Campaign To Tackle 'Out Of Control' Dogs

Dog owners' etiquette is the focus of a new campaign in Guernsey aiming to address a rise in reports of out of control and anti-social dog incidents.

The rise in out of control dogs is caused by 'ignorance', according to Anna Brehaut.

The founder of Canine Behaviour Guernsey has teamed up with the GSPCA to produce a campaign called 'RESPECT'.

Anna hopes sharing the advice online and handing out leaflets will help improve dog owners' etiquette:

"Everybody has heard 'Oh my dog is friendly don't worry, it's fine'.  When people are saying that, it doesn't really help the person if they are standing there with a really nervous, anxious and reactive dog.

If the other dog is circling around them, it can be quite traumatic for both that dog and the owner.

So if all owners could sit back and read RESPECT it might just make life a little bit easier for everyone."

She says that the number of dogs in the island is making anti-social incidents more common:

"There's not really anywhere in Guernsey where you can take your dog for a walk and not see anybody, whereas in the UK some people could go for a walk for hours and not see anybody or bump into another dog.

With so many dogs on the island, and everyone using the same public space, it's becoming a bit more congested.

Everyone is sort of on top of each other."

Last summer, Guernsey Police published its own warning to owners following 52 reports of either people or livestock being injured by dogs in the past 12 months

GSPCA welfare and behaviour manager Lorna Chadwick said the shelter regularly received complaints about out of control dogs.

‘It’s important that dog owners are aware of the impact of their dogs on the community and the problems that can be created if a person or animal is attacked; not only physically but mentally.

‘We are all animal lovers, but we do have to share the same recreational space and we must remember that some people are frightened of dogs, have to keep their pets on-lead due to illness or injury, or they may recognise their dogs have problems and are training their pet.

We just want people to be more aware of those around them and enable everyone to enjoy our beautiful outdoor space."