Responsible dog ownership
Being a responsible dog owner is an important factor in fostering safer communities and reducing the incidence of dog attacks both in the home and in public.
If you understand the ways a dog communicates and socialise it early, the likelihood of a dog attack occurring can be reduced.
On this page:
Choosing a dog
You can find a dog that suits your family's lifestyle and preferences if you consider the dog's:
- temperament
- energy level
- size
- grooming and health needs
- compatibility with your lifestyle
- compatibility with children or other animals
- sociability and trainability.
Even after choosing a dog that’s right for you, your dog may exhibit aggressive behaviour that could harm you, your children or other people.
Understand your dog
Body language is one of a dog's main forms of communication. If you are a dog owner or interact with dogs, it's important that you learn how to understand them.
- Learn to read what your dog tells you through its body language.
- Communicate with your dog by understanding the signs it gives you.
- Avoid hugging your dog as it can feel threatened.
Be sociable
The best time to socialise your puppy is between 3 to 17 weeks of age. If done well and early, it can shape your puppy’s behaviour for the better.
- Manage the introduction of a new pet carefully and don’t leave children unsupervised with a new dog or puppy.
- Safely expose your puppy to many different situations at a young age to positively shape its behaviour.
- Make off-leash dog parks a positive experience.
Safety first
Dog aggression can be scary and potentially dangerous. It's important to understand the forms of aggression and the underlying causes.
- Understand the forms of aggression in your dog and how to manage it.
- Avoid dog conflict when walking your dog and know the warning signs of a dog that feels stressed or uncomfortable.
- Prepare your dog for the introduction of a new baby to make it an enjoyable experience.
- Be informed about ways to protect your children around dogs.
Training
Reward-based training rewards good behaviour but avoids punishment for bad behaviour.
- Dog training is not only mentally stimulating for the dog, training also reinforces wanted over 'unwanted' behaviours.
- Train your dog to come when called as it is a crucial part of keeping them safe.
- Manage your dog's anxiety by teaching it to be calm when you are away.
Special occasions
Special times of year, like Christmas and Halloween, can be stressful for dogs. There are ways to manage the noise and chaos to keep your dog safe.
- Consider the animal welfare issues around pets wearing costumes.
- Carefully manage interactions with people in costumes at Halloween.
- Keep your dog safe over the often-chaotic time of Christmas.