Visiting Shugborough Estate with your dog

Our pawprint rating system

We’ve been working on making it easier for you to find out how dog-friendly your visit will be before you and your four-legged friend arrive. To help with this, we've created a new pawprint rating system and given all the places in our care a rating. You can find this information in the National Trust members’ handbook.

Shugborough Estate is a two pawprint rated place.

These places have water bowls, dog bins and dog-friendly walks. You’ll be able to take your dog into some areas, but not everywhere. If there’s a food and beverage outlet, you can have a cup of tea with them, probably outside. Read on to discover exactly where you can take your dog.

We kindly ask that all dogs are kept on leads across the estate, including the Bridleway for the comfort of others, and to help look after our livestock.

Where can my dog go?

We welcome well-behaved dogs in Park Farm café and all outdoor areas of the estate, including the walled garden and pleasure grounds.

Assistance dogs are allowed inside in all buildings, including shops, cafés, the house, servants’ quarters and Park Farm House.

Where can’t my dog go?

Dogs are not allowed in the tea-room, shops, house, Servants’ Quarters and Park Farm House. This is for the comfort and safety of other visitors and the collections.

There are some paddocks and electric fenced areas within the parkland that are home to livestock; please keep your dog on a short lead when passing these areas.

We also ask that all walkers who use the bridleway keep their dogs on leads for the comfort of other visitors and the livestock in the neighbouring fields.

The Canine Code

We’ve worked with our partner Forthglade to come up with this Canine Code, which helps to make sure everyone can enjoy their day:

• Keep them close: using a short lead helps to keep your dog from disturbing ground-nesting birds and farm animals. It's essential to use a short lead around sheep. But if cattle approach you, it's best to let your dog off the lead, and call them back when it's safe to do so.
• Pick up the poo: please always clear up after your dog. If you can't find a bin nearby, take the poo bags home with you.
• Watch the signs: keep an eye on local signs and notices wherever you're walking. They'll tell you if a beach has a dog ban, for instance, or if a path has been diverted, or if you're in an area where dogs can run off-lead.
• Stay on the ball: remember that not everyone loves dogs, and some people fear them. So make sure your dog doesn't run up to other people, especially children.

Keeping control of your dog

Our definition of close or effective control is: ​

• Being able to recall your dogs in any situation at the first call
• Being able to clearly see your dog at all times (not just knowing they have gone into the undergrowth or over the crest of the hill). In practice, this means keeping them on a footpath if the surrounding vegetation is too dense for your dog to be visible
• Not allowing them to approach other visitors without their consent
• Having a lead with you to use if you encounter livestock or wildlife, or if you are asked to use one

Facilities available for my dog

We have several dog bins across the estate for you to dispose of your dog’s waste.

There are water bowls, taps and tie-up points in both Park Farm Yard and the Midden Yard, so you can grab yourself a drink while your dog does too.