Complaints of dog mess and bad behaviour – but nearly all dog owners claim they are responsible
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Forget party politics; The new issue dividing the nation is dog owners.
Surveys show the dog population in the UK has reached a record high of at least 13 million.
With the steady increase of canine pets in Britain, a gap is emerging between the number of owners who believe they are responsible and the experience of everyone else.
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Research by pollster YouGov shows that an overwhelming majority (96 per cent) of dog owners say they are responsible; but 86 percent of people encountered problems such as dog fouling, dogs jumping on them without permission, and dogs being left unattended.
Now the Dogs Trust and RSPCA have launched a national consultation to gather the views of both owners and non-owners on what “responsible” dog ownership means.
YouGov research found that 96 per cent of dog owners see themselves as responsible, saying the most important aspects are picking up their dog’s waste in public, ensuring dogs are safe and cared for, and proper training and socialization.
But almost 86 percent of those surveyed encountered irresponsible dog owners. One quarter said they witnessed such incidents at least once a week.
About 72 percent of them reported seeing owners leaving dog waste on the floor.
Nearly a third reported seeing owners allowing their dogs to jump on people, and the same proportion reported seeing owners leaving their pets unattended in restricted areas.
A quarter of those who saw dog owners behaving irresponsibly reported seeing owners ignore their dog’s aggressive behavior.
Dog attacks on humans, some fatal, are regularly reported; These attacks include XL bullies, a breed banned without an exemption certificate in 2024.
Last year’s figures Independent It showed that at least 23,000 dog attacks were reported in the first year of the ban.
NHS data shows the number of injuries caused by dogs is increasing in the UK.
Last week, Ashley Warren was convicted of owning the XL bully dog that mauled 68-year-old Esther Martin to death.
But many XL bully owners defended their pets. One person who was also attacked said: [dog attacks] This has nothing to do with dogs; They are 100 percent owners of breeds who buy them for status, mistreat them, and then fail to control them.
“If XL is not a bully, he will be just another breed of dog that irresponsible owners will put on treadmills to harden and turn into an aggressive animal, while all responsible dog owners and dogs suffer.
“Any dog, even a chihuahua, can kill if it’s not cared for properly.”
The Dogs Trust and RSPCA have established rules for responsible dog ownership and want local government, police forces and other groups to take them into account.
RSPCA dog welfare expert Samantha Gaines said: “This consultation will be invaluable in creating a shared understanding of what responsible ownership looks like – from devoted dog owners to those who interact with dogs regularly and everyone in between – helping us make a positive difference to dog welfare and community safety.”
