A dog owner’s guide to the fines and laws for dogs in the UK

While some of the laws and regulations relating to UK dog owners are well-known, others could take you by surprise and result in unexpected fines for anything from walking on the wrong beach to not carrying enough poop bags.

This guide, written by Terry Hearn, looks at the different national and regional laws around aspects of dog ownership in the UK, so you can avoid a nasty surprise when out exploring.

• General well-being
• Out in public
• Dog fouling
• Dogs on leads
• Out of control dogs
• Dogs and livestock
• Identification
• Microchipping
• Collars and name tags
• In the car

• Dogs on beaches
• Region-specific fines

General well-being

Your most important responsibility as a dog owner is to ensure that your dog is well looked after. All domestic animals have the legal right to:

• Live in a suitable environment.
• Eat a suitable diet.
• Exhibit normal behaviour patterns.
• Be housed with, or apart from, other animals.
• Be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

Thankfully, most dog owners consider their pets to be their pride and joy, but failing to provide these basics could be considered neglect and be prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Depending on the seriousness of the offence, this might result in being banned from owning animals, an unlimited fine or up to five years in prison.

Out in public

When out and about, the laws around dogs and their owners are more focused on ensuring that public spaces remain safe and clean.

Dog fouling

One of the most common offences of dog owners is not picking up after their dog, which is required by law in the UK. 

Local councils will have varying methods for combatting this problem including Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs), which are intended to deal with nuisance or antisocial behaviour by issuing on-the-spot £100 dog fouling fines (which can increase to £1,000 if prosecuted for not complying).

Freedom of Information (FOI) data shows fines are not common, with just one handed out in Cornwall between 2013-2023, but it was for a significant amount - £1,354.

However, the number of formal complaints remains high across the country. Combined with local news articles and regional Facebook groups, the frustration at dog fouling is significant and felt nationwide. It’s always unpleasant to deal with what other people’s dogs leave behind and could ruin an otherwise enjoyable walk (or pair of boots!) so remember to pick up and do your part to keep walking routes pleasant. 

Dogs on leads

Many public places, including parks, playgrounds, sports fields and beaches require dogs to be on a lead.

While there is no specific law requiring dogs to stay on a lead in public, Public Space Protection Orders mean that local councils can issue £100 fines for dogs that are allowed off-lead in restricted areas. The Highway Code also says that dogs should be kept on a short lead along roads or paths shared with cyclists. 

If you are struggling to get your dog to walk on a lead, check out our lead walking guide for tips and make sure that their harness is the correct size and comfortable.

Out of control in a public place

It is illegal in the UK to allow your dog to be ‘dangerously out of control’ in public. What does this mean exactly? Put simply, if your dog appears aggressive enough to make somebody believe it may harm them or an assistance dog, the law considers them to be dangerously out of control. This can apply to any type of dog.

If your dog is often allowed off lead in public places, make sure they are fully trained as the consequences for being dangerously out of control can be severe:

• Up to three years in prison for injuring a person (14 years if the victim dies).
• An unlimited fine
• Banned from pet ownership and the dog destroyed.

Even without injury, owners could spend six months in prison and be fined up to £5,000.

Dogs and livestock 

Dog owners in rural areas must take additional precautions to protect livestock. Even if your dog is normally calm, The Countryside Code requires dogs to be on a lead in ‘Open Access’ land such as countryside or farmland.

Dog owners could face fines up to £1,000 and, in some cases, farmers have the legal right to shoot dogs that threaten their livestock.

Identification

Ensuring your dog has proper identification is very important if they were to escape or get lost, but it is also a legal requirement in the UK. Dogs must have both of these forms of identification in public:

Microchipping

All puppies must be microchipped by the time they are eight weeks old. The registered keeper is responsible for ensuring that the owner’s information remains up to date e.g. if moving house or re-homing the dog.

Failing to register a dog on an approved database, or not keeping the owner’s information up to date could result in a fine of up to £500.

Collars and name tags

The Control of Dogs Order 1992 states that all dogs must wear a collar with the owner’s name and address (just the house number and postcode are fine if there isn’t much space) when in public. This can be included directly on the collar or a name tag. Adding a mobile phone number is not required, but could be useful as a quick method of contact if your dog should escape.

John Skinner, co-owner of TopDog said “Not all dog owners will be aware that switching using a harness without a collar for walks is technically illegal. While a harness is optional, if your dog is caught without a collar the fine can be up to £5,000. Luckily it’s easy to be both compliant and look stylish, with TopDog’s range of collars and ID tags.”

In the car 

The Highway Code states that dogs and other animals must be properly restrained while in a vehicle. There are a lot of options including carriers, cages, dog guards and seat belt harnesses (which are considered to be the safest option) that could be used to secure your pooch, but never let them loose or ride on the front seat.

In extreme cases, having an unrestrained dog in your car could result in a fine of up to £5,000 and penalty points - not to mention the danger to passengers, your dog and other drivers if they were to distract you while driving.

If you were to be involved in an accident, having an unrestrained dog could be considered a form of ‘careless driving’. It is also advisable to check your insurance to make sure your policy covers driving with pets in the vehicle - so make sure your four-legged passengers are secured before hitting the road!

Dogs on beaches

As much as dogs may love to be let loose on the beach for a run, many beaches have restrictions depending on the time of year.

The good news is that many UK beaches will welcome dogs between 1st October and 30th April, but check the rules carefully to avoid fines in the region of £100.

Popular holiday locations like Cornwall have a vast range of beaches that welcome your furry friends, but if you are unsure about your local area, check out this guide to dog-friendly beaches to discover options near you.

Regional fines

John Skinner, co-owner of TopDog said “As many of the rules around dog ownership in the UK are set by councils, there can be a lot of variation - so double-check before you travel as some of the reasons for fines might be quite unexpected!”

Poop bags

Several councils across the country are proposing, or have already implemented fines for not carrying a poo bag (or in some cases more than one):

• London - Many London boroughs have adopted Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) to target dog fouling, but Hammersmith and Fulham went further than most by requiring dog owners to produce a poop scoop or disposable bags on demand, or face a fine.
• Lincolnshire  - Since 2018, dog walkers in Bassetlaw, Lincolnshire who are unable to produce a poop bag when asked by enforcement officers, could receive a fixed penalty notice of up to £100.
• Canterbury (Kent) - In an effort to catch repeat offenders, Canterbury council announced fines for dog walkers not carrying at least two bags, causing controversy and national news coverage.
• Daventry (Northamptonshire)  - In 2015, new rules were put in place to make sure dog owners “have extra poop bags with them at all times to ensure they have the means to pick up, regardless of how long they've been out and about with their pet.”
• North Somerset - In November 2021, the council introduced a £75 fine for dog owners not carrying a poop bag - even if they had just used one.
• Doncaster - A Public Space Protection Order for Dogs and Dog Control is in force across the whole City of Doncaster. 

Typically these fines will be around £100, rising to £1,000 if they are not paid. The simplest way to avoid a costly mistake is to attach a TopDog poop bag holder to your lead or harness so you will never be without spare bags.

Excessive barking

One of the more unusual regional dog laws in the UK can be found in Lancashire, where it is illegal to encourage excessive barking - as it could be considered a public nuisance or break rules about noise levels. So make sure your furry friend is calm and happy before taking a holiday in that part of the world!

Shock collars 

Shock collars are cruel devices for training dogs using electronic pulses, resulting in a rise in anxiety and aggression. There is no evidence that shock collars are more effective than other traumatic training methods.

Shock collars are illegal in Wales, where owners could be fined up to £20,000 or imprisoned for up to 51 weeks for animal cruelty if they use one. Thankfully, there is growing pressure for England to follow suit and adopt this law.

Keys, wallet, poo bags!

An important part of being a responsible dog owner is being aware of the laws and local regulations for the benefit of yourself, your dog and everyone in the local community.

Before heading out just remember the essentials - keys, wallet, poo bags - so you and your dog can enjoy exploring the UK without being surprised by an unexpected fine.