There is a small chance that we could possibly move to York later in the year. Schools are not an issue as my younger son will be going off to university in the autumn hopefully. My biggest concern is the dog!
We live in the south east in the 'green belt' and have lots of lovely dog walks but not a sheep in sight so she can be mostly off-lead. Bonnie also goes back to her breeder (who lives locally) for the day/weekend/holidays which is very convenient.
Do any of you know of anyone who boards golden retrievers in their own house, anywhere near york?
Also any suggestions of nice places to live (within about a 10 mile radius of York )from where I could dog walk without having to drive.

I haven't really got any advice as I'm in Scarborough so abit too far away but just wanted to say I love York and the surrounding area and we have thought about moving closer. Also if you did move there the beaches are only a half hour drive away plus the forest both of which are fantastic for dog walking. Good luck if you decide to move.

Have you surfed the web to see if they have a website for York?

I love York its such a nice place :-)

York is like anyother city as far as a dog is concerend but the surounding area is wonderful, a dogs paradise.

I don't know there.  It seems that Bristol has been voted as 2nd most Pet friendly city, with the top being Nottingham.

Seems both have more green spaces where dogs are allowed.  I can vouch for Bristols abundance of country Parks and other good dog walking areas.  In fact we are better off than most folk in the country unless they have their own land.  Now worries about livestock or crops, lots of recreational green areas.

Loads of green belt land to walk dogs in York, about 10 mins walk from the heart of York.  There is the racecourse too; we used to use that for the Dog Training Club.  Lots in the vale and villages too, don't really know where to start to be honest but there is no problem walking dogs off lead on green land around York, it's just picking where to go.

I can't help you with the boarding issue, but I used to live in York and actually found it to have quite limited dog walking, particularly if your dog needs to walk off the lead. Perhaps that was just where I used to live (Heworth). I used to have to drive to an area of common land called Walmgate Stray, which adjoins the University, but that was becoming increasingly problematic because of the number of cyclists and also increasingly aggressive dogs. York is quite short of green spaces, and most of those that exist either won't let you have your dog off the lead, or else (eg. along the river) you are constantly having to worry about cyclists. We were househunting at one point after getting the dog and found that we had to rule out quite a large part of the city.  I would try to live outside (though I'm not that familiar with the neighbouring villages).

Gosh, I never had any problem walking the dogs around York.  From the top of my head, there was Clifton Ings, Cliton stray, High Moor stray, Walmgate stray, Rawcliff Ings, Racecourse, Heslington by the Uni, Fulford up towards Naburn lock but this is pretty much central York.  The cyclists have their own cycle path and my dogs have always been off lead and know not to go near.