A Plea to all UK Dog Owners

 

We in the UK are undoubtedly a nation of dog lovers.....

While I’m all in favour of the benefits of owning one of ‘man’s best friends’, and there are undoubtedly many, keeping a dog is no mean task, and really must be taken on responsibly…..

When you aspire to dog ownership and actually take the plunge, you are effectively becoming that animal’s sole guardian, and are then legally responsible for its actions during its whole lifetime. 

In one sense, this a more onerous responsibility even than adopting a young child, since in that case you would only be responsible for his or her well-being and actions until they are 18; and as individuals, they will become legally responsible for their own actions at age 16 under current UK law. A dog will never be legally responsible for anything it does…you are - until it dies, or you transfer its ownership to someone else.

It has to be said that most dog owners are responsible people and ensure that their dogs are kept firmly on a lead wherever they are likely to come into contact with others. This includes areas like public parks, public footpaths and other recreational areas as well as in more crowded urban settings.

Unfortunately a minority of owners shirk this responsibility and take the attitude that their dog is well-trained and will always do what they tell it. Thus, it can be safely left off-lead even when in busy areas, and ‘wouldn’t hurt a fly’ in their opinion. This assumption is a myth – all dogs retain a behavioural legacy from their wolf-like ancestors and will attack if sufficiently provoked or they sense fear in others. They will also attack other dogs if they feel threatened by them. They may appear to be under their owner's full control, but this can change in an instant if the wrong circumstances present.

These owners also seem to assume that everyone else is happy with their dog ‘being friendly’ when out and about. This behaviour often takes the form of a large and intimidating animal approaching you at speed, barking excitedly and then bodily jumping at you and making physical contact. This often covers your outer clothing with muddy paw-marks and saliva from its jaws and snout, which may just been have been employed rooting around in another dog’s excrement. 

Quite apart from the issue of zoonotic disease transmission, this is tantamount to an unprovoked attack on someone who may be somewhat fearful of dogs generally, and large breeds purpose-bred for aggressiveness in particular. It also means you are saddled with the extra task decontaminating any affected clothing when you get home, whether you like it or not !

If another human adopted this behaviour without your permission (and I suspect you’d be unlikely to give it!), they could be arrested for common assault, and you would be perfectly entitled to press charges. Why then should dog owners be exempt from sanction, given that by owning a dog they have accepted  the responsibility in law for its conduct ?

My plea to all owners is therefore a simple one…don’t that assume everyone 'likes' dogs or that yours is incapable of frightening anyone. It isn’t, so always keep it on a lead whenever you take it anywhere where there are others trying to go about their lawful business in peace. The key principle that applies to conduct in public spaces has always been: Don’t encroach on anyone else’s ‘personal space’ without their permission…and this applies both to you and your pets.

Fortunately, public attitudes to out-of-control dogs have hardened considerably in the wake of the numerous bully-breed attacks on humans recently, sadly, some of them fatal. We now have an outright ban on a number of the most dangerous breeds, and I predict that legislation will be tightened in future such that all breeds will need to be kept under restraint at all times in public spaces.

Given the increasing degree of overcrowding we’re experiencing in our little island kingdom nowadays, in my view such a restriction can’t come too soon….

First published 27.9.25; Revised 7.10.25