Two walks a day could become a legal requirement for dogs in Germany - will the UK follow?

  • Meridian
Dog walkers
Two walks a day could become a legal requirement for dogs in Germany - will the UK follow? Credit: ITV Meridian

Germany's dog owners may soon to be ordered by law to walk their pets twice a day.

The new law, introduced by the country's agriculture minister, is based on evidence that many of the nation's 9.4 million dogs are not getting the exercise they need.

Under the planned rules dog owners:

  • will have to take their dogs for walks twice a day for a minimum of one hour in total

  • will not be allowed to keep their dogs chained for long periods of time

  • will not be allowed to leave dogs alone the whole day

  • Breeders will be restricted to looking after a maximum of three litters and puppies will have to spend a minimum of four hours a day in human company to ensure they get socialised.

Will the UK, a nation of dog-lovers, follow suit?

Dog owners in Germany may be legally required to take their pets for two walks per day. Credit: ITV Meridian

Lee Osgood, from Chandlers Ford, runs a business that helps owners who can't get out to walk their dogs themselves.

Brighton-based vet, Marc Abraham, says these rules are not necessarily as easy to enforce, and might not work for all dogs.

Germany's Agriculture Minister, Julia Klöckner, says the changes are based on expert advice to ensure animal protection and welfare and could become law in Germany next year.