From hunting partners to household companions, few species have been shaped by humans as profoundly as dogs. Descended from ancient wolves, they were selectively bred over thousands of years to perform specific tasks, including herding livestock, guarding homes, and assisting in hunting. These specialised roles have given rise to the extraordinarily diverse dog breeds seen today.

Our relationship with dogs has evolved from one based on utility to one centred on companionship. As explained by Ms Sarah Weir, lead author of the study:

Many people nowadays increasingly view their dogs as more like family members or children than was historically the case.

Consequently, the laws that were designed to protect both dog welfare and their owners are continuously changing, which poses one question:

How well do people in the public actually understand these laws?

A new feature paper published in the Open Access journal Animals explored public knowledge of UK dog legislation, revealing that many people are unaware of the laws that currently exist, while also assuming that some protections are already in place when they are not. The findings suggest that improving understanding of dog legislation could play an important role in supporting both animal welfare and responsible ownership.

Why does legal awareness matter?

The study states that for laws to be effective, they rely on three main factors:

• Clear and balanced objectives which fairly balance the interests of everyone they affect. This includes dogs, owners, and the wider society.
• Achieving their intended purpose whereby the correct following of these rules leads to the outcomes they were created to achieve, which can range from animal welfare to the protection of people in public.
• Public awareness and compliance and how well people understand and follow the laws put in place.

However, laws are built over time and, in the UK especially, rules may vary between the regions of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Due to this, different areas often receive far less attention on these changes in the field of animal welfare. As a result, even well-intentioned owners may be unaware of their legal responsibilities or misunderstand the protections that are currently available to dogs and their owners.

Understanding where knowledge gaps exist helps researchers, policymakers, and animal welfare organisations improve public education while identifying areas where legislation may not match public expectations.

Testing public knowledge

To investigate how well people understand current dog legislation, the researchers surveyed more than 1,700 participants from across the UK, splitting the sample equally between all four nations to ensure sufficient representation.

The participants were asked whether a series of statements about dog-related laws were true or false. This included legislation currently in place, laws specific to different UK nations, and hypothetical measures that many people may reasonably assume already exist.

The researchers also examined whether factors such as age, education, and dog ownership influenced how accurately the participants answered the questions.

Public knowledge of dog laws

Overall, the public’s knowledge of dog legislation was lower than hypothesised. Only two laws met the 80% threshold for adequate legal knowledge, these were:

• 87% of the participants correctly identifying laws associated with restricted dog breeds.
• 86% of the participants correctly identifying laws associated with fouling fines.

However, only 5% of the participants were aware that no laws currently exist in the UK that restrict the use of pain, fear, or discomfort to train animals. This suggests that public expectations of how dogs are protected often exceed the legal reality.

Interestingly, dog owners were generally more confident in their answers than non-owners, but this confidence did not necessarily translate into greater accuracy. Older participants also tended to perform better than younger responders, indicating that awareness of legislation may vary across different demographics.

Ms Sarah Weir explains:

These findings challenge common assumptions about legal awareness and responsible ownership, showing that while dog owners are often expected to understand and comply with the law, they are no more accurate in their knowledge than non‑owners.

Rather than highlighting a lack of concern for animal welfare, these findings suggest that many people already assume that stronger legal protections already exist because they believe that such measures should already be in place.

Bridging the gap between perception and policy

Public perception plays an important role in shaping animal welfare policy. If people believe certain practices are already regulated, there may be less pressure to introduce new legislation or improve enforcement.

At the same time, misunderstanding existing laws can make it more difficult for owners to meet their legal obligations or recognise situations in which dogs may not adequately be protected.

By identifying such misconceptions, studies like this one can help to inform education campaigns, while providing policymakers with valuable insight into how legislation is understood by the public.

The future of policy

As companion animals continue to occupy an increasingly important place in modern society, public expectations surrounding their welfare are likely to continue evolving.

The authors suggest that improving awareness of existing legislation is just as important as introducing new laws. Clear communication about owners’ responsibilities and what protections are currently available could help support responsible ownership while encouraging informed discussion about future changes to animal welfare policy.

Ultimately, this research highlights that protecting dogs and their owners depends not only on the laws themselves, but also on ensuring that the public understands what those laws do and do not cover. By closing the gap between legal reality and public perception, researchers hope to contribute to better outcomes for both dogs and the people who care for them.

Studies such as the one presented here are crucial for identifying gaps in public knowledge surrounding laws. Obtaining such knowledge ensures that policymakers are equipped with the correct information to educate the public about such legislation. In the long term this allows people to understand their legal rights and can prevent legal problems before they start.

More studies on animal law and dog ownership can be found across the Open Access journals Laws and Animals. Alternatively, you can access the full MDPI journal list here.