All About Dogs

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Barking dogs Dog doo Confine your dog Microchipping Registration Preventing attacks in the community Preventing attacks in the home Dangerous dogs Dog training establishments Guard dogs Pet shops Restricted breeds Shelters and pounds Desexing Working dogs

Benefits of dog ownership

Dogs give us company, affection and unconditional love.

They encourage us to exercise – in fact many studies have shown that owning a pet improves your health.

Dog ownership also teaches children responsibility, and helps them develop their social and nurturing skills.

Legal responsibilities

The law aims to protect animals from neglect and cruelty, and to protect the community from animals becoming a nuisance or danger.

If you don’t comply with legal requirements, such as microchipping, registration, and confinement of dogs to the property, you can be fined. Note that there can be additional legal requirements depending on where you live. Check with your council to see if they have any local laws. For example, some councils have introduced compulsory desexing.

Under animal cruelty legislation, if you mistreat or fail to properly care for your dog you can be prosecuted and face fines, jail or a ban on owning an animal.

Microchipping and registration

All dogs three months of age and over must be registered with the local council.

Existing registrations must be renewed by 10 April each year.

Dogs being registered for the first time must be microchipped prior to registration.

Permits are required when there are more than a certain number of dogs or cats kept in a household. This number is set by your local council, so you need to check with them what the limit is.

Microchipping and registering pets greatly improves their chances of being returned to you if they become lost.

If you move house, make sure you update your details with your local council, and also with the microchip registry (you have to contact both organisations separately).

Registration fees also provide a range of other important services. These services include animal control and community education about responsible pet ownership and dog bite prevention.

See the links above for more information.

Health care

You must:

• Feed your dog an appropriate balanced diet to maintain him/her in good condition. Either too little or too much food, or the wrong type of food can cause health problems for your dog. Don’t feed cooked bones to your dog, these can splinter and cause injury.
• Supply clean cool water at all times, in a container that cannot be tipped over.
• Provide a comfortable dry sleeping area, along with shade during the day.
• Protect your dog’s health. This includes regular vaccinations, worming
• (including heartworm), flea and tick control, and veterinary treatment for injuries or illness.
• Give your dog plenty of company and time with the family. Dogs are pack animals. They are unhappy if left alone for long periods of time. They need the company of people or other dogs.
• Exercise and socialise your dog regularly, this is necessary for your dog’s physical and mental health.
• Ensure your dog is adequately cared for when you are on holidays.
• Not allow prohibited procedures such as tail docking or ear cropping to be conducted on your dog.

See the links above for more information.

Desexing

If you aren’t going to breed from your dog, have him/her desexed. You may have trouble finding homes for an unplanned litter of puppies. This could contribute to Victoria’s pet overpopulation problem.

There are many other benefits of desexing dogs.

Desexed dogs can be better behaved and less likely to roam. Desexing pets can also prevent them from getting certain types of cancer.

In general, dogs can safely be desexed from three months of age. Talk to your vet about the best age to desex your dog.

See links above for more information.

Confinement to the property

Legally, you are required to securely confine your dog to the property. This means your yard must have a closed gate, and an escape proof fence that your dog can not jump, get under or through. Visitors must also have safe access to your front door, without being stopped by your dog. If your dog could get through your gates or fencing, you can be fined even if he/she doesn’t actually leave your property.

If securely confined, your dog will be safe from traffic injuries or fights with other dogs. He/ she will also be prevented from wandering and becoming lost.

However confinement without exercise and socialisation can lead to boredom, health issues or nuisance behaviour – see the next section for how to prevent these problems.

Socialisation, exercise and training

Socialisation means getting your dog used to behaving well when he/she is around other people and animals, and in different places. It is particularly important to socialise puppies – ‘puppy preschool’ classes are available at many vet clinics. The more situations your puppy is exposed to, and has positive experiences with, the better behaved and more confident he/she will be as an adult.

Dogs have evolved to spend much of their day migrating with their pack. The ‘need’ to walk is hardwired into every dog’s brain. Some dogs require longer or more regular walks than others. But all dogs should spend some time each day outside the property with you.

It does not matter if you have a large property – to a dog, this is still just a very big kennel behind walls! It is not natural for dogs to spend all their time indoors or in the yard – they need to connect with the world and be out in it.

Walking your dog through the streets or park is a primal activity that allows him/ her to get to know the territory. Your dog will learn about the environment - other people and animals, and about dangers such as cars, and things to be avoided such as bikes. Walking your dog will help keep him/her mentally and physically healthy. It is an important way for him/her to bond with you – the ‘pack leader’.

Energetic dogs may also require some time running off leash (check with your council about the location of leash free parks in your area). Many problems such as digging and barking arise because dogs are restless and bored. Often, these problems can be solved simply by giving dogs more exercise.

Provide your dog with toys, and rotate them regularly to keep him/her interested. You can keep your dog busy while you are out by giving him/her a large raw marrow bone to chew, stuffing hollow (indestructible) toys with food, or providing a large block of ice that has had some treats frozen into it.

Train your dog to ensure he/she is a good canine citizen and to stop him/ her getting bored. Training means you have good control over your dog both at home and in the community. It may also prevent or treat behavioural problems. If you need help, ask your vet, local council, animal shelter or dog club/ association for advice, or look under “Dog training” in the Yellow Pages.

You can also enjoy fun activities with your dog by joining an obedience, flyball or agility club. Find details of these clubs online, in the Yellow Pages, or by contacting ‘Dogs Victoria’.

Dog attacks

A dog of any size or breed can become aggressive when defending its territory. Even a friendly dog may guard the area on or around his/her property, especially when you are not present.

Most dog attacks in public places occur on the footpath or road bordering the attacking dog’s property. For this reason, it is important to make sure your dog is securely contained.

If your dog rushes at or chases someone, you may be fined, and your dog declared as a “Menacing Dog”. If your dog attacks a person or animal, penalties can include court action, fines, damages and the declaration of your dog as “Dangerous” or he/she may even be put down.

It is important to know how to approach dogs safely, and what to do if you are approached by an aggressive dog. In particular, children need to be taught how to behave around dogs, and parents need to be aware of the importance of active supervision. Children, particularly those aged 0-4 years old, are most at risk of serious dog bite injuries.

Research shows that 80% of hospitalised dog attack victims are bitten in private homes by their own dog, or that of a friend or neighbour.

See links above for more information.

Barking

Barking is a natural behaviour for dogs; it is one way they communicate.

Excessive barking is often a sign that something is ‘wrong’. The first step in solving the problem is to determine why your dog is barking (eg boredom, loneliness, to seek attention, to alert you of something, or due to fear/ medical/physical reasons).

Depending on why your dog is barking, you may need to take him/ her on more frequent walks, alter the backyard environment or make it more interesting (eg provide activity toys, bones to chew), take your dog to obedience classes/training, or take him/her to the vet for a check up.

See links above for more information.

Dog poo

Around 900,000 dogs in Victoria produce 90 tonnes of dog poo each day! Most councils require dog owners to remove and dispose of their dog’s poo when in public places. Some councils also require owners to carry an appropriate receptacle (eg bag or scoop) to remove dog poo, whenever they are walking their dog in a public place.

See links above for more information.

Transport

If you take your dog travelling with you in the car:

• Don’t transport your dog in an enclosed boot (such as a sedan boot).
• Use a harness to keep your dog secure in the car. In the event of an accident, a harness will prevent him/her from being thrown about, or from, the car. This will prevent injury to your dog, and to other passengers.
• Don’t leave your dog in a car if there is any possibility of him/her becoming heat stressed. Cars can heat up quickly on even mild days.
• If the dog is on the back of a ute, truck or trailer ensure he/she is tied on so he/she can’t fall off.
• Carry water with you to provide your dog with a drink.

Declared Dogs

Under the Domestic (Feral & Nuisance) Animals Act 1994, “Declared Dogs” include:

• Dogs used for guarding of non residential premises (ie guard dogs)
• Dogs declared Dangerous due to a serious attack on a person or animal
• Dogs declared Menacing due to rushing/ chasing a person
• Dogs that have been trained to attack
• Dogs that are a Restricted Breed (for example, these include Pit Bull Terriers and the Perro de Presa Canario).

Strict housing and ownership requirements apply for Declared Dogs.

See links above for more information.

Working Dogs

See links above to download a booklet on “Working Dogs”, which covers topics such as dogs on moving vehicles, tethering issues, bushfires, stock attacks, health issues specific to working dogs etc.

Domestic Animal Businesses

Domestic animal businesses include: pet shops, pounds and shelters, breeding, training, boarding and greyhound establishments. These must be registered with the local council, and comply with Codes of Practice. These Codes of Practice are designed to protect your rights as a consumer, and to ensure the welfare of animals.

See links above for more information.

If you can’t keep your dog

Circumstances may arise that mean an owner is no longer able to keep their dog. In this case owners must find an appropriate new home for the dog, surrender him/her to the local council or an animal shelter or have a veterinarian put him/her to sleep (euthanase them).

Dumping of animals is an offence.

If you are having an animal put to sleep it must be done humanely, a veterinary practitioner is best placed to do this.