Controlling your dog in public
If you are the person in charge of a dog, then you are responsible for controlling the dog’s behaviour in public. If you or the dog owner need help with dog training, you should contact a dog trainer.
When a dog is 'under control'
A dog is considered ‘under control’ if it is on a lead held by someone able to control the dog. For example, a large dog would not be under control if its lead was held by a child who would be unable to restrain the dog if it strained against the lead.
It isn't necessary for dogs to be leashed at all times. However, dogs must be kept on a lead in designated pedestrian zones and on land where livestock is present. Councils have bye-laws to show the areas where leashing is required, such as in public parks.
Dogs that behave dangerously
If you own a dog, you are responsible for how it behaves at home and in public. You should always take steps to make sure that interactions with other dogs and people, particularly children, are safe.
It is an offence to allow a dog to attack or cause serious injury to a person or livestock, or to behave in such a way that makes a person worried that it might attack them.
Dogs that behave dangerously may be seized by the council dog warden, and their owners' prosecuted.
The dogs may be destroyed if the magistrate considers that they are a danger to the public.
Control conditions
As well as any conditions imposed by a court where a dog has attacked a person or worried livestock, a council dog warden can impose similar conditions where certain breaches of the Dogs Order have occurred (regardless of whether you are prosecuted for those breaches).
If a dog has strayed, attacked a person, livestock or someone else’s pet, or been out of control on specific roads or on land where there is livestock, a dog warden may issue a notice requiring you to keep the dog:
- muzzled when in a public place
- under control (which means on a lead held by someone strong enough to restrain the dog) when in a public place
- securely confined in a building, yard or other enclosure when not under control
- away from any specific place or any type of place
- neutered (if male) within 30 days of the date on which the notice comes into effect
The notice may also require you to undergo a course of specific training within a six month timescale.
If you fail to observe any of these conditions and do not take all reasonable steps to make sure that that the condition is fulfilled, you commit an offence punishable by a fine of up to £2,500.
When six months have passed from the issue of the notice imposing a control condition (or conditions) you can ask the council which issued the notice, to review the continuing need for the conditions.
Or you can formally appeal against the imposition of any control condition to a magistrate’s court. You should take legal advice on the procedures to be followed when giving notice of such an appeal.
If the dog is issued with a control condition you must tell the council which issued the notice, if you plan to sell or give the dog away. You must also tell the council the name and address of the person you are selling or giving the dog to. Failure to do so is an offence punishable by a fine of up to £1,000.
Dog attacks and the penalties for owners and dogs
The definition of attack includes the dog behaving in such a way that a person becomes fearful that they might be attacked.
The dog does not need to bite someone for you to have committed an offence. If the dog’s behaviour is aggressive or threatening you may be prosecuted. If an offence is committed it is punishable by up to six months' imprisonment and a fine of £5,000.
If the dog does injure the person attacked, you could be sentenced to two years' imprisonment and a £5,000 fine.
If the dog worries livestock you are guilty of an offence punishable by a fine of up to £1,000. Worrying livestock does not just mean attacking or killing cattle or sheep. If the dog chases livestock in such a way as could reasonably be expected to cause any form of suffering to the animals or a financial loss to their owner, it will be considered to have worried the livestock.
If the dog attacks and injures another person’s pet, you are guilty of an offence punishable by a fine of up to £1,000. If you deliberately set the dog on livestock or another person’s pet you could be fined up to £2,500.
If the dog has attacked a person or worried livestock a court may order that the dog is destroyed.
Fixed penalties
Certain offences attract fixed penalties, as well as other sanctions, as an alternative to prosecution. A dog warden may offer you a fixed penalty for the offence, instead of going to court. You can choose not pay the fixed penalty and have the matter dealt with in court.
The offences which can attract a fixed penalty are:
- keeping a dog without a licence
- straying
- failing to keep a dog under control on certain roads and where livestock is present
- failing to display identification information on a collar/tag
- failing to let the council know that you've sold or given away the dog when it has a control condition
- contravention of any control condition
The default level for a fixed penalty is £75, although a council may set its own level between £50 to £80 and allow a discount for early payment.
Who enforces the law
An authorised council officer may seize a dog, without a warrant, that is in a public place or on any land where the dog appears to be attacking a person. The council officer may detain the dog until the relevant court case.
Welfare organisations or charities have no powers under the Dogs Order, although councils may make arrangements with animal charities to provide dog pound facilities.
Places to walk your dog
If the dog fouls in a public place, you should clean up the mess. Find out more: