Dog rules unleashed

One of the biggest fears of dog owners is that a sudden fright might lead to their dog biting another dog, resulting in it having to be put down. Kylie Klein Nixon looks at how to keep them – and us – safe.

There’s aman who runs his dog on the stopbank by my house, where my dog and I oftenwalk. He drives along the road, and the dog runs on the grass at top speed. This would be fine by me if the dog minded its own business. But it doesn’t.

Without fail, this very muscular, large dog will lunge, growling and snapping, at my confused and frightened irish terrier cross. Meanwhile, the owner sits in his car and drives on.

I don’t get it, because one of my biggest fears as an owner is that my dog will get in a fight, bite another dog and end up being put to sleep. But is that really how it works?

‘‘When a dog owner is out in public, they are the only ones responsible for the dog’s actions and behaviour,’’ Wellington City Council’s team leader for animal services, Damian Nunns, tells me.

Legally, if your dog rushes at, startles, or attacks a person or animal, or rushes at a vehicle potentially causing an accident, anyone can seize it and hand it over to the council’s dog control ranger.

In serious cases, the ranger can impound the dog, or seek a court order to have it destroyed. The owner can also be fined up to $3000, and be made to pay for any damage.

If it’s less serious, your dog could still be declared ‘‘menacing’’, or ‘‘dangerous’’, which will require tighter controls when it’s out in public, such as compulsory muzzling.

If your dog has injured someone, or attacked protected wildlife, such as kiwi, you could end up in prison for up to three years, or face a fine of $20,000. The dog will likely be destroyed, too.

To avoid any of that happening, your dog should be trained so that it can be called back and doesn’t become a nuisance to others.

Even your dog running up to people to say hello could technically be deemed ‘‘not under control’’, says Nunns.

‘‘You shouldn’t allow your dog to run up to anybody, really.’’

Having your dog on a lead, ‘‘gives you some safeguard’’ if there is a confrontation between dogs, or if your dog is startled by a passer-by, he says. ‘‘If another dog approaches which is not on a leash, then you’re safeguarded by the fact that you’re doing things right.’’

But just because your dog is on a leash doesn’t automatically mean it is considered under control. Some dogs are more reactive when they are on a lead, and any dog can get a fright and behave in a way that you don’t expect – whether they are leashed or not.

‘‘It could be a cat sleeping under the hedge, or a skateboarder going past,’’ says Nunns. ‘‘A case in point was an owner who had earbuds in. Their dog was on the lead, but the owner wasn’t aware of their surroundings.

‘‘When their dog got a fright from a person approaching from behind and reacted, technically they didn’t have their dog under control.’’

Dogs can’t tell us what’s going to wind them up, so it’s crucial we spend time getting to know our dog’s quirks, and give it adequate training to be out and about in public, safely.

‘‘We really have to be our dog’s advocates,’’ says SPCA science officer Dr Alison Vaughan. ‘‘We have a responsibility to our communities – human and animal – to keep them safe.’’

Everyone can relate to the ‘‘classic dog owner who just hollers from a distance, ‘Oh, don’t worry, he’s friendly’. But ultimately, that doesn’t really matter because sometimes the other dog is not [friendly] and sometimes the other person just doesn’t want a dog running up to them, and they’re fully entitled to not have to have that experience,’’ she says.

If you’re still working on recall with your dog, you need to have them on a long lead at least. And if they’re nervous or reactive on the lead, you need to keep people and other animals away from them. There are leashes or vests that can signal that your dog is nervous, but if your dog is very cute, or you’re dealing with excited children, these might not even be enough.

‘‘That’s why I ama great advocate of changing the perception of muzzles,’’ says Vaughan. ‘‘I found they can be a really clear message to people that your dog needs a bit more space.’’

The Muzzle Up Project has more detailed information about proactive muzzle use, but the key thing to understand is that it’s not a punishment. Dogs wear muzzles for all kinds of reasons – just ask anyone who has a labrador that will eat anything, even dangerous stuff, they find on their walks, how helpful they can be.

If you do use one, make sure it’s well-fitted, and that you’ve used positive reinforcement training to get your dog used to it.

If you’re still not convinced that becoming a more responsible dog owner is necessary, Nunns says many councils tie it to a reduction in your dog registration fees. So being more in control of your best pal might even save you money.

Nunns runs responsible dog owner classes for the Wellington region, Auckland Council offers a responsible dog ownership licence, and Christchurch City Council offers responsible dog owner status. Check with your local council to see what it offers.

‘‘Everyone thinks they know how to control a dog,’’ says Nunns. ‘‘But you don’t know what you don’t know. [The course participants] learned things they didn’t realise they had to be aware of. That’s a really good thing.’’

‘‘We really have to be our dog’s advocates. We have a responsibility to our communities – human and animal – to keep them safe.’’

Dr Alison Vaughan

SPCA science officer