There's a lot to learn when you first get a dog, like what their favourite food is and what games they enjoy playing. Owning a dog is a lot of fun, but it also comes with responsibilities. There are essential ownership obligations and rules you need to learn, too.
Here are the five top responsibilities for dog owners in Auckland. Are you up to date with everything?
1. Never let them roam
As a loving dog owner, one of the most important ways you can care for them is by keeping them safe and secure on your property. This means having suitable fencing installed and ensuring there are no gaps where they could slip through or gates left open.
When dogs roam, they can get into all sorts of trouble. They can be hit by cars, get into fights with other animals, or they may attack another person or animal. Because roaming dogs pose a threat to public safety, if they are reported to the council or spotted by one of our Animal Management officers they may be picked up and impounded. You can also be issued with an infringement fee if your dog is found roaming.
Some tips to help prevent your dog roaming:
- Make sure your fences and gates are regularly checked and maintained, especially after storms or high winds
- Keep gates securely latched at all times, and consider self-closing mechanisms or locks if needed
- If your dog is a jumper or digger, you may need to extend the height of your fence or reinforce the base
- Desexing can also reduce the urge to roam
- Providing regular walks and mental stimulation at home can help keep your dog happy and less likely to try to escape.
For the wellbeing and safety of your dog and the community, don't let them go wandering.
2. Register and microchip your dog
Registering your pooch is an important part of being a responsible dog owner. This helps keep our community and dogs safe and allows us to reunite lost dogs with their owners. You can do this online or at one of Auckland Council’s service centres.
You need to register your puppy for the first time before they reach three months old. If you change your address or rehome your dog, you need to let Auckland Council know within 14 days.
Registration isn’t a one-off – you need to renew your dog’s registration annually. The registration period runs from 1 July to 30 June the following year.
For first time dogs being registered, visit the main Auckland Council website for more information.
As well as registration, new puppies and dogs have to be microchipped by a vet within two months of their first registration. This is a simple, one-off procedure, involving a tiny implant about the size of a grain of rice. Each chip has a unique 15-digit number which is added to the National Dog Database, and can help reunite lost pets with their owners.
3. Desex your dog
Desexing your dog is one of the simplest things you can do to care for them and to help reduce the number of unwanted puppies needing homes.
Desexed dogs generally live longer, healthier lives and have a lower risk of getting various cancers and diseases of the reproductive organs. They're also less likely to roam, which reduces the risk of them getting lost, injured or involved in an attack. Registration fees are also lower for desexed dogs.
Dogs can be desexed from six months of age. More information about this procedure and the benefits can be found on the council website.
4. Learn where you can and can’t take your dog
Now you’ve got a dog in tow, you need to learn a new set of rules for moving around Auckland. You might not have noticed before, but there are dog access rules on footpaths, playgrounds, shared driveways and public transport.
It's also important to find out where you can take your dog for a good run around. There are many parks and reserves in Auckland where you can let your dog off-leash to play, and they might even make new dog friends.
Then there are areas where dogs are prohibited altogether. For example, council playgrounds, camping grounds and cemeteries, as well as public places like schools and malls.
It’s important to know and follow the rules for dogs in public places.
5. Keep your dog happy, safe and under control
As a dog owner, it’s essential to make sure your dog doesn’t injure, intimidate or distress people or other animals. This means you have to keep them under control at all times.
Even though you may think your bundle of fur is an angel, dogs can easily become overstimulated by children and, unfortunately, this is when most dog bites on children occur. Always supervise your pet around tamariki or remove it to a safe place where it won’t feel overwhelmed.
To prevent dog bites and aggression, it's also important that your dog gets plenty of exercise, has access to food and water, and that they have been properly trained and socialised around other animals and children.
To stay up to date with your obligations as a dog owner, sign up for Auckland Council’s Paw Post newsletter here.