Is your dog in line with the law?

As part of our Obedience Courses and general ethos as a dog training club we are keen to promote responsible dog ownership and we are often asked about the changes to dog legislation. These can be quite hard to understand, especially with so much information flying around the internet, and therefore with the help of a Dog Warden we have summarised the changes here for you:

Dangerously out of control

It is a criminal offence for your dog to be "dangerously out of control".

Your dog is considered dangerously out of control if it:

• injures someone
• makes someone worried that it might injure them

A court could also decide that your dog is dangerously out of control if either of the following apply:

• it attacks someone’s animal
• the owner of an animal thinks they could be injured if they tried to stop your dog attacking their animal

New from May 2014

• The Dangerous Dogs Act now covers private property. Therefore it is an offence if your dog is deemed dangerously out of control while within your own home or another persons property, i.e. if it bites a visitor, a delivery perons or yourself.
• It is an offence for your dog to attack an assistance dog, i.e. guide dog, etc.
• Maximum prison sentences have been increased.
• Police and local authorities have more powers to seize a dog in a private place.

New from October 2014

The new Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act has given the Police and Local Authorities new powers to issue dog owners with specific orders, with the purpose of preventing a dog attack. Failure to comply could result in a fine of up to £20,000.
For example an owner could be orded to:

• Attend dog training classes
• Muzzle and keep their dog on a lead in a public place
• Have their dog neutered
• Repair fencing/property boundaries

Get your dog micochipped by 1st April 2016

In England and Wales all dogs must be microchipped by 1st April 2016. After this date all new puppies must be chipped by the time they are 8 weeks old.
If a keeper does not microchip their dog they will be served with a notice giving 21 days to chip the dog. If the dog is not chipped within the 21 days then they will be liable to pay a fine of £500.