Title and introductory text
Guard Dogs Act 1975 1975 c.50 An Act to regulate the keeping and use of guard dogs; and for purposes connected therewith. [1st August 1975]
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Guard Dogs Act 1975
United Kingdom · statute
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In force since 2015-04-30, as the publisher states.
Copy read on 2026-11-08. The page it was read from
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.
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Contents: 6 provisions
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6 provisions
1 Control of guard dogs.
(1) A person shall not use or permit the use of a guard dog at any premises unless a person (“the handler”) who is capable of controlling the dog is present on the premises and the dog is under the control of the handler at all times while it is being so used except while it is secured so that it is not at liberty to go freely about the premises. (2) The handler of a guard dog shall keep the dog under his control at all times while it is being used as a guard dog at any premises except— (a) while another handler has control over the dog; or (b) while the dog is secured so that it is not at liberty to go freely about the premises. (3) A person shall not use or permit the use of a guard dog at any premises unless a notice containing a warning that a guard dog is present is clearly exhibited at each entrance to the premises.
Propose a change3 Guard dog kennel licences.
(1) A local authority may on the application in the prescribed form of, and on payment of the prescribed fee by, a person who runs or intends to run guard dog kennels at premises within their area grant that person a licence in respect of those kennels. (2) A licence under this section shall be made subject to the prescribed conditions (if any) and to such other conditions as the local authority thinks fit. (3) A licence under this section shall, subject to regulations, come into force on a date specified in the licence as the commencement date and shall expire at the end of the period of twelve months beginning with that date unless it is cancelled by a court in pursuance of the following subsection. (4) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this Act, the Protection of Animals Act 1911, the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act 1912, the Pet Animals Act 1951, the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 or the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973,or of an offence under any of sections 4, 5, 6(1) and (2), 7 to 9 and 11 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the court by which he is convicted may cancel any licence held by him under this Act. (5) The court may suspend the operation of the cancellation pending an appeal. (5A) Where a person is convicted of any offence under sections 28C or 28F(16) of the Animal Health Act 1981 (c. 22) , or sections 19 to 24, 25(7), 29 or 40(11) of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 11) , subsections (4) and (5) apply as they do to convictions under this Act. (5B) Where a person is convicted of an offence under section 13(6) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 arising from the contravention of section 13(1) of that Act in relation to dog breeding in Wales, or of an offence under the Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) (Wales) Regulations 2014, subsections (4) and (5) apply as they do to convictions under this Act. (6) For the purposes of this Act the Inner and Middle Temples shall be deemed to be in the City of London.
Propose a change5 Offences, penalties and civil liability.
(1) A person who contravenes section 1 or 2 of this Act shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale. (2) The provisions of this Act shall not be construed as— (a) conferring a right of action in any civil proceedings (other than proceedings for the recovery of a fine or any prescribed fee) in respect of any contravention of this Act or of any regulations made under this Act or of any of the terms or conditions of a licence granted under section 3 of this Act; or (b) derogating from any right of action or other remedy (whether civil or criminal) in proceedings instituted otherwise than by virtue of this Act.
Propose a change7 Interpretation.
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires— “agricultural land” has the same meaning as in the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953; “guard dog” means a dog which is being used to protect— (a) premises; or (b) property kept on the premises; or (c) a person guarding the premises or such property; “guard dog kennels” means a place where a person in the course of business keeps a dog which (notwithstanding that it is used for other purposes) is used as a guard dog elsewhere, other than a dog which is used as a guard dog only at premises belonging to its owner; “local authority” means, in relation to England . . ., a district council, a London borough council and the Common Council of the City of London, in relation to Wales, a county council or county borough council,and, in relation to Scotland, a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994; “premises” means land other than agricultural land and land within the curtilage of a dwelling-house, and buildings, including parts of buildings, other than dwelling-houses; “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations; “regulations” means regulations made by the Secretary of State.
Propose a change8 Short title, commencement and extent.
(1) This Act may be cited as the Guard Dogs Act 1975. (2) This Act shall come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument appoint, and different days may be so appointed for, or for different purposes of, different provisions. (3) This Act does not extend to Northern Ireland.
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