Responsible Dog Ownership

Dogs can be wonderful companions, bringing happiness to people’s lives.

Being a dog owner is a privilege, but it comes with numerous responsibilities.

Dog ownership carries legal, ethical, and practical responsibilities. As an owner, you must ensure the dog’s welfare, abide by licensing and control laws, and consider the impact on the wider community.

Key responsibilities of a dog owner:

• Provide appropriate care and welfare
• Legal identification, microchipping & licensing
• Responsible control and behaviour in public places
• Clean up after your dog (public hygiene responsibility)
• Responsible sourcing and long-term commitment
• Legal compliance and accountability
• Ethical and community responsibility

Download a copy of our Responsible Dog Ownership leaflet so you will have the information you need to hand.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) and Local Authorities have compiled this guide to responsible dog ownership in Ireland.

• Click this link to see the leaflet in a range of other languages

Sometimes even the best behaved dogs can attack or bite.

Dog owners are responsible for keeping their dogs under control. If your dog injures people or animals, or damages property, you are legally responsible.

Your dog is your responsibility.

Whatever they do, it’s not your dog’s fault.

It’s yours.

XL Bully dogs

Regulations introduced on October 1st 2024 prohibit the importing, breeding, selling and re-homing of XL Bully type dogs.

Since February 1st 2025, it is illegal to own an XL Bully without a ‘Certificate of Exemption’, or proof of application for a ‘Certificate of Exemption’ issued by the local authority in which the dog resides.

More information can be found here: Ban on XL Bully dogs

Dog owners with questions about the incoming regulations can contact dogcontrol@agriculture.gov.ie

Your Dog Is Your Responsibility