Every year 200,000 people are attacked by dogs in the UK. In excess of 100 people attend UK hospitals each week due to dog bites, a figure that has increased in the last 10 years by 66%. At the same time Keep Britain Tidy calculates that around 60% of UK dog owners do not pick up their dog’s faeces. Furthermore, the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association report that an average of 3 guide dogs every month are attacked by other dogs on British streets.

Inspired by Jamie Oliver’s successful campaign for school dinners, canine behaviour specialist Jez Rose is leading a national campaign encouraging responsible dog ownership, to reduce the incidence of dog attacks and the amount of dog fouling left in public spaces.

“The focus needs to be on prevention and encouraging dog owners to be more responsible and accountable – most dog attacks are preventable.” Rose insists “local and central Government need to develop a five-year strategy to prevent future attacks as opposed to destroying dogs when they do. We create the dogs that we live with – any dog can be dangerous but on the whole they are not. In my behaviour practice, owners frequently present problems with their dogs caused largely by a lack of early socialisation or ineffective training methods. When behaviour results in aggression it is commonly due to fear and in most cases easily resolved with the correct training.”

For some, however, it is too late: the dog attacks and is destroyed. An exponent and student of acclaimed animal behaviourist and veterinarian Dr Ian Dunbar, Rose has been documenting dog attacks for the past three years and believes Government action is long overdue. “I have written many letters to MPs and the Prime Minister and not once received a reply – the solutions are straightforward, so I decided to take matters into my own hands”.

Rose believes that education is the key. “Dogs need to be socialised early on in
puppyhood, critically between 6 and 13 weeks and receive obedience training to teach the dog which behaviours are acceptable. The recent wave of forceful dog training measures does not help create balanced, calm dogs”.

Jez is calling on veterinary practices, businesses and individuals to show their support by displaying the campaign logo, linking to the website and becoming a fan on facebook where a formal petition will soon feature. More information and the campaign’s manifesto are at www.nationaldogcampaign.co.uk