Dog Safety: What Could Change for Owners Under New Proposals?

Could choosing a dog trainer, hiring a walker or reporting an out-of-control dog become more straightforward? Those are among the practical questions raised by a government-convened taskforce calling for a stronger approach to preventing dog attacks. Its recommendations concern everyday ownership across breeds, not just the most serious incidents that reach the headlines.

The Responsible Dog Ownership taskforce has agreed 20 recommendations, ranging from better records of bites to possible legal requirements for professionals caring for dogs. The important distinction for owners is that a recommendation is not a new rule: publication of this report does not itself change your legal obligations.

What the dog ownership proposals would change

The taskforce brings together representatives from policing, local authorities and animal welfare organisations. Convened by Defra in 2022, it considered research from Middlesex University and outstanding recommendations from Parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. Its work resumed in May 2025 after a pause during implementation of the XL Bully ban.

Several proposals would require further policy development or legislation. These include exploring new legal requirements for ownership, considering requirements for professional dog walkers and creating a statutory duty for councils to provide a dog control service for lower-level problems. They are not an announced package of compulsory courses or licences for every owner.

Other measures focus on making existing systems work better. Updated guidance and training for enforcement staff are immediate priorities, alongside more consistent data collection and clearer routes to reliable behavioural support. The report also records one recommendation concerning fixed penalty notices as completed, underlining that the proposals are at different stages.

In her ministerial foreword, animal welfare minister Baroness Hayman says ministers are considering the recommendations. Breed-specific legislation was excluded from the taskforce’s remit, so this is not a review of which dog types are prohibited.

What rising dog injury admissions tell us

Hospital admissions in England involving dog bites or strikes increased from 6,097 in 2010–11 to 10,787 in 2024–25, a rise of 77%. These are admissions figures, not a count of every bite, every injured person or every dog involved. The category also includes strikes, rather than bites alone.

For comparison, PDSA estimates put the UK dog population at 11.1 million in 2025, against 8.2 million in 2011: approximately 35% growth. The hospital and ownership figures cover different geographical areas and periods, so they cannot establish a precise change in the risk posed by an individual dog.

There is nevertheless a substantial injury burden to address. The taskforce wants improved recording of wounds and the circumstances surrounding incidents, a statutory recording duty for enforcement authorities, and exploration of a shared dog control database. It also recommends making existing healthcare data more accessible across relevant agencies.

Context matters because a total cannot explain what preceded an injury or which intervention might have prevented it. Research into underlying causes and the effectiveness of prevention measures is therefore part of the recommendations. Better records could help distinguish recurring problems from assumptions about how attacks happen.

Choosing a dog trainer or professional walker

For owners seeking help, one significant recommendation is to explore regulation of dog trainers and behaviourists. Gathering evidence on the available options is an immediate priority. That is a step towards assessing regulation, not confirmation that a new compulsory register has been established.

The taskforce also wants clearer consumer information directing people towards suitable training and behavioural support. In practice, owners should ask prospective trainers about their relevant qualifications, experience, methods and approach when a dog becomes uncomfortable. Reward-based training should build skills without frightening or hurting the dog; promises of a guaranteed rapid solution deserve scrutiny.

Professional walkers are addressed separately, through a recommendation to consider potential legal requirements. Before handing over a lead, ask who will walk your dog, how dogs are grouped, how transport is managed and what happens during an emergency. Explain any known triggers, handling difficulties or history of conflict rather than assuming the walker will discover them safely.

Training is not a substitute for veterinary assessment when behaviour changes suddenly. Pain or illness can affect behaviour. Contact your vet if your dog develops new aggression, seems distressed or shows signs of discomfort; appropriate behavioural support can then be considered alongside veterinary advice.