"Beware of the Dog" signs.

[gypsysmum2]

Does anyone know where we, as dog owners, stand on this issue. I heard, a long while ago, that if you displayed a "Beware of the Dog" sign on your property that you were liable, if your dog attacked anyone. It is like an admission that your dog is aggressive. I know there was a recent change where the dog was exempt from blame, under the Dangerous Dogs Act, if it was on its own property. Is this change in the law enough to protect me if I put up a "Beware of the Dog" sign.

Tigan is a very committed house guard. It is all to do with his anxieties but strangers do not know this. His bark is very loud and he defends the gate as though his life depended on it. We have had the odd occasion where he has been asleep in the house and people have entered the gate. Nothing serious has occurred but I don't think they will do it again! I am considering, therefore, putting up a "Beware of the Dog" sign.

Our neighbour across the road has a picture of a Rottweiler and that does the trick. Tigan is, however, not a specific breed that I can get one of those signs for. The closest looking breed would be a GSD as he is black and tan.

 

[excuseme]

I remember the same thing.  A long time ago!

Even if someone had broken into your garden or premises, if you displayed a sign with the warning " Beware of the dog", you were actually admitting the dog could be aggressive and you were liable if anyone was attacked!

We were advised not to put up such a notice, even though we only wanted it to be a deterrence.

I would love to know too!    

 

[JoanneF]

What is it that you would want visitors to do? Do you want them not to come in to your garden at all (e.g. to deliver something) or do you just want to advise them Tigan will bark at them? I'm thinking along the lines of having a sign made up, either saying something along the lines of 'Please don't enter my property, dog doesn't welcome visitors' or 'My dog will bark at strangers, please call this number xxxxxx before entering so we can escort you'. Would careful  wording get round any liability issues?

 

[gypsysmum2]

Not sure Joanne. Might just contact the Dog Warden to see if he/she knows the best way forward. I have seen the ones that say "I Live Here". That might be neutral enough?

 

[arealhuman]

I don't think you can insulate yourself from this - the Occupier's Liability Act says you a duty of care to all visitors, lawful or otherwise.  That said, I have a similar sign, not because our dog will bark (quite the opposite - he loves people despite mistreatment in his previous life) but in effort to make sure our gate stays shut so he doesn't get out.  Please let us know what your local Dog Warden says, I'm sure it'll interest many of us!

 

[gypsysmum2]

Yes, I think something along the lines of "Dog about - please shut the gate" might work. We are ordering new gates and hope to have a key lock on them so that they can be locked against the "oh it's all right - I love dogs!" brigade. It is fine if he is awake because no one would dare come through the gates. We had a near miss when he was asleep, recently, and a family member, who is terrified of dogs, suddenly "appeared" in his garden!

Will let you know what Dog Warden says when I get round to asking.

 

[Wotho]

Why not leave a space, so the Sign reads:  "Be aware of the Dog"

(Agree, best to check first)