DSS Animal Management - Code of Conduct

The following is a ‘Code of Conduct’ for all dog owners, whether they are first-time owners needing an understanding of the finer points of responsible ownership, or more experienced dog owners who may benefit from a valuable refreshment of these points.

The advice offered, and techniques discussed in this document are based on many years of experience in animal control, and applied commonsense. There may be alternative methods that give a similar outcome, but we feel that this document provides the simplest, most straightforward approach to avoiding community problems, enforcement issues and public safety concerns about dogs.

The sections of this chapter are as follows -

1 Walking a dog in a public place - on a leash

2 Walking a dog in a public place - off the leash

3 Socialising your dog – public behaviour

4 Socialising your dog – behaviour at home

5 Dogs and vehicles

6 Going on holiday

1 Walking a dog in a public place -on a leash

The leash itself should be strong enough for the walker to maintain control of the dog. Collar and collar/leash attachment should be secure also. The collar or chain should safely contain the dog without causing undue distress or hurt to the dog. Registration tags should be either attached to the lead/collar or carried separately by the walker. Verification of the dog’s current registration should be carried at all times when out with the dog.

A plastic bag, or similar receptacle, should be carried when out walking, in order to convey any excrement that the dog has deposited. It is a good idea to carry a spare bag in case the dog defecates more than once. If it is known that the dog is suffering from any gastro-related condition (e.g. diarrhea), it is better to forego a walk in public and keep the dog at home until the dog has recovered. Resume walking your dog in public when normal bowel motions have returned. Likewise it is highly recommended that you keep your dog confined inside your own property if it is an un-spayed bitch, while ‘in season’.

The owner or dog-walker should be sufficiently strong, and capable of safely controlling the dog in a public place. (E.g. avoid the situation where a large energetic dog is taken for a walk by a small child or physically frail adult). If your dog does not walk properly on a leash (i.e. strains, pulls or lunges), then it is a good practice to temporarily ‘rein it in’ on a shorter leash when passing by, or meeting other members of the public or other dogs. A well-behaved and properly trained dog on a leash is less intimidating to other people than one that appears to be constantly straining to get free. Your dog should always be on a leash when walking with you along a public road, and in other ‘on-leash’ designated public areas.

2 Walking a dog in a public place -off the leash

If you are walking your dog in an area that is designated ‘control’ or ‘off-leash’ (depending on your local council by-laws), then you (the dog-walker) may elect to exercise your dog off its leash to run free. This is your choice, and YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to maintain a direct control over your dog. ‘Under control’ means that it will immediately return to you upon hearing a voice command or whistle from you.

Keeping your dog under control while off-leash means that you will accept FULL RESPONSIBILITY and LIABILITY for any problems or incidents that may occur, whenever you allow your dog to exercise in this manner.

When exercising your dog off-leash, it is a good practice when encountering other people or animals, to call your dog back to you and put it back on its leash until you are clear of them and at a safe distance before letting it off again. Likewise if you are exercising your dog off-leash and you encounter stock animals, birds or other wildlife, you should prevent your dog from chasing or otherwise harassing them by calling it to ‘heel’ at your side and putting it back on the leash until you are a safe distance from the other animals.

3 Socialising your dog – public behaviour

Many incidents where dogs have threatened or attacked people or other animals are a result of the dog not being properly socialised. Most dog owners accept that all puppies should be taught the basics of good behaviour and obedience, but a lot of owners fail to understand that training and the reinforcement of social skills should continue throughout the dog’s adult life. Dogs straining on the leash when walking, jumping up at people, growling or barking at other animals and people are all symptoms of a lack of proper socialisation.

Your dog may be impeccably behaved at home, with an affectionate attitude towards your family and regular visitors, but given the freedom of a run off the leash in a public place, may show an aggressive and antisocial behaviour that is quite unacceptable to the wider community. If you have any doubts about aspects of your dog’s social behaviour then it would be irresponsible of you to let it off for exercise in public. You should keep it on a leash until your dog has been properly socialised. Just one attack may cost the dog its life (ordered to be put down), in addition to a heavy fine or imprisonment for the owner. Far better to remove this risk by taking your dog to a reputable obedience trainer or dog behaviour specialist as any antisocial behaviour can be ‘trained out’ of the dog as part of a professional socialisation programme.

Giving your dog plenty of healthy off-leash exercise is the right thing to do, and can be lots of fun, especially when in the company of other dogs and their owners. Separating snarling dogs from a fight situation and suffering the anguish of an injured dog having its wounds treated at the vet clinic is definitely not fun. Neither is having to endure the legal and investigation process following an incident where your dog was the perpetrator. It is better to ensure that your dog is properly socialised to cope with ALL situations.

Poorly socialised dogs only do harm to the reputation of ALL dog owners, whereas well trained and properly socialised dogs (and their responsible owners) are more readily accepted by the wider community.

4 Socialising your dog – behaviour at home

Another area of risk for the dog owner to responsibly manage is to ensure that the dog is properly socialised in the immediate home environment. Dogs are ‘pack’ animals and can be fiercely protective of the other members of ‘their’ pack (you and your family). Their territorial instincts also include the entire home and garden in their ‘area to protect’.

Guests and visitors to your home should not feel threatened by your family dog, and it is not sufficient to say to them – “He’s OK while I’m here but watch out for him if I’m not!” This sort of remark is sadly all too commonplace and indicates a poorly socialised dog. Too often this situation leads to attacking and biting problems, with quite negative consequences for both dog and owner. Statistics verify that the majority of dog attacks in New Zealand happen on private property in, or near, the family home.

Some owners misguidedly choose an aggressive dog to ‘guard’ their property, when in reality all that is required of a family dog is to bark a warning to the owner that a stranger is on or near their property. It is against the law for any dog (other than Police Dogs) to bite or attack any person – and that includes burglars!

These aggressive dogs pose a real risk if they are inadvertently let out to roam in public or manage to bite or threaten bona-fide visitors to the family home. The lack of socialisation, coupled with their aggressive behaviour makes for an unpredictable family ‘pet’ at the best of times. The message is clear – ‘SOCIALISE YOUR DOG OR RISK THE CONSEQUENCES’.

Even the non-aggressive type of dog can have its ‘bad days’ from time to time, and it is the responsibility of the owner to manage the dog’s home environment to avoid problems such as hierarchical or dominant behaviour. As a pack animal the dog instinctively understands that every pack has its leader, second-in-command, next in line, and so on down the pecking order.

The dog should know that its place is at the bottom of the ladder, behind all of the humans in the family. Frequently a family dog will try and ‘promote himself’ over the next in line, which usually is a young child. This promoting can take the form of a dominant posture, small nips or bites and other similar ‘downgrading’ of the next in line.

The dog owner should ensure that the dog is in no doubt where he (or she) fits in. Subtle messages to the dog such as feeding it last at mealtimes, making it lie DOWN when in the family group, and always ensuring that all of the family (even the youngest children) do not play games down at the dog’s level, as all of these factors indicate to the dog that it stands a chance of ‘promotion’. If the dog becomes dominant in its behaviour it will cause problems, which will likely escalate into more serious forms of disobedience and challenging of the family ‘pecking order’.

You should always let your dog know, without any doubt at all, just who is the ‘Pack Leader’ in your house!

5 Dogs and vehicles

It is possible to fit purpose-built dog restraints in vehicles, to be used in the same way that human restraints are intended. However the most acceptable method of restraining dogs in motor vehicles is to fit a metal grid behind the rear seats, which effectively confines the dog(s) to the rear compartment. This is applicable to hatchback and station wagon types of vehicles rather than saloon or sedan models of car.

The grill restricts the dog to the rear area thus making it impossible for the dog to jump or move around inside the vehicle and prevents distraction or physical interference with the driver. When dogs are carried inside vehicles the primary concern is safety, followed by ensuring that they have adequate ventilation, so leave a window or two partially open, especially when parked.

It is a common practice in New Zealand for some farm workers, builders and other tradespeople to convey their dogs on the backs of utilities, flat bed trucks, or similar type vehicles. Ideally the dogs should be confined within secure cages or well-ventilated dog boxes, but if neither of these is available then the dog should be securely tethered in a safe, central position that will allow the dog some degree of movement, but is prevented from moving near to the edge of the vehicle or falling off.

All too often dogs are observed riding on the backs of vehicles without any form of restraint, which is an unsafe practice that could easily result in injury to the animal or contribute to a road accident with the potential for fatal injury to other road users.

When the vehicle is parked, the dog on the back instinctively guards its owner’s property, and the risk of an attack on an inquisitive child is high. Many children do not understand that they should not approach a dog on a utility or truck in this way, and if an attack occurs then it is the responsibility of the dog owner for allowing this to happen.

Dog owners who carry their dogs in, or on, vehicles should always carry a supply of fresh drinking water to care for their dogs needs, especially during the warmer months of the year.

Some dog owners exercise their dogs on a leash while riding a cycle alongside. While this practice retains a leashed control over the dog, it is considered questionable from a road safety point of view, as managing the dog and leash will likely prejudice the degree of control the dog owner has over the vehicle (bicycle). For similar reasons it is both impractical and unsafe for dog owners to retain leashed control of their dogs while the owner is riding a horse. For animal owners who wish to exercise both their horse and their dog at the same time it is better to do it well away from public roads and let the dog run free off leash.

6 Going on holiday

If you intend taking your dog along with you when going on holiday, then it is a good practice to plan for your dogs’ needs on the journey and while at your holiday destination. Plenty of fresh drinking water and the odd snack are vital to ensure your dog has a pleasant journey, and don’t forget to take along plenty of plastic bags to clear up any excrement deposited during ‘comfort stops’. Ensure that the dog’s leash is easily accessible in your vehicle. Get a ‘holiday’ tag made to attach to your dog’s collar. This could have your cell phone number or phone number and/or address of your holiday venue.

Many holiday venues (baches, beach houses, camping grounds, etc) do not allow dogs so it is better to check well beforehand, and plan your trip accordingly. It is also a good idea to understand the local beach by-law (relating to dogs) at your holiday destination, and make sure you do not break any local dog rules. A failure to adequately plan for, and manage your dog’s holiday needs may likely spoil your family’s holiday too.

If you are going away to a holiday destination where it is not suitable to take your dog, or are flying overseas, then you have to make arrangements for your dog to be effectively cared for in your absence. Most responsible dog owners book their dogs into boarding kennels while they are away from home, although it is acceptable if the owner arranges for a reliable person to feed and exercise the dog at its home. However most dogs need companionship and problems such as barking or howling may occur if the dog is not used to being on its own for extended periods. Dogs booked into boarding kennels must have an up-to-date record of all of their vaccinations etc, before most kennels will allow them to stay.

It is preferable that a person lives in and ‘house-sits’ in order to keep the dog company, or better still the owner arranges for the dog to go and live with a responsible caregiver during the holiday period. It is also a good idea to check that the holiday ‘caregiver’ is able to maintain adequate control over your dog while exercising it.