Code sets guidelines for good dog owners

Title: Code sets guidelines for good dog owners

I really think that it should be written for bad dog owners since the good dog owners would do the right thing for their dog.

The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (Nawac) has released a draft of a new code outlining minimum standards for the welfare of dogs.

The code, which covers all dogs, from pets to working and sport dogs, also recommends the best practices for anyone responsible for dogs.

It looks at all aspects of dog ownership and care, including sanitation, breeding, training, tail docking and euthanasia.

Chairman Dr Peter O'Hara said the committee was seeking public feedback on the code before it was finalised.

Doglinks will surely put in our submission, and we will ask to talk to it too. Are you submitting?

"Nawac has not made any decisions yet. We want to know how people feel about the issues in the code and welcome submissions," he said.

I HOPE that loads of people out there DO submit...

(...)

Christchurch dog owner Dawn Dadswell supported the proposed code, particularly for new owners.

Yes, new dog owners can be at a loss as it is a different world of body language, status, etc etc

"I think a lot of people that have not had dogs before should have something like that because they don't realise the work involved, especially with bigger dogs," she said.

She has two dogs, an 18-month-old mastiff and a smaller mastiff-cross, which have grown up with her young children.

The mastiff, called Rusty, needed obedience training and had to be exercised daily to keep him in good condition.

But even with good care, including proper fencing, Rusty has spent the last few days in the council pound after escaping when the Dadswells' house cleaner opened the gate as she was leaving their North Beach home.

Thankfully he's got a good dog owner who will do the right thing and socialise the pooch. Dog's DO escape, ... perhaps 'escape' isn't the right word as it makes it sound like he doesn't want to be there.. they want to sniff and mark their territory. It's a doggie thing to do. So we need to manage this as well as we can.

Dadswell was keen to look at the proposed code, but suggested a further step requiring dog owners to know basic dog welfare rules when registering their pet.

I would suggest that it goes even further than that. But that'll be in my submission..