Guides

Dog Laws Every Owner (and Carer) Should Know

Whether it's your own dog or one you're looking after, there's more UK law covering dog ownership than most people realise. As a professional dog walker and boarder, keeping on top of it is part of the job, but it's just as useful for any owner to know the basics. Here's a plain-English "legislation for dummies" rundown of the main ones, checked and current as of July 2026.

TL;DR — key points

• Pick up after your dog and use a lead where directed — PSPO fines run up to £1,000
• Every dog needs a collar with a readable address tag, plus microchipping
• Dogs must be under control at all times — this now applies on private property too
• Keep dogs on a lead near roads and livestock — the livestock law now covers roads near fields too, with an unlimited fine
• Anyone in charge of a dog, owner or carer, has a legal duty of care under the Animal Welfare Act

Quick reference only — this is a general summary, not legal advice. Read the full guide below for the detail that matters for your situation.

Fouling, leads and exclusion zones: Public Spaces Protection Orders

• £100 on-the-spot fine
• Up to £1,000 in court

Councils used to control this through Dog Control Orders under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, but these were phased out and replaced by Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Most local dog rules now sit under a PSPO, and typically cover the same ground:

• You must pick up and dispose of your dog's faeces
• Put your dog on a lead if directed to by a police officer, PCSO or council officer
• Keep your dog off land where they're excluded (fenced children's play areas, for example)

Breaching a PSPO can mean an on-the-spot £100 fixed penalty notice, rising to a fine of up to £1,000 if it ends up in court.

Collar and ID tag: the Control of Dogs Order 1992

• Legal requirement
• Readable address
• Microchip required too

Any dog in a public place must wear a collar with the owner's name and address on a tag or plate (a postcode on its own isn't considered enough, the address needs to be readable). This is separate from, and in addition to, the legal requirement for all dogs to be microchipped with up-to-date contact details.

Keeping a dog under control: the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991

• Public & private
• 5 banned types
• XL Bully banned 2023

It's an offence for a dog to be "dangerously out of control". Since a 2014 change closed an old loophole, this now applies on private property as well as in public, including someone else's home or garden. The Kennel Club points out that something as simple as a dog chasing, barking at or jumping up at a person or child can count, if it causes them to fear injury. It's worth keeping every dog under control at all times, not just around obvious "danger" situations. The Act also currently bans ownership of these specific types without an exemption certificate:

• Pit Bull Terrier
• Japanese Tosa
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• XL Bully (added in December 2023)

Dogs on the road: the Road Traffic Act 1988

• Lead required on roads
• Driver must stop

Two things worth knowing:

• Dogs must be kept on a lead on a road
• If a dog you're walking is hit by a car, the driver has a legal duty to stop and give their details to you, dogs are one of the specific animals this rule covers

Livestock: the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953

• Covers roads near fields
• Llamas & alpacas included
• Unlimited fine

If a dog worries livestock on agricultural land, the owner can be guilty of an offence. So can whoever has charge of the dog at the time, if that's someone else. This law was significantly strengthened by the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025, in force since March 2026:

• Now also covers roads and paths next to fields, not just the fields themselves
• Adds llamas and alpacas to the definition of livestock
• Gives police stronger powers to detain dogs, enter land and gather evidence
• Raises the maximum penalty from a £1,000 fine to an unlimited fine

It also now makes clear that an owner isn't automatically liable if the dog was in someone else's charge without the owner's consent, though whoever actually had charge of the dog at the time still can be. Worth knowing if you ever have a dog walker or a friend looking after your dog near farmland.

Dogs Act 1871

• No prosecution needed
• Court can order control

An older but still-used law: anyone can complain to a magistrates' court about a dog that isn't kept under proper control, without needing a criminal prosecution first. The court can order the owner to keep it under control, muzzled or on a lead, and in serious cases, order it destroyed. It applies wherever the incident happened.

A duty of care: the Animal Welfare Act 2006

• Covers carers too
• 5 welfare needs
• Up to 5 years' prison

Anyone responsible for an animal has a legal duty of care to make sure that dog's welfare needs are met. That includes a dog walker or boarder looking after a client's dog on a temporary basis, not just the owner. The Act sets out five needs:

• Need for a suitable environment
• Need for a suitable diet
• Need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
• Need to be housed with, or apart from, other animals
• Need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease

Since the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021, the most serious offences under this Act, things like causing unnecessary suffering, carry a maximum of 5 years' imprisonment, up from 6 months previously. It's taken very seriously by the courts.

Got a question about any of this? Message me, I'm always happy to help where I can.