Updated dog control and enforcement guidelines released

About the guidelines

The updated guidelines consolidate the previous 2009 guidance and supplementary 2015 material into a single, modern resource. They are designed to support councils in making use of the tools available under the Act and promote consistent, effective dog control and enforcement practices across New Zealand.

See the updated national Dog Control and Enforcement Guidelines.

What is updated

The updated material includes guidance on:

• Legislative framework, approaches to dog control and registration: roles and responsibilities under the Act, dog registration and microchipping requirements, responsible ownership and special categories of dogs.
• Dog control management: policy, operational and organisational arrangements that support effective dog control, including resourcing, training, bylaws, recreation areas and pound facilities.
• Enforcement tools and processes: investigations, complaints, infringements, seizures, prosecutions, classifications and other regulatory responses available under the Act.
• Preventative measures: education, community engagement, population management initiatives and partnerships that help reduce dog-related risks before enforcement is required.
• Information management and reporting: record-keeping, reporting obligations, the National Dog Database, information sharing, publication and the use of digital tools.
• Reporting templates and supporting resources: suggested templates to encourage the collection of consistent dog control and enforcement data across councils, alongside resources to support capability development and good practice.

Engagement on the guidelines

The Ministry would like to acknowledge the contribution of the working group, comprising dog control practitioners, Local Government New Zealand and Taituarā, throughout the development of the guidelines. The Ministry also engaged with a range of non-government organisations specialising in animal welfare and animal management. Their collective expertise and practical experience provided valuable insights into the challenges faced by councils and communities, including opportunities to improve the effectiveness of New Zealand’s dog control framework.

A consistent theme emerging from engagement with the sector was the need for an updated, modern, practical framework that supports effective dog control now and into the future. The development of the guidelines also identified opportunities to strengthen the legislative framework. These issues will be considered as part of the next phase of the review. 

Contact us

You can contact us at dogs@mcert.govt.nz.