New rules tighten the leash on dog walkers

Friday 07 February 2020

The government has published guidelines to keep dogs “well looked after” by their owners and walkers alike, three years after tragedy struck at Grosnez Castle.

Calls for tougher restrictions on commercial dog walkers were first made in February 2017 after a two-and-a-half-year-old working cocker fell off the edge of a cliff after being taken on a twice weekly trip by his regular dog walker.

The tragedy prompted the then-States Veterinary Officer Theo Knight-Jones and the Environment Department to explore ways of dealing with the issues it had raised. 

In May 2017, the Constables' Committee, which administers the Dog Law introduced in 1961, announced they were working on universal microchipping and lifetime licences for dogs. 

Pictured: The Code of Practice aims to keep dogs "well looked after".

Chris Taylor, the Constable of St. John and a self-proclaimed "dog lover", volunteered to supervise the work because, he said at the time, he was "...fed up with the good people being criticised because of a few bad people," and "...a small number of dogs ruining it for the majority."

Now the government has published a code of practice, which focuses on professional dog walkers. The document encourages dog walkers to adopt “the highest standards of husbandry” and sets out five basic needs for dogs, described as the ‘Five Freedoms’. 

Those include freedom from hunger and thirst; from discomfort; from pain, injury or disease and from fear and distress. The fifth freedom aims to allow dogs to “express normal behaviour”.

Pictured: The 'Five Freedoms' set out by the code of practice.

According to the guidance included in the code, dogs should not cause nuisance to members of the public nor should they worry livestock or disturb wildlife. Meanwhile while their walkers should be respectful and courteous to others.

Walkers are expected to carry “means of removing” dog poo with them at all times when walking dogs in public places and should clear up poo from all dogs in their care.

The code also sets down guidelines for walking dogs safely. This include only letting dogs with a “reliable recall” off the lead and with permission of their owner; not walking more than five dogs at a time and keeping them in sight at all times. 

The code also prevents the use of long-lines as well as extending or stretchy leads on more than two dogs at the time and states dogs should only be in cars for “short distances.” 

Pictured: The Code notes dogs should not be walked if the temperature is 24 °C or more in the shade.

To preserve the dogs, the code also prevents exercising them if the temperature is 24 °C or more in the shade.

“This code of practice is primarily intended to ensure that professional dog walking businesses are aware of the legislation covering their industry and the minimum standards that should be expected, irrespective of the number of dogs in their care,” States Vet Brian Smith commented.

“The guidelines include legal requirements which are applicable to anyone who takes care of a dog which includes those who help friends by taking their dog for a walk. We felt that it was important to produce this set of guidelines which will help dogs continue to be well looked after by those entrusted with them. The code brings together, in one place, information of which dog owners should already be aware. 

“Anyone who has been walking dogs for a while, as well as new dog walking businesses should read this code as there may be areas with which they are unfamiliar.”