Germans to be ordered by law to walk dogs twice a day for an hour
 

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

The country’s agriculture minister, Julia Klöckner, has said she is introducing the new law based on evidence that many of the nation’s 9.4 million dogs are not getting the exercise or stimuli they need.

Under the new regulations in the Hundeverordnung, or Dogs Act, owners will not get away with a quick jog round the block, but will be required to take their dogs out for at least one hour on each occasion.

Klöckner said the rules were based on new scientific findings that show dogs need a “sufficient measure of activity and contact with environmental stimuli”, including other animals, nature and people. The tethering of dogs on a chain or a lead for long periods also faces an all-out ban.

Dogs may not be left alone at home all day, and a person will be required to take care of their dog “several times a day”.

Klöckner said: “Dogs are not cuddly toys. They also have their own needs, which need to be taken into account.”

How can we say we love our pets when we treat them so badly?

News of the law, which is due to be introduced next year and was made widely known for the first time this week, has prompted a lively debate in Germany.

The main question is how it will be possible to check up on the 19% of German households that own dogs, which as pets are second in popularity only to cats.

A spokeswoman for the agricultural ministry has said the authorities in each of Germany’s 16 states will be responsible for enforcing the law.


But ridicule over the regulation has come even from within Klöckner’s own party, the Christian Democratic Union. Saskia Ludwig, a CDU MP who also sits in the state assembly for Brandenburg in Potsdam, said the current heatwave meant it was not suitable for dogs to be out for so long. She tweeted: “VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE: I will not be taking my Rhodesian Ridgeback for two rounds of walks in 32 degrees heat, rather we will jump in the river for a refreshing cool down instead.”

Bärbel Kleid, the owner of a five-year-old Yorkshire terrier called Sam, who lives in Berlin, said: “I find it patronising to be told how long I should take my dog out for. And who is going to check up on me? Will the neighbour call the police if they suspect me of not taking Sam for long enough walks? He wouldn’t manage two hours a day anway.”

Walther Schweiz, said his dog, a 14-year-old Alsatian called Blu has cancer, and was unable to do more than short walks close to his house in Cologne.

“They should trust people to get on with their own lives. They’ll be telling cat owners how often they need to change their litter trays next,” he said.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...w-law-will-say


My 13 year old doggie would die of exhaustion... ? on the one hand I agree dogs are not cuddly toys and I am worried that many people got dogs during lockdown and now that life is returning to more nomality they wont have time for them any more, but I think this new law is ridiculous...

Their heart's in the right place but it's an excessive law. My dog gets bored of walks within minutes so he wouldn't do well with an hour's walk a day. He likes the hose pipe though when we're watering the plants so instead we have him chase the stream around the garden for exercise. He was never one for walks.

How could they even Police that though, also surely different breeds require different lengths of exercise?

I can relate to this.

My Staffie, there's times he wants a longer walk.
Then there's times he only wants be out a short while.
It could get to a point I'd have to carry him further.
Once he sits down and refuses to go anywhere than back home.
There's no battling with that.

Then he's out in the garden, enjoying himself a lot.

So I agree, that law as presented there appears excessive.

Dogs to have a fitbit added to their microchip :laugh:

:laugh:

I mean it's all very nanny state isn't it?

this has got to be one of the most stupid laws ever

Ve hav ways of making you WALK


:suspect:

Love the sentiment but my dogs would be knackered after 2 hours of walking a day. They go for half an hour a day. And I don’t get how it’s going to be policed?

Yes Good Move

What about on really hot days though? You can’t walk a dog in 27 degree heat.

Very valid point too.

It’s silly. One of my dogs has had enough after half an hour (to the point he’ll sit down / stop moving completely). Different dogs need different amounts of walk times.

Most dog breeds are not meant to have long walks

:think: arbitrary and dumb, different breeds have different requirements AND this would only ever apply to an adult dog "in its prime". It would be dangerous to walk a pup for that long, and you'd probably kill an elderly dog in a week.

Absolutely right.

Clever :)


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This is a tough one, my dog has epilepsy and is more at risk of a fit if exhausted and couldn't do an hour of solid walking. going out twice a day yes that's a good idea though, if possible. Walk to a place they can sit or play for a bit then walk back, it's just so they get a bit of fresh air.

My dog would have me in right trouble. She hides sometimes if I pick her lead up - she's also known to lie down in the street half way through a walk and refuses to go any further and we have to carry her

if you don't walk your dog, you get a fine, that is the law

most dogs can handle a walk, and it doesn't matter how long that walk is either, as long as you do that

There is a diffence between what level of exercise a Chihuahua can do to that of say a greyhound

to the concentration camp if you dont comply?