Being a Responsible Dog Owner
Owning a dog can be a very rewarding experience, but there are a
number of things that you should know if you either own or are
thinking about getting a dog.
In April 2007, the Animal Welfare Act came into force in
England. Part of this Act placed a legal duty on anyone who is
responsible for a pet to care for that pet properly. Put simply
this duty means providing
- a proper diet, including fresh water
- somewhere suitable to live
- for any need to be housed with or apart from other animals
- the ability to express normal behaviour
- protection from and treatment of, illness or injury
Register your dog will a reputable vet. A good vet will be able
to provide you with suitable information regarding the neutering,
vaccinating, worming and the treatment of fleas for your dog.
Your Dog should always wear a collar with your name and address
on it, whilst it is in a public place. It is also strongly
recommended that your dog should be micro chipped as this is a
permanent way to identify your dog .
You should always clean up after your dog and dispose of the
waste appropriately.
Make sure that you have proper control of your dog at all times,
think about taking your dog to training classes.
Never use physical violence against your dog. Dogs learn ‘good’
behaviour through reward and encouragement.
Make sure that you follow our responsible dog walking guidelines
in related documents.
Consider getting your dog insured, if your dog becomes ill or
gets injured, it can be very expensive.
Make sure that you are aware of the law regarding dogs; further
details can be found in related documents.
Don’t leave your dog alone for long periods of time if at all
possible. Dogs are sociable and intelligent creatures. If left on
their own they can become bored and may become destructive or they
may howl and bark causing a nuisance for your neighbours.
NEVER leave a dog in a car, even on cloudy days, the temperature
in a car can reach levels that can prove fatal to dogs.