Dog licences and ownership

Owning a dog is a big commitment. If you own a dog, the dog is your responsibility. You must have a dog licence and get your dog microchipped. There are also additional responsibilities if you have a restricted breed of dog.

Your dog must be under your control, or the control of another responsible person if it is outside your home or premises. This means that:

• You should make sure your dog is not a nuisance to others
• You must follow the rules about where dogs are welcome
• You should keep your dog on a lead in public places

You are responsible for any injury or damage your dog causes to people or livestock.

On 1 October 2024 new rules began for people who own, breed, sell and import XL Bully dogs. Read more on this in Ban of XL Bully dogs in Ireland.

Before you get a dog

Before getting a dog, you should consider if a dog is right for you and your home. You should ask yourself these questions:

• Does everyone in the house agree to getting a dog?
• Can I afford to feed and care for a dog?
• Will I have time to feed, care for and exercise my dog each day?
• What type of dog should I get, for example, which breed would best to suit my lifestyle and home?
• Who will look after my dog when I’m away from home?
• Will my landlord let me have a dog

It can be expensive owning and caring for a dog. You need to pay for things like:

• The dog
• Dog food
• Bedding, collars and accessories
• A dog licence
• Microchipping
• Veterinary care
• Vaccinations
• Neutering
• Grooming
• Dog training
• Boarding fees

Where to get a dog

If you have decided that you want to get a dog, you should source it responsibly. You can contact a vet to get advice about where to get one.

You should consider adopting a dog from a local authority dog shelter or an animal welfare charity.

You should research different breeders, if you are going to buy a dog from a dog breeder. Reputable breeders may have a waiting list. The Irish Kennel Club has information about how to find a reputable breeder when buying a puppy.

You can also buy a dog from a Dog Breeding Establishment (DBE). The Department of Rural and Community Development has a list of registered DBEs (pdf), or you can check your local authority’s website. A registered DBE will have a registration certificate on display in the premise.

You should never agree to collect a dog without seeing the dog in its home environment first. A reputable breeder should also be able to show you the dog’s mother. The ISPCA has useful information about what to do when buying a puppy.

Dog ownership and the law

Local authorities are responsible for the control of dogs under the Control of Dogs Act 1986. They can:

• Appoint dog wardens
• Provide dog shelters
• Seize dogs
• Impose on-the-spot fines
• Take court proceedings against dog owners

You can be banned from keeping a dog if you have been convicted of cruelty to a dog under the Protection of Animals Acts 1911 and 1965.

Do I have to get a licence for my dog?

If your dog is over 4 months old, you must have a dog licence. Puppies under 4 months who are still with their mothers don't need a licence, but once they leave their mothers, they must have a licence.

There are 3 types of dog licence:

You can apply for an individual or lifetime dog licence online at licences.ie or at your local post office. A general dog licence application must be sent to your local authority.

You do not need a dog licence for:

• Guide dogs for blind people
• Dogs that are being held by a local authority
• Dogs that are with the ISPCA or Gardaí
• Any dog imported into the State for less than 30 days

Do I have to get my dog microchipped?

A microchip is a tiny electronic device that is injected by a vet under the skin of the dog. The microchip is coded with a unique number for each dog. It can be scanned to find out who owns the dog. Microchips can be scanned by vets, animal rescue organisations and the animal welfare unit in a local authority. Read more about microchips for dogs.

You must get your dog microchipped by a vet and registered under your name on an authorised database before they are 12 weeks old. If a dog leaves the property where they were born before they are 12 weeks old, they must be microchipped.

Getting your dog microchipped costs approximately €25. However, some organisations will do this for free or at a lower price, for example, the DSPCA mobile vet clinic.

Does my dog have to wear a collar?

A dog must always wear a collar or a harness. The collar must have the name and address of the owner on it. If your dog doesn’t have this identification, a dog warden can give you can an on-the-spot fine. If you don’t pay this fine within the specified time-frame, you can be prosecuted by the local authority.

What powers does a dog warden have?

Dog wardens can:

• Request the name and address of anyone suspected of an offence under the Control of Dogs Act
• Seize and detain any dog
• Enter any premises to seize and detain a dog, apart from your home

You can be arrested by a Garda if you:

• Obstruct a dog warden in the course of their work
• Refuse to give your name and address to a dog warden
• Give a false name and address to a dog warden

A dog warden can ask you for evidence of your dog licence and if you can’t provide this, they can issue an on-the-spot fine.

My neighbour's dog won't stop barking. What can I do?

If your neighbour’s dog won’t stop barking, you should talk to your neighbour first. If you can't resolve the issue with them, you can make a complaint to the District Court and look for a hearing. When you get a court date, you must notify the dog owner using a court form (docx), which is available from your local authority or the District Court.

Find out more about noise complaints about noisy dogs on our page ‘Noise pollution and noise complaints’.

You can find information and dog training about how to stop your dog barking from the Dogs Trust and the DSCPA.

Dog fouling

If your dog poos in a public place, you, or the person in charge of the dog, must remove the poo and dispose of it in a proper and clean way. Otherwise, it is an offence.

If your dog poos in a public place and you don’t pick it up, you can get a €150 on-the-spot fine.

Stray and lost dogs

Stray dogs are dogs that are in a public place and are not with their owner or a responsible person who is looking after them.

You can get an on-the-spot fine if your dog is not under proper control. Stray dogs can be seized by the dog warden or Gardaí and brought to a dog pound. These dogs may be put down or re-homed if their owners do not claim them within 5 days.

If your dog is lost, has strayed or is missing, you should contact your local dog warden to check if your dog is in the local shelter or dog pound. Before you collect it, you may have to pay a re-claim fee and produce a current dog licence.

If you have found a lost dog you can report it to the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) who will be able to help.

Unwanted dogs

If you have a dog that you no longer want, you should contact the ISPCA. They may be able to find it a new home. Dog charities or pounds may also accept unwanted dogs, although you may be charged for this. Local authorities can accept unwanted dogs and put them down if they cannot be rehomed or transferred to an animal welfare group.

On 1 October 2024, a ban on XL Bully dogs began in Ireland. This is the only breed of dog that is currently banned in Ireland. Read more about the ban on XL Bully dogs in Ireland below.

Certain types or breeds of dog are classed as restricted breeds. There are additional rules you must follow if you have a restricted breed of dog. This applies to the following types of dog, as well as strains or cross-breeds of these breeds:

• American pit bull terrier
• English bull terrier
• Staffordshire bull terrier
• Bull mastiff
• Dobermann pinscher
• German shepherd (Alsatian)
• Rhodesian ridgeback
• Rottweiler
• Japanese akita
• Japanese tosa
• Bandog

In Ireland restricted dogs (or strains and crosses of them) must be:

• Kept on a short strong lead (under 2 metres)
• With someone over the age of 16, who is able to control them
• Muzzled when in a public place
• Wearing a collar with the name and address of their owner, at all times

The rules on muzzling and leashing do not apply to dogs used by the:

• Gardaí
• Dublin Harbour Police
• State Airport Police
• Rescue teams in rescue operations

The rules on muzzling do not apply to guide dogs for the blind.

Rules if you own a greyhound

Greyhounds are not a restricted breed. However, there are specific rules you must follow if you are out with your greyhound in a public place. You must:

• Always have your greyhound on a leash
• Never walk more than 4 greyhounds at a time

These rules apply to greyhounds, whippets as well as strains or cross-breeds of these breeds.

On 1 October 2024, it became illegal to import, breed, rehome or resell an XL Bully dog. However, animal shelters and charities with XL Bully dogs already in their facilities have until 1 February 2025 to re-home or export these dogs.

From 1 February 2025, it will be illegal to own an XL Bully dog unless you have a Certificate of Exemption.

So, if you already own an XL Bully, you must get a Certificate of Exemption before 1 February 2025. The certificate means you can keep your XL Bully at a particular location until the end of their natural life. 

The rules for this ban are set out in the Control of Dogs (XL Bully) Regulations 2024.

If you are an XL Bully dog owner with questions about these regulations you can contact DogControl@drcd.gov.ie.

The Department of Rural and Community Development has a useful FAQ document (pdf) on the new XL Bully dog regulations.

How do I know if my dog is an XL Bully?

XL Bully dogs are a variant of the American Bully breed. They are usually bigger in height and body shape than other American Bully breed types.

The Department of Rural and Community Development has published a physical confirmation standard (pdf), which you can use to check if your dog meets the physical characteristics of an XL Bully dog.

It is your responsibility as the owner to determine if your dog is covered by the ban.

How do I get a Certificate of Exemption for my XL Bully dog?

If you own an XL Bully, you need to get a Certificate of Exemption before 1 February 2025. To get a Certificate of Exemption, your XL Bully must be:

• Licenced
• Microchipped
• Neutered

You can apply for a certificate between 1 October 2024 and 31 January 2025 by completing and submitting a form to your local authority. You get the application form from your local authority. It is free to get a Certificate of Exemption.

You need to include these documents with your application form:

• Copy of a dog licence for your XL Bully
• Copy of a microchipping certificate for your XL Bully
• A form confirming your XL Bully has been neutered or can’t be neutered because they are medically unfit. This form is available from your local authority and must be signed by your vet.
• Photo ID for the owner, such as a passport or driver’s licence
• Proof of the owner’s address, for example, a recent copy of a utility bill or bank statement

The local authority will process your application and send you either a:

• Certificate of Exemption
• Letter of refusal
• Request for more information

If you get a Certificate of Exemption, it will contain information about your XL Bully, such as:

• The dog’s licence details
• Microchip details
• Neutering details
• The dog’s age
• A description of the dog

It will also include information about you, such as your:

• Name
• Address
• Date of birth
• Phone number

If your application for a Certificate of Exemption is refused, your local authority will write to you explaining the reasons why it was refused. You can try and resolve any issues with the application and re-apply. You must re-apply within 10 days of the refusal being issued.

What happens if I break the XL Bully rules?

If you break the rules of the XL Bully ban, you could be:

• Fined up to €2,500
• Imprisoned for up to 3 months
• Both fined and imprisoned

If you don’t have a Certificate of Exemption for your XL Bully dog by 1 February 2025, your dog can be seized and put down.

Local authorities can introduce bye-laws with new rules about dog control in their area.

If you are given an on-the-spot fine, this is given immediately without a court process. You have a limited amount of time to pay the fine. If you do not pay the fine in time, you may be prosecuted in court.

There are rules about the sale and supply of pets, including dogs.

If you sell or supply 5 or more pets in a calendar year you must:

• Register with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
• Keep records about pet animals for sale or supply
• Include certain information if you are advertising an animal for sale. For example, if you are advertising a dog for sale, you must include its microchip number.
• Not sell or supply pets under a certain age. This is 8 weeks for dogs.

If you are advertising a dog for sale, the advertisement must have the dog’s microchip code.

These rules are set out in the Animal Health and Welfare (Sale or Supply of Pet Regulations) 2019.

There is a Code of Practice (pdf) for people who sell and supply pet animals.

A guard dog used at a non-residential business premises must be with a handler or secured so that it cannot roam freely around the premises or escape. A notice must be displayed at the entrance, informing the public that a guard dog is on the premises.

The guard dog must wear a collar with the name and address of its owner. It must also carry an electronic implant containing a permanent identification mark provided by the ISPCA. This implant must be inserted by or under the direct supervision of a veterinary surgeon authorised by the ISPCA. The dog owner is responsible for the cost of the implant.

Kennels where more than 5 guard dogs aged over 4 months are kept must register with the local authority. There are specific rules about keeping guard dogs.

If you suspect animal cruelty, you should report it to the:

• Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA)
  • By email: helpline@ispca.ie
  • By phone: 0818 515515 (in emergencies)
  • On the ISPCA website

• Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA)
  • By email: cruelty@dspca.ie
  • By phone: 01 4994700
  • On the DSPCA website

• Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine National Animal Welfare Helpline
  • By email: animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie
  • By phone: 01 607 2379

You can also ring your local Garda station in emergencies.

The Department of Rural and Community Development publishes statistics on dog control.