Your dog and the law

It’s against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere, such as:

• In a public place
• In a private place, e.g. a neighbour’s house or garden
• In the owner’s home.

The law applies to all dogs.

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 applies:

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

Don’t forget! Farmers are allowed to shoot your dog if it’s worrying their livestock. Keep your dog under control at all times!

Even though microchipping is now compulsory, your dog still needs to wear a dog tag. The law says that dogs in public (which includes dogs inside a car) must have collars that clearly display, at least, their owners’ names and addresses.