Experts from TopDog are warning of a little-known dog collar rule that could cost pet owners a lot of money if not followed correctly.
Being a dog owner bears a lot of responsibility, with perhaps one of the most important being able to identify your dog correctly.
Under UK law, all dogs must be identified by a tag attached to their collar with their name, address and contact number.
And the law is very specific on this detail, so if you are a dog owner who prefers to use a harness instead and attaches the tag here, you could face a £2,000 fine if caught with it not on a collar.
John Skinner, co-founder of TopDog, says: “It is a common misconception that you can simply put your dog’s identification tag on whichever you choose to walk them with, be that a collar or a harness, but that is not true. I will always advise that if you choose to wear a harness, make sure you get one that allows room for your dog to wear their collar too.”
John continues: “At TopDog we’ve designed our harnesses so dogs can wear both their harness and collar comfortably together. Our best-selling harness, the It’s Just An Illusion design, is also in our adjustable range – so dogs can wear it with their collar from puppy stage to adulthood.”
Wearing an identification tag is incredibly important, especially if your dog runs off whilst on a walk and needs to be correctly identified and the owner called. Many other laws are worth knowing when out and about, including another lesser-known law around livestock.
Dogs must be under control out in public, but if you are walking near a farm with sheep or cows, for example, extra care should be taken not to ‘worry’ them. Owners must prevent their dogs from attacking or chasing livestock, or being out of control off lead in a field or else they could be fined a maximum of £1,000. Farmers also have the right to shoot dogs if they believe they are worrying the livestock on their land.
A big thing that gets members of the public frustrated is seeing dog poo left on the pavement, which if caught, owners could face an on-the-spot £100 fine, or £1,000 if prosecuted.
And in some places, councils are cracking down further by fining people for not carrying poo bags at all. Canterbury, Daventry and North Somerset will issue fines of up to £100 for anyone not having at least two poo bags.
Going for a walk on the beach with your pup is another thing that dog owners have to be mindful of or risk facing a fine. Most beaches have restrictions from May to September where if you are caught you could face fines of up to £1,000. There are however many beaches in the UK where you can walk your dog all year round, so it is worth checking and planning ahead.
Head to TopDog’s blog for a full list of fines that dog owners could face if not following the rules.