Responsible dog ownership means always picking up after your dog.

The Kennel Club believes that dog owners should always pick up after their dogs wherever they are, including fields and woods in the wider countryside. The only exception to this should be if there is an indication from the landowner to the contrary - for example the Forestry Commission ‘Flick it off the path’ posters and in some Hampshire County Council sites. Not picking up after your dog can cause problems for farmers and livestock.

Owners may be prosecuted if they allow their dog to foul and do not clear it up in designated areas under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. Cleaning up after your dog is one of the key areas of responsible dog ownership, especially when in public spaces. Simply keep a poo/plastic bag in your pocket when out walking. Placing dog mess in normal litter bins is generally accepted by most local councils unless there are signs to the contrary. However, a lack of a nearby bin is no excuse. To bag it and leave it is also completely unacceptable as this is extremely bad for the environment. Don’t cause an environmental hazard and leave poo bags in trees, on fences or on the ground.

Owners who do not meet their responsibilities only contribute to growing anti-dog sentiment and give dog owners a bad reputation within their local communities.  So pick up!

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