Owning a dog: What you need to know...

OWNING a dog is a big commitment. If you own a dog, it is your responsibility. You must have a dog licence and get your dog microchipped. There are also additional responsibilities if you have a restricted breed of dog.

Your dog must be under your control, or the control of another responsible person if it is outside your home or premises.

This means you should ensure your dog is not a nuisance to others and must follow the rules about where dogs are welcome.

It is also recommended that you keep your dog on a lead in public places. You are responsible for any injury or damage your dog causes to people or livestock.

Before getting a dog, you should consider if one is right for you and your home. It can be expensive owning and caring for a dog. You should ask yourself these questions:

• Does everyone in the house agree to getting a dog?
• Can I afford to feed and care for a dog?
• Will I have time to feed, care for and exercise my dog each day?
• What type of dog should I get, for example, which breed would best to suit my lifestyle and home?
• Who will look after my dog when I’m away from home?
• Will my landlord let me have a dog

Where to get a dog

If you have decided you want to get a dog, you should source it responsibly. Consider adopting from a local authority dog shelter or animal welfare charity. You can also contact a vet to get advice on where to get one.

You should research different breeders, if you are going to buy from a dog breeder. Reputable ones may have a waiting list. The Irish Kennel Club has information about how to find a reputable breeder when buying a puppy. You can also buy a dog from a Dog Breeding Establishment (DBE). Gov.ie have a list of registered DBEs), or you can check your local authority’s website. A registered DBE will have a registration certificate on display in the premise.

Never agree to collect a dog without seeing it in its home environment first. A reputable breeder should also be able to show you the dog’s mother. 

The ISPCA has useful information about what to do when buying a puppy.

Do I have to get a licence for my dog?

If your dog is over 4 months old, you must have a licence. Puppies under 4 months still with their mothers don’t need a licence, but once they leave their mothers, they must have a licence. There are 3 types of dog licence:

• An individual dog licence, which costs €20 and is valid for 1 dog for 1 year
• A ‘lifetime of dog’ licence, which costs €140 and is valid for your dog’s lifetime
• A general dog licence, which costs €400 and is valid for 1 year. This covers multiple dogs at one location.

You can apply for an individual or lifetime dog licence at your local post office or online at licences.ie. A general dog licence application must be sent to your local authority.

Licences are not needed for Guide dogs for blind people

Do I have to get my dog microchipped?

A microchip is a tiny electronic device injected by a vet under the skin of the dog. The microchip is coded with a unique number for each dog. It can be scanned to find out who owns the dog. Microchips can be scanned by the vets, animal rescue organisations and the animal welfare unit in a local authority.

You must get your dog microchipped by a vet and registered under your name on an authorised database before they are 12 weeks old. This also applies if a dog leaves the property where they were born before they are 12 weeks old.

Getting your dog microchipped costs approximately €25. However, some organisations will do this for free or at a lower price, for example, the DSPCA mobile vet clinic.

Does my dog have to wear a collar?

A dog must always wear a collar or a harness with the name and address of the owner. Without this identification, a dog warden can give you can an on-the-spot fine of €200. If you don’t pay this within the specified time-frame, you can be prosecuted by the local authority.

What powers does a dog warden have?

Dog wardens can:

Request the name and address of anyone suspected of an offence under the Control of Dogs Act; seize and detain any dog; enter any premises to seize and detain a dog, apart from your home

You can be arrested by a Garda if you obstruct a dog warden in the course of their work, refuse to give your name and address to a dog warden, and/or give a false name and address to a dog warden

A dog warden can ask you for evidence of your dog licence and if you can’t provide this, they can issue an on-the-spot fine.

Are there penalties for Dog fouling?

If your dog poos in a public place, you, or the person in charge of it, must remove and dispose of it in a proper, clean way. If your dog poos in a public place and you don’t pick it up, you can get a €150 on-the-spot fine.

What happens if my dog is lost or strays?

Stray dogs are dogs that are in a public place and are not with their owner or a responsible person looking after them. You can get an on-the-spot fine of €150 if your dog is not under proper control. Stray dogs can be seized by the dog warden or Gardaí and taken to a dog pound. These dogs may be put down or re-homed if their owners do not claim them within 5 days.

If your dog is lost, has strayed or is missing, you should contact your local dog warden to check if your dog is in the local shelter or dog pound. Before you collect it, you may have to pay a re-claim fee and produce a current dog licence. If you have found a lost dog you can report it to the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA).

What are the rules in relation to restricted breeds of dog in Ireland?

No breed of dog is currently banned in Ireland. But, if you have certain types or breeds of dog, there are additional rules you must follow. This applies to the following types of dog, as well as strains or cross-breeds of these breeds:American pit bull terrier; English bull terrier; Staffordshire bull terrier; Bull mastiff; Dobermann pinscher; German shepherd (Alsatian); Rhodesian ridgeback; Rottweiler’ Japanese akita; Japanese tosa; Bandog

These must be kept on a short strong lead (under 2 metres); with someone over the age of 16, who is able to control them; muzzled in a public place; and wearing a collar with the name and address of their owner, at all times.