1. If you live in rented accommodation, check if you need your landlord’s permission to own a dog. LBTH tenants need to apply to their Housing Office for permission to keep a pet. Check leasehold agreements for any rules about keeping a dog. Make sure you have any necessary permission before getting a dog.
2. Don’t get a dog unless you can reasonably foresee being able to keep it for its whole lifetime. Unexpected things can happen of course, but start out with the expectation of enjoying a whole life partnership with your dog. It is not easy to rehome dogs as they get older, so casual and temporary decisions to own a dog often lead to the dog being put to sleep once it’s no longer wanted. Consider whether your housing stability, your finances, your work/life balance and your family situation make this the right time to get a dog.
3. Get your dog neutered. Castration for a male dog and spaying for a female will prevent them from having puppies. There are more unwanted dogs than there are good homes for dogs at the moment. Over population is the root cause of many of the problems relating to dogs in society. Don’t be part of the problem.
4. Do not allow your dog to exercise off lead, even in an area where this is permitted, unless you have effective control of your dog. Effective control means that the dog has good recall and is responsive to basic commands.
5. Make sure your dog is well trained and socialised and can safely interact with other dogs without becoming fearful or aggressive. You are responsible for your dog’s behaviour and you must ensure it does not impact the safety and wellbeing of any other person or animal.
6. The council’s dog control public spaces protection order (PSPO) rules mean that dogs should be kept on a lead on all public roads, pavements and in car parks and including all estate roads and communal areas on estates.
7. Please be mindful that not all people wish to be greeted by your dog; some members of the community are fearful or allergic and may not welcome an interaction. It is your responsibility to make sure your dog does not approach another person, particularly children or another dog, without permission of the the other person, even when walking on a lead.
8. Dogs who are reactive or lack social skills should not be taken into an off-lead dog area.
9. Dogs should be walked on a short lead to enable the handler to have good control of the dog. Long or retractable leads often do not provide effective control over the dog.
10. Do not approach other people’s dogs without the permission of the owner first.
11. The consequences of a dog-on-dog or dog-on-person attack can be significant: financial responsibility for vet bills, compensation or prosecution under the Dangerous Dogs Act and your dog being destroyed.
12. Take out third party insurance for your dog to protect yourself against claims by other parties.
13. Do not allow your dog to chase wildlife. It encourages a prey drive which might be directed at a domestic pet. If you wilfully allow your dog to injure wildlife, you can be prosecuted for causing unnecessary harm to an animal.
14. Always clean up after your dog. The council’s dog control PSPO makes it an offence if you do not clean up after your dog. Make sure you carry plenty of bags for the purpose. Offer one to another dog owner if they appear to be in need!
15. Make sure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date, to protect your own dog and any others it meets. Regular flea and worm treatment is also your responsibility.
16. Remember to change your owner details on the microchip database if you move with your dog. You can be fined for not having the correct registration information.
17. Your dog should wear a collar and tag showing the name and address of the owner.
18. Dog owners must ensure that their dog does not persistently bark which can be a nuisance for neighbours and the broader community.
19. Keep your dog on lead when entering or leaving your home or car, including lifts, communal entrances and corridors.
20. If you let your dog out in your garden, make sure your fences are secure enough to make escape absolutely impossible and tall enough to prevent your dog jumping or scrambling over – it’s surprising how agile an excited dog can be. If your garden abuts a walkway, people must be able to walk past without having your dog bark or lunge at them, so make fences high enough to create a screen. YOU may know your dog to be friendly, but other people could be afraid, and they have the right not to feel intimidated by your ownership of a dog.