Responsible Dog Ownership Report
If you work with dogs, you'll have noticed the conversation around dog control and responsible ownership getting louder over the last few years. On 24 September 2026, that conversation took a big step forward when Defra published the Responsible Dog Ownership Taskforce report.
It's a long and detailed document, so we've pulled out what pet professionals need to know - what's been recommended, who it affects, and what you can do now to keep your business current and well prepared.
What is the Responsible Dog Ownership Taskforce?
The taskforce was set up in 2022 and brings together police, local authorities, animal welfare organisations and academics. Its members include the RSPCA, Battersea, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, the Royal Kennel Club, PDSA and the British Veterinary Association, alongside researchers from the Universities of Lincoln and Liverpool and Anglia Ruskin University.
Its job was to look at the evidence and give government practical advice on reducing dog attacks and encouraging responsible dog ownership.
The recommendations at a glance
The report makes 20 recommendations, split into four areas. It is important to remember that these are recommendations which may or may not be acted on by the Government moving forward. The recommendation themes are:
Data - better and more consistent recording of dog bites, attacks and enforcement action, including standard definitions of an "attack", "bite" and "strike", and exploring a central dog control database similar to the one used in Scotland.
Enforcement - clearer, consolidated guidance for councils and police, more use of preventative approaches, a possible statutory duty for councils to provide dog control services, and further research into options such as dog ownership licensing.
Education and communications - a plan to teach children how to be safe around dogs, targeted awareness campaigns for adults, and a one-stop shop of educational resources.
Training - exploring regulation of dog trainers and behaviourists, clearer messaging to help owners find quality training support, and promoting existing schemes such as the Blue Cross Responsible Dog Ownership Course and the Royal Kennel Club Good Citizen Scheme.
The taskforce also agreed a definition of a responsible dog owner - someone who understands the commitment, acquires a dog thoughtfully, meets its welfare needs throughout its life, takes all reasonable steps through training and socialisation to keep people and animals safe, and follows the law.
What it means for dog walkers
Professional dog walkers are named directly in Recommendation 8. Following a recommendation from the Surrey coroner after an incident, the taskforce considered whether there should be legal limits on the number of dogs, or the size and weight of dogs, walked by one person at any time.
Most taskforce members agreed that additional regulation could be beneficial, but recognised it as a longer-term aim. The first step is to understand how councils currently use the powers they already have - many areas already set limits through Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs).
For anyone running a dog walking business, this is a clear signal of the direction of travel. The professionals who already think carefully about group sizes, how dogs are matched together and how much control one person can realistically keep will be well placed whatever comes next.
What it means for trainers and behaviourists
Recommendation 18 asks government to explore options for regulating dog trainers and behaviourists, starting with an evidence-gathering exercise that could be led by government or the animal welfare sector. Alongside this, Recommendation 19 calls for clear messaging to help owners recognise quality training and behaviour support.
Training and behaviour are currently unregulated, so this is a significant moment. If you work in this area, keeping a clear record of your qualifications, CPD and methods will help you show owners - and any future regulator - how you work.
What it means for groomers, boarders, daycare and the wider sector
There's nothing in the report that places new duties on grooming, boarding or daycare businesses. But the report repeatedly highlights the value of trusted voices in reaching dog owners - and pet professionals are among the most trusted voices an owner has.
You see dogs regularly, you notice changes in behaviour, and owners listen to you. The education recommendations are a reminder of the role we can all play in encouraging good socialisation, sensible training and safe interactions, especially with children.
What happens next?
These are recommendations to government, not new law. The taskforce has recommended that it continues to meet to drive progress, and research commissioned by Dogs Trust and the RSPCA on dog control costs and licensing is due to report this year.
The recommendations mainly relate to England. The Welsh Government has been involved as an observer and runs its own Dog Safety Partnership, Scotland has its own Responsible Dog Ownership Expert Advisory Group, and Northern Ireland has its Animal Welfare Pathway.
Practical steps you can take now
Review your policies - check your maximum group sizes, how you assess and match dogs, and your incident procedures.
Know your local rules - check whether your council has a PSPO or other dog control rules that affect where and how you work.
Keep good records - incident logs, client information and your training and CPD records all help you show you're doing things right.
Talk to your clients - you're well placed to share messages about training, socialisation and safe interactions.
Supporting pet professionals who care
At the Alliance, we're keeping a close eye on how these recommendations develop. Through our seat on the Companion Animal Sector Council and our wider sector work, we make sure the voices of everyday pet professionals are part of the conversation.
Alliance members receive regular sector updates, Primary Authority-assured advice on licensing and compliance, and practical guidance on what changes like these mean for their business - so they're never left trying to work it out alone.
If you'd like to find out more about how we support pet professionals, visit animalfocusedalliance.co.uk and to read the whole report visits: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/responsible-dog-ownership-report/responsible-dog-ownership-taskforce-report
Raising standards together.
