Every dog owner has a responsibility to ensure that their pet does not cause a nuisance to others. This means that the owner must comply with certain laws, most of which are straight forward and are there to ensure that people and dogs can live happily and safely in the community.
It is vastly important that you seek professional advice before buying any breed of dog. Most dogs end up in rescue centres as people can not cope with them due to behaviour problems that are directly caused by lack of physical and mental stimulation for that breed and furthermore many did not attend any dog obedience class or even thought it was necessary.
In the last year your local dog warden has had 43 complaints for dangerous dogs. Additionally to this the local animal aid centres are full to the brim with dogs that people can just not cope with any more.
It is very clear that there are still many dog owners that do not understand their legal obligations when owning a dog. The law for all dog owners now states clearly:
1.You dog must wear a collar on with your name and address on – regardless to whether it is tattooed or micro-chipped ( Control of Dogs Order 1992)
2.Your dog should be under total control at all times on a public road: therefore your dog must be on a lead(The Road Traffic Act 1988/Control of Dogs Order 1992)
3.You must clean up after your dog at all times (Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 /Control of Dogs Order 1992)
4.Your dog should be under control while off the lead and not be a nuisance to other people, animals (farm and wild) children and dogs (Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005/ Control of Dogs Order 1992/Dangerous Dog Act 1991)
The prevalent miss-understanding seen within dog ownership is control of dogs in public areas. People associate dangerous dogs and out of control dogs with guard and bull breeds; but this law covers every breed of dog. Any dog that does not come back on first call; runs over to other people, animals, dogs and children are out of control under. In Dundee recently a lady was sued £160,000 for allowing her Labrador to run over to another person; knocking her over damaging her knee…this is what the law means by out of control – not just aggressive, dangerous dogs – but pet dogs out of control; friendly or not.
In addition to understanding the law and your legal obligations; dog owners must be aware the damage that occurs by allowing your dog to do this:
vEvery animal, including ourselves, has a “safe” space around them. Experiences they have had in the past, socialization and habituation; will dictate how close they accept other things and how they react to them.
vA dog running over to another dog, is invading that dogs space and the others persons relaxing walk.
vSome dogs with behaviour issues need to be re-trained at a distance away from other dogs and can do extremely well…until someone lets their dog run over to them. This can destroy months of hard work put in by that owner.
vDogs with their owner’s and under control, could become frightened by a dog charging into them and react badly. Your dog could be seriously hurt because you have allowed this to happen.
vEvery time a dog is allowed to run over to something else, they are learning that behaviour and rewarding themselves; making it extremely hard for you to re-train this behaviour at a later a date. This is a major reason for dogs ending up in a rescue centre as owners can no longer cope with it.
vPlay is vital to achieve a sociable dog, but it must be done under control; on cue.
vDogs that are liable to fight with some dogs, should never be allowed to run over to any dog.
The reason why we are no longer allowed to have dogs on beach’s May to September is because they were not controlled and dog fouling laws were not heeded. These laws are now spreading to parks and more public areas.
Laws are passed for a good reason; they are fair and reasonable to make the environment cleaner, safer and nicer: they should be fully understood and carried out.
As dog owners, loving a dog is not enough we must be fully aware of a dogs needs to make them happy and sociable animals. We should also understand the consequences of our actions if we continue to allow dogs to be out of control in public areas.
If we want our dogs to run free in years to come, then it is us; the dog owners’ that must stop and think now before it is too late. Clean up after your dogs and keep them under control. Open spaces should belong to everyone to enjoy, lets keep it that way.
BUYING A DOG
Before buying a dog please get the right advice, from good trainers/breeders/Kennel Club/Vets and seriously consider the breed of dog you are buying and if you really have the time for them.
Also consider where you buy it from …The following group are having a Puppy Farming Awareness Campaign…and the dangers of buying from these people
