Westlander’s love their dogs (there’s around one dog for every four people in Westland!) and during the summer more dog owners are out and about in busy places. This means it’s a good time to think about responsible behaviour around dogs.
Dog owners have legal responsibilities to take care of their dogs and reduce any nuisance to the community.
Dogs in cars
Although we don’t recommend leaving your dog inside your car during the summer, if you choose to do so make sure that your dog is tethered with a dog seatbelt. This way, if something or someone outside the car attracts the dog, they can’t escape out the window. Depending on the style, it may also protect your dog in the event of a car crash. Dog seatbelts can be found online, at large pet stores or your Vet might sell them.
Leashes and collecting their poo
Dogs should only be off leash in approved off-leash areas, and if you are down at the beach please consider any wildlife that may be there. If you are not certain that your dog will return when you call, keep them on the leash. You can purchase NZ made long-line leashes from a few retailers around the country.
When you are out with your dog, always pick up its poo. No one wants to stand in dog poo, and it’s not hard to take a minute to pick it up in a bag and put it into a rubbish bin! There’s no need to risk receiving a fine.
To find out more about dog owner responsibilities, visit this page.
Dog safety tips
Not only do dog owners have responsibilities, but the community does too. It’s important to learn appropriate ways to approach an unknown dog. Always ask permission from the dog owner before petting a dog.
If you or your child is given permission to pat a dog, always be gentle and pat or stroke the dog under the chin. Dogs can perceive a pat on top of the head as threatening and can get scared and react badly. Even with dogs that you know it is always best to approach them in this way.
Never leave a child alone with a dog, even if it is one you know
Around a third of all dog attacks in New Zealand are on children under 12 years of age. Over 70 per cent of bites are from a dog the child knows and loves. Always supervise the interaction between dogs and children.
Many dogs appear to tolerate children handling them because they are trying to be well-behaved. It is up to the dog owner and the parent to recognise and intervene when a dog might not want to play, even if the dog is good-natured enough to allow it.
Never approach a dog without permission
This applies to adults as well as children. A dog tied up outside a shop, or watching you over your neighbour’s fence, may not be as friendly as they look.
Dogs feel more vulnerable when tied up. Unless you know the dog and can read the dog, it is safer not to approach it. Most dogs don’t want to bite but do so because they tried to protect themselves in other ways.
Know how to react if a dog approaches you when walking, cycling, on a scooter, or on a skateboard
Even calm dogs can be reactive to the noise and movement of people things with wheels.
The best protection for you and your children is to understand when a dog might be a risk. Being able to read body language gives you a better idea of what the dog is thinking, so you can act appropriately. Often, after someone gets bitten by a dog, they say that the dog gave no warning. In most circumstances, the dog tried very hard to ask the person to leave them alone, such as:
Unfortunately, because most people are unaware of these signs, the dog feels it has no other choice but to bite.