Most owners can't name every autumn hazard
Nearly two in three dog owners don't recognise acorns as a danger, according to research from Dogs Trust. The charity found 88% of owners admit they don't know all the dangers that come with autumn (reported in September, when Dogs Trust launched its "Walkies Warning Signs" trial).
In the Forest of Dean, October is when the forest floor is at its most interesting to a dog, and at its most risky.
What the research found
- 63% of owners did not identify acorns as a danger, and 51% didn't recognise conkers as one.
- 87% said they'd come across at least one of the hazards Dogs Trust highlighted on an autumn walk in the past year.
- Only one in three owners (33%) always check their dog for ticks after walks through long grass, woodland or bracken.
Dogs Trust is trialling dog's-eye-level warning signs on the edge of the South Downs, with a QR code linking to its autumn safety advice. We don't have them here, so the next best thing is knowing what to look for.
The hazards, one by one
Acorns. PDSA says acorns are toxic because of tannic acid, which affects the liver and kidneys, and that unripe green acorns are more toxic than others. In its autumn advice it adds that serious poisoning is rare, but acorns can cause stomach problems, vomiting and blockages.
Conkers. PDSA warns that conkers can block a dog's intestines, which could be fatal. Dogs Trust says to keep them out of games of fetch and stick to dog-safe toys.
Mushrooms and fungi. Some are toxic, and they're hard to tell apart. Dogs Trust's advice is to stop your dog eating any mushroom they find, and to use a high-value treat to call them away.
Windfall fruit. Mould on rotting fruit can be toxic, and pips and stones can cause sickness or a blockage, according to Dogs Trust.
Slugs and snails. Dogs Trust says they can carry parasites that are harmful to dogs, so don't let your dog eat them or lick their slime trails.
Ticks. They can spread disease or cause irritation. Dogs Trust suggests checking your dog after every walk through long grass or woodland.
Signs to watch for
Dogs Trust's senior vet Tesse Kimber said: "Know the warning signs – lethargy, upset stomach, restlessness and rashes can all be signs of potential ingested toxins. And act fast; get your dog to the vet right away if your dog shows any signs of encountering a hazard."
PDSA lists sickness, diarrhoea, drooling, abdominal pain, shaking and breathing problems as possible signs of poisoning. If you think your dog has eaten something harmful, PDSA's advice is to call your vet straight away, never to make your dog sick unless the vet tells you to, and not to wait and see.
Why this matters in the Forest
What follows is my own view, from walking here every day, not something Dogs Trust or PDSA said.
The Forest of Dean in autumn is a carpet of leaves, and under it are acorns, beech nuts, fungi and whatever the boar have turned over. A dog with its nose down is eating half of it before you notice. On a busy group walk, a dog can graze its way along a track for minutes without anyone seeing.
You can't stop a dog sniffing. You can see what goes in its mouth.
Dogs Trust recommends two simple techniques, and they're the ones I use:
- "This way". A cue that turns your dog away from something before they reach it.
- Swap and drop. If your dog picks something up, get their attention and toss a high-value treat or toy a short distance away, so they drop what they've got to fetch it.
What a Forest Hounds walk looks like this autumn
- One dog, so their nose is never out of my sight.
- I carry high-value treats for swap and drop, and use "this way" around oak trees and fungi.
- I check for ticks after walks through bracken and long grass, and tell you if I find one.
- If I see your dog eat something I'm unsure of, I'll tell you straight away so you can call your vet.
If your dog is a forager, a solo walk with training is a good way to build a reliable "leave it" before the acorns fall next year.
Book a solo walk
Forest Hounds covers Cinderford, Coleford, Drybrook, Edge End, Goodrich, Lydney, Parkend, Speech House and the villages between. Solo walks are £30, and the meet and greet at your home is free.
Email [email protected] to arrange one.
Sources
- Verge Magazine, Dogs Trust launches 'Walkies Warning Signs', 24 September 2026.
- Dogs Trust, Tips for keeping your dog safe this autumn.
- PDSA, Toxic autumn plants.
- PDSA, Pet care in autumn.
- PDSA, My dog has eaten something harmful.