club, said: “Such long-standing restrictions would have been consulted on and in many cases been considered reasonable in normal circumstances, as there would be alternative options for dog walking further from home, as well as a need for some areas of parks and beaches to be dog free, for example when there are football matches regularly taking place, and when beaches are busy with families in the spring and summer months.

“During this unprecedented period of lockdown however, these local areas cannot be used for sports and other public gatherings, but still remain out of bounds for responsible local dog walkers who are social distancing.

"For dog owners, it is essential for maintaining both human and canine health and well-being that they can continue to walk their dogs each day close to home.

"It is equally imperative that dog walkers follow government advice of keeping at least two metres [apart], and so temporarily relaxing current restrictions on where dog walkers can go will help achieve this.”

And so the Kennel Club has written to local council leaders, urging them to temporarily relax restrictions on dog walking, creating more space for people to socially distance and cut down the need to drive to find quieter places to walk their pets.

For more details and advice on how to social distance while walking your dog, visit the Kennel Club's website.