Is it time to bring back the dog licence?

[Flippetydip]

On a family bike ride/run on Saturday having witnessed so many out of control dogs and ignorant owners, not to mention the streets being paved with dog muck, I was thinking, surely it must be time to reintroduce a dog licence. Would it make people think a bit more about getting a dog?

While we were out one Jack Russell went for my ankles and then stood there growling and barking at me. When I asked the owner to get it under control I was told "it's not my fault" - well yes it is, if you can't keep it under control, keep it on a lead.

As a disclaimer, I love dogs and we are likely to get on in the next few years but it will be trained and I will clear up after it.

[PinkSwimGoggles]

yanbu
I'm all for it.

but some irresponsible dog owners will just not bother. and who's going to enforce it?

[EssentialHummus]

I dunno. I worry that the sort of people who let their dogs go on like that will put two fingers up to the idea of licensing. In theory I am in favour.

[Peopleplease]

I live in Ireland. A dog licence costs €20. I'm not sure how that would combat anti-social behaviour?

[baconandeggies]

Yes. Dog licence and all unlicensed and unregulated breeders to be banned. Plus compulsory neutering for all new dogs.

[ErrolTheDragon]

A license to own a dog might be a good thing - sort of like a driving license with a test. It would include not only matters of health, training and courtesy to others, but also education on how to get a dog - how to spot puppy farms and illegal imports.

Very unlikely to happen in practice though.

TBH the area I live in people, dogs, bikes and horses seem to co-exist quite amicably - possibly because it's more rural but even in the parks in the largish town mostly its fine. There's sometimes the odd cyclist who doesn't give sufficient warning approaching from behind, and the odd offlead dog or people who walk all across a multi-use path, but the vast majority of interactions are civilized.

[Eolian]

I don't think it would make any difference unless it was really really expensive. And even then, lots of irresponsible peopke wouldn't bother. And how could you employ enough people to actually police it?

[Bubble2bubble]

I am in Northern Ireland where we have always had a dog licence and compulsory microchipping came in a few years ago. It changes nothing.

Most of the strays picked up are not chipped or licenced anyway.

You can be fined for having a dog in public without these two things but when you have one dog warden covering 4-5 large towns, realistically that is not going to happen.

Licence is £5 for a neutered dog and I think £12 for unneutered. People pay up to £1000 for a puppy.....

[Sparlklesilverglitter]

I think it's a good idea, but if people are arse holes would they really take notice? Would it stop bad behaviour?
Maybe a test for common sense before you can get a dog? A test to see if your a twat?

So many people don't really know how to care for a dog.
So many dogs are mis treated
Some owners Can't be bothered to clean up dog poo, well lazy fuckers you should of thought about that before you brought a dog

[Flippetydip]

Yeah, OK, I admit I hadn't thought through the practicalities of it all. How was it policed the last time round? I know we had to have a dog licence when we had a dog when I was a child I am ancient though.

[BratFarrarsPony]

I think in the old days of dog licences you just went to the Post Office and bought one for 15p or whatever. Not sure it made any difference.

[Bubble2bubble]

The only time it is policed tbh is if you lose your dog. At that point if your dog is found to be unlicenced you will have to pay the licence fee on top of the impounding fee and also pay for microchip.
When some people realise this they just don't bother reclaiming their dog :(

[WaitrosePigeon]

I am a considerate and reasonable dog owner and I'm all for dog licensing, dog tax, whatever if it means dog ownership is more controlled.

[EatTheCake]

An are you a twat test could work surely?

If you can't be asked to clean up dog poo, then don't get a dog
If you can't be asked to put dog on a lead in a childs parcel area when it says all dogs on leads, then don't get a dog
If you aren't going to treat the poor thing properly then don't get a dog

Thing is some dog owners are selfish arse holes that have no idea how to look after a dog. Or they just seea cute puppy and have no idea how to train in

[Shiningexample]

All dogs to be fitted with tracking devices, a mobile phone app so that anyone can scan any dog and report it if it doesnt have a tracker

[HopelesslydevotedtoGu]

My local area has dog poo on the streets, park, even children's playground

I would love measures to stop this

I read that in Barking they started DNA checking dog poo to trace the owners

Anyone know if this works?

[brodchengretchen]

I agree about anti-social behaviour and poo but you could say the same about cats and they don't require licences.

[littlemissneela]

I am all for it. I wonder if they could enforce a license and have the dogs dna on the license file? That way, any incidents, even left behind poo, can be traced and the owner dealt with.

[Eolian]

But how many people would need to be going around testing dog poo for that to actually be useful? It would cost a fortune in staff (and potentially equipment too).

[LumelaMme]

Yes. Dog licence and all unlicensed and unregulated breeders to be banned. Plus compulsory neutering for all new dogs.
HANG ON! If 'all new dogs' were neutered, this would mean, within about 15 years, no dogs,

Or is that not what you meant, bacon?

[baconandeggies]

Cats - don't tend to shit all over pavements in copius amounts, or go for your ankles whilst growling. No comparison.

[MothershipG]

Personally I would go much further, I think dogs should have log books, like cars and the owners should have to have a licence which they would have to pass a test to obtain.

It would all need to be self funded, so the cost of the licence and registration and income from fines would have to cover this.

The aims of this would be to prevent impulse buys, to discourage puppy farms and irresponsible owners.

I say all this as the owner of 3 small dogs and I am aware that this would only be possible in Cloud Cuckoo Land.

[ShitneySpears]

In theory I am in favour but the sort of scum people who let their dogs run riot and leave shit everywhere aren't likely to bother with getting one. Same as most things in life, the bottom 1% ruin it for everyone else.

I do think, though, the police officers should do spot checks on dog walkers to make sure they're carrying poo bags. If they're not it should be a spot fine of £30. This happened to a friend of mine and I thought it was a great idea.

[CherryChasingDotMuncher]

YANBU I am getting sick of having to dodge snappy or dangerous dogs, I'm generally very nervous of them anyway and people these days seem to have forgotten themselves and think it's fine to have their fur babies off leads on high street and find it adorable when they jump up and try and lick my face. I do tell people I'm nervous of dogs as well and TBF most react well but some act like I've just pissed on their children

[Manumission]

Won't universal micro-chipping achieve the same or better without the extra bureaucratic hassle?