A FILM offering tips to dog owners on how they can safely enjoy the great British countryside while walking with their four-legged friend has been created by a new partnership.

A new short film has been made to give dog owners advice on why it is important engage with their pets, stick to paths and avoid harmful hazards, as well as protect the countryside, to help them have a happy, safe and stress free walk.

The film was made by the newly created Southern Counties Canine Access Management Partnership (SCCAMP), which is made up of Dorset Dogs, Devon Loves Dogs, Heathland Hounds, New Forest National Park, South Downs National Park and Bird Aware Solent.

Each of the organisations involved in SCCAMP are actively engaged in championing positive management of dogs in the countryside and raising awareness of the importance of responsible dog ownership in their geographical areas and hope that by joining together they can reach more people with their messages.

Paul Attwell, team manager of Urban Heaths Partnerships, said: "This collaborative approach of working in partnership generates the opportunity to share best practice and work together on joint initiatives that disseminate and promote consistent and recognisable messages across a wide area of the country."

Five 50 second top tip films will be released by the partnership in the coming months, each featuring advice from dog behaviourist Natalie Light on different topics, such as how to get better recall, new games to make walks more fun, and ideas for working on a dog's behaviour around distractions when out walking.

A spokesman for Dorset Council said: "Everyone has a responsibility to keep themselves, others and your dog safe while enjoying the great outdoors and we hope that these new films will highlight the positive engagements that you can have with your dog and the countryside and will give you some great tips to assist you along the way.

"Watch and share these new films and keep up to date will all of the SCCAMP partner's work by following them on social media."