Today the UK Government has confirmed what it describes as the biggest animal welfare reforms in a generation, with several measures that directly affect dogs and dog owners under the new Animal Welfare Strategy for England. The reforms focus on improving welfare across a dog’s entire life, from breeding and sourcing through to ownership, training, and enforcement.

A key priority is ending puppy smuggling and puppy farming. New laws tighten pet travel rules to prevent underage puppies, heavily pregnant dogs, and animals bred in poor conditions from entering the UK. Further measures are planned to close loopholes, strengthen enforcement, and disrupt criminal networks involved in low-welfare puppy imports.

The strategy also signals major changes to dog breeding practices. Proposals include a new registration system for all dog breeders to improve traceability, higher minimum welfare standards, and bringing previously unregulated activities—such as canine fertility clinics, stud services, and whelping services—into the licensing system. These changes aim to reduce health problems linked to irresponsible breeding and harmful physical traits.

On ownership and public safety, the government has renewed its focus on responsible dog ownership, including tackling dog attacks through better education, training, data sharing, and enforcement. The strategy clearly supports positive, reward-based training and includes plans to consult on a ban on electric shock collars, citing concerns about harm and distress.

Additional measures include improving the dog microchipping system to ensure records are accurate and easy to access, supporting owners to keep pets in rented homes, and recognising the link between pet abuse and domestic abuse, with commitments to better protect dogs in vulnerable households.

Overall, the reforms represent a significant shift toward tougher regulation, clearer standards, and stronger enforcement. The government’s stated aim is that every dog should experience high welfare at every stage of life, supported by science, responsible ownership, and meaningful accountability.

The fantastic Dayle Pierce has been appointed to the board of directors of the Pet Professional Guild. Dayle was one of the most inspiring and encouraging trainers to have influenced my dog training career ever since I met him in 2004 at his dog training club Canine Wizardry. Dayle has been an active member of PPG since 2016 and has supported the organisation in a wide range of leadership, community, and advocacy roles. These include serving on the Steering Committee, co-leading the British Isles Chapter, contributing to the Shelter and Rescue Division, and co-hosting PPG Chat and Chuckle events, the Positive Bookworm book club, and PPG membership and support meetings.

Dayle has more than 30 years of experience in dog training and behaviour. He founded his training business Canine Wizardry in 2002 and has remained committed to continuous professional development throughout his career. His education includes extensive attendance at conferences, seminars, workshops and training events across the UK, the United States, and Europe. He is widely respected within the UK’s positive-reinforcement and force-free community for his work in behaviour consulting, animal welfare, advocacy, and rescue and shelter support.

Dogs bring so much joy to our lives, but owning one also comes with clear responsibilities. In the UK, there are laws designed to keep dogs, people, and other animals safe, and understanding them helps everyone enjoy shared spaces more confidently.

The key message is simple: dog owners are responsible for their dog’s behaviour at all times—whether that’s at home, out on a walk, or visiting friends.

What does “keeping a dog under control” actually mean?
In legal terms, a dog doesn’t have to bite or attack to be considered “out of control”. A dog may be classed as out of control if it:

• Makes someone fear they might be injured
• Behaves aggressively towards people or other animals
• Causes injury, even accidentally (for example, jumping up and knocking someone over)

This applies anywhere, including:

• Public places (parks, streets, beaches)
• Private property
• The dog owner’s own home

In short, if your dog’s behaviour causes fear or harm, the law can step in.


What can happen if a dog is out of control?
Depending on the situation, authorities such as the police or local council can take action. This may include:

• A warning or formal notice
• Fines or prosecution
• Court orders requiring specific controls
• In serious cases, seizure of the dog

Courts can also order owners to:

• Keep the dog on a lead or muzzled
• Attend dog training or behaviour classes
• Improve fencing or security at home
• Take out third-party insurance

The focus is often on preventing future incidents, not just punishing owners.


Dog attacks and serious incidents
If a dog injures someone, the consequences become much more serious. Owners can face criminal charges, and penalties can include heavy fines, bans on owning dogs, or even prison sentences in the most severe cases.
Importantly, the law applies even if the incident happens in your own home—including situations where a visitor or delivery driver is injured.


Children, visitors, and responsibility
Dog owners must take extra care around:

• Children
• Elderly people
• Visitors unfamiliar with dogs

Even a friendly dog can behave unpredictably if stressed, frightened, or over-excited. Owners are expected to anticipate risks and manage situations responsibly, such as using baby gates, leads, or supervision.


Dog fouling and public spaces
Local councils enforce rules around dog fouling and public behaviour. This includes:

• Cleaning up after your dog
• Keeping dogs on leads where required (such as some parks or nature reserves)
• Respecting dog-free areas

Failing to follow these rules can result in fixed penalty notices or fines.


What about banned or restricted dogs?
Certain types of dogs are subject to additional legal controls, including strict ownership conditions or bans. Owners of restricted dogs must follow specific rules such as muzzling, leads, insurance, and secure housing.
If you’re unsure whether your dog is affected, it’s important to check and seek advice early.


Good dog ownership goes a long way
Most dog-related incidents are preventable. Simple steps make a big difference:

• Ongoing training and socialisation
• Using a lead when needed
• Understanding your dog’s triggers
• Keeping fences, gates, and doors secure
• Asking for professional help early if behaviour becomes a concern

The law is there to protect everyone—but responsible ownership is the best safeguard of all.


In summary
UK dog control laws are about safety, responsibility, and prevention. By understanding what’s expected and taking sensible precautions, dog owners can enjoy life with their pets while keeping communities safe and comfortable for everyone.

​The Kennel Club has outlined a series of strengthened measures in 2025 aimed at improving the health and welfare of brachycephalic (flat-faced) dog breeds, which remain hugely popular in the UK despite well-documented health problems such as breathing difficulties, heat intolerance, and birthing complications.

Central to the Kennel Club’s approach is education and awareness. It has expanded public-facing resources, including videos and guidance for owners and prospective buyers, to highlight breed-specific health risks and reduce demand driven by advertising and social media portrayals. Alongside this, the organisation has invested £170,000 into dedicated health research through a charitable trust, supporting evidence-based solutions to complex respiratory and welfare issues.

A key practical initiative is the Respiratory Function Grading Scheme, developed with the University of Cambridge, which provides an objective assessment of breathing health and helps guide responsible breeding decisions. From Crufts 2025, new health-based entry requirements for popular brachycephalic breeds will further reinforce the message that healthier conformation matters in the show ring.

The Kennel Club also leads the Brachycephalic Breeds Working Group, bringing together breed clubs, vets, and welfare organisations, and has published an illustrated Breed Watch guide to help judges and breeders avoid rewarding exaggerated features. Tools such as the free Mate Select database support breeders in making informed, health-focused breeding choices.

While these measures represent a broad and proactive strategy, debate continues over whether they go far enough. Welfare groups argue that deeper changes to breed standards may still be needed. Even so, the Kennel Club’s 2025 initiatives mark a significant, multi-layered effort to shift breeding culture toward healthier, happier dogs, emphasising shared responsibility across breeders, buyers, veterinarians, and the wider dog-loving public.

​The UK’s 2025 Puppy Import Ban introduces tougher rules designed to protect puppy welfare and crack down on illegal, low-welfare imports. Under the new legislation, puppies cannot be imported into Great Britain until they are at least six months old, ensuring they stay with their mothers during critical early development. The ban also restricts the import of heavily pregnant dogs, outlaws cosmetic procedures such as ear cropping and tail docking, and requires commercial importers to be licensed with full veterinary certification and traceable records.

For prospective owners, the message is clear: ethical sourcing matters more than ever. Buyers are encouraged to choose licensed UK breeders—including those in the Kennel Club Assured Breeder scheme—or to adopt from reputable rescue organisations such as the Dogs Trust, RSPCA, or Blue Cross. Transparency around health testing, microchipping, vaccinations, and seeing puppies with their mother is essential.

The ban also reinforces owner responsibility beyond purchase. Ethical ownership includes lifelong commitments to healthcare, training, socialisation, and staying informed about evolving animal welfare laws. Suspected illegal imports should be reported to welfare bodies or Trading Standards.

Overall, the 2025 ban marks a significant step toward ending unethical puppy trading. By buying responsibly or adopting, UK owners can comply with the law, protect puppy welfare, and help raise standards across the dog-buying community.

​UK law requires all dogs to be microchipped and registered on an approved database. The legislation is designed to reunite lost dogs with their keepers, with fines of up to £500 for failing to microchip or keep details up to date.

Responsibility for microchipping sits clearly with the breeder, not the buyer. Puppies must be microchipped and registered before leaving the breeder, usually between eight and twelve weeks of age. While there is no legal minimum age, the Kennel Club recommends waiting until at least six weeks old. Buyers should always ask to see microchip paperwork at collection, alongside vaccination and health records.

Once the puppy comes home, the new owner has 21 days to update the microchip database with their own details, usually for a small fee. Keeping this information current is essential for both legal compliance and the puppy’s safety.

Prospective buyers are encouraged to ask breeders clear questions about microchipping, databases used, and overall health care, including whether the breeder follows recognised good-practice schemes.

Finally, for those planning international travel, it’s important to note that from August 2024 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requires dogs entering the US to have an ISO-compatible microchip implanted before rabies vaccination, along with additional documentation.

In short, responsible microchipping protects puppies, supports welfare, and ensures both breeders and owners meet their legal obligations—making it a vital first step in responsible dog ownership.

Dogs may have fur coats, but they can still feel the cold and heat just like humans. A dog’s comfort depends on many factors including breed, coat type, body fat, age, health and how used they are to different climates. While dogs naturally have a slightly higher body temperature than people, not all are equally protected against extreme weather.

In the UK, most dogs are comfortable in cool to mild temperatures (around 5–15°C), though smaller, short-haired, elderly, or unwell dogs may need extra warmth below 10°C. Very cold weather (below 5°C) increases risk, especially when combined with wind or rain, and prolonged exposure below freezing is unsafe for many breeds. On the other end of the scale, dogs usually cope well with 15–25°C, but temperatures above 25–27°C significantly raise the risk of heat stress and heatstroke.

Conditions like wind chill, wet weather, activity level and sun exposure can make temperatures feel far colder or hotter than the thermometer suggests. Practical steps such as providing warm bedding, using coats for vulnerable dogs, limiting walks in extreme weather, ensuring constant access to water, and watching for signs of distress (shivering, excessive panting, lethargy) are essential.

Ultimately, responsible dog ownership means adapting care to the individual dog and the unpredictable UK climate. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and seek veterinary advice to keep dogs safe, comfortable, and healthy year-round