[timeanzbound]

I just read in my NZ welcome guide that all dogs must be registered with your city/district council and it has to be renewed yearly. Dogs must also be micro chipped. That is wild! Why is registration so important in NZ?

For anyone wanting to find more info, you can click on this link:

www.dogsafety.govt.nz

[lockstock]

You're right - you must register your dogs in NZ. The dog owning culture is a bit different here I've found. There is a huge underground dog fighting problem and they use the dogs that are banned in the UK (pitbulls etc) and crosses of the fighting breeds. There have been a lot of attacks on children. Having said that, breeding pit bulls etc is banned but you can still see adverts for puppies of those breeds everywhere. Many of these breeds are used for pig hunting where the dogs hunt, atack and bring down wild boar. Not a common sight in the UK any more.

They are very conscious of noise nuisance caused by barking dogs.

On the plus side, they do have special areas set aside for dogs in parks and these, of course, cost money to maintain - as does the dog warden service.

There are certain criteria which you can meet to reduce the cost of registration such as having a fully fenced garden, neutering your dog and taking a dog ownership test. It's all trying to promote responsible dog ownership proactively. Unfortunately, it's missing the 'clientele' it is targetting.
But at least they are trying.

[Moorf]

That's right, I've just paid for my two girls. It's a small charge and it ensures all dogs are registered so they can be kept track of and it goes towards the provision and upkeep of council dog patrol services, dog parks, poo-bags in certain public places and bins/signage. It also contributes toward neutering programs, dog pounds and rescue services.

Microchipping has recently been introduced to further the registration of dogs, they can be identified if lost or stolen and dangerous dogs can be tracked/recognised.

In some areas you have to apply for a special licence to keep more than 2 dogs - depends on your council.

I also think a registered dog means responsible owners, and often scan for a tag when I see a dog nearby.

If you take certain steps (again, individual council procedures vary), you can lessen the cost of your dogs licences (currently $35 per year per dog where I am) by becoming "a responsible dog owner". They are very easy to do. http://www.ccc.govt.nz/quickanswers/animalsbirdsinsects/ResponsibleDogOwner/F1459.asp

AFAIK the registration and microchipping rules are different for 'working dogs' - such as farm dogs.

Hope that helps.

Moorf

[timeanzbound]

You're right - you must register your dogs in NZ. The dog owning culture is a bit different here I've found. There is a huge underground dog fighting problem and they use the dogs that are banned in the UK (pitbulls etc) and crosses of the fighting breeds. There have been a lot of attacks on children..

WOW! That is scary! :mad: I totally understand!:nice1

[Moorf]

A few months back our 2 dogs were attacked by a pack of pig dogs down at the local gorge... their owner was there but unable to stop them. OH had to arm himself with a large boulder and was ready to smash their heads in as two of them laid into our largest dog (rotte/huntaway/german shepherd mix ish!). We (perhaps stupidly but purely on instinct) managed to pull them off our dog who was left with large chunks of fur and skin out of her back.

I have witnessed awful dog-related things here. Dog ownership is different (imho) in NZ in that most are kept outside, never allowed indoors and many round here in rural areas have a dual purpose (pig hunting/rabbiting) or are working dogs.

My neighbours all think we're soft on our dogs as they are indoor dogs and get walked and entertained often.

[James 1077]

Out of interest (and slightly off subject); how much would you say owning a dog costs per year (registration fees, food, vets bills, insurance etc)?

I really want to get one at some point in the next few years but OH isn't sure if we'll be able to afford the ongoing costs.

[Moorf]

It all depends on the type of food you feed, the breed (long hair / short hair) with regards to grooming/flea management etc, how long you might need boarding kennels which can cost around $100/week upwards (if you go away on holidays) etc.

Vet bills, again, there's the regular maintenance of their required immunisations (yearly) and then there are those little accidents that can cost anywhere from a couple of hundred to thousands (for surgery). Insurance is around $20+ per month - again, depends on age/breed etc.

Just as importantly, perhaps, is that you can afford the time to spend with your dog :yes

If I had to put a figure on owning a dog, I'd say that $1000 a year would cover the basics plus give some leeway for unexpected vet bills/kennel stays, but that's a general feel, nothing scientific!

[lockstock]

My neighbours all think we're soft on our dogs as they are indoor dogs and get walked and entertained often.



Same here. I couldn't bear to keep ours in those cages they call kennels here. If there was one thing that would send me back to the UK it would be the way they regard dogs here.

[Perksy]

We have only been here a couple of few weeks and there is a tendency to think NZ is not a particularly pet friendly place. We have found the odd trail where we think walking a dog would be no issue but the Department of Conservation (DOC) say 'no'.

On the other hand we have just been for a weekend in Napier and took him with us as there are a fair few pet friendly motels around. Most of the council web sites have a list of areas in each town and rural areas that say where you can exercise your dog off the lead. So there are some good points; they appear to be just trying to balance the needs of us dog owners with keeping conservation areas, parks, streets and childrens areas clean and safe.

Friends of ours have two dogs near Levin and have found a great kennels where all the dogs socialise and have huge areas to play in so there is good stuff out there.

The link below might help for those wanting to take their pets on their travels.

http://www.petfriendly.co.nz/AccIslands.html

Kim

[Mrs Pony]

ugh... dog fighting... that's so horrible... and so sad for the dogs that get such a bad rap! My sister has a pit and he's the sweetest dog! I have a friend that doesn't like dogs much but she loves my sisters dog! Same thing with Dobermans... My grandparents have always had them and I have a soft spot for them but OH refuses to like them. I understand that sometimes you can get a "bad seed" but not all dogs are evil like people make them out to be...

[sweetpea]

Same here. I couldn't bear to keep ours in those cages they call kennels here. If there was one thing that would send me back to the UK it would be the way they regard dogs here.

Yep, it was quite shocking to me. When I moved closer into town, more people seemed to care for dogs a little bit better, though. In town, I don't see those little wood & wire cages on stilts, at least :uhoh

There's a massive difference in treatment based on size and breed. Foxies seem more often to be house dogs, whereas people seem scandalized that I let my Australian Shepherd in the house.

The registration fee must vary quite a bit from place to place. Palmerston North charges $78/year registration for a spayed/neutered dog.

[kanatakiwi]

I've heard the percentage of unregistered dogs in NZ is very high, and I do see a lot of them running about loose. NZ is concerned about its native species such a kiwis and other native birds, and they are also concerned about wildlife like sheep that can be harassed by dogs on the loose.
That said there does seem to be a pretty rigid approach, we see the dog police in our area all the time, and although there are off leash areas, you can't take your dog to most beaches in the summer. My friend was ticketed for letting her dog have a swim , he was "off leash". How do let your dog have swim while on a leash?

[Moorf]

What a stupid rule - dogs on leash swimming in the sea? :confused: Haven't come across that on our local beaches in Canterbury - they do, however, have "dog free" zones during summer, and some dog-free beaches during certain hours of the day, which I think is a great idea as not everyone wants a dog running round the place. These are usually stretches of the beach marked with permanent orange signs that tell you the hours you can and can't walk your dog during summer etc.

Where you'll find dogs are very restricted is in Dept of Conservation land, fair enough, it's to protect the wildlife, and privately owned land - again, fair enough.

Having said that, there are more dog-parks here than I've encountered in, for instance, the UK.


I understand that sometimes you can get a "bad seed" but not all dogs are evil like people make them out to be...

So true, to the point where I look at the owner before I look at the breed....

[Moorf]

The registration fee must vary quite a bit from place to place. Palmerston North charges $78/year registration for a spayed/neutered dog.

Yes, it does. If you check through the local council sites (easy reference site here: http://www.dogsafety.govt.nz/dogsafety.nsf/wpg_URL/Your-Council-Index!OpenDocument , you'll see each charges differently.

Buller, for neutered dog, is $54, Taupo $82.

The fee for having an unregistered dog also varies hugely - some places the fine is $100, round here it's $300.

[James 1077]

If I had to put a figure on owning a dog, I'd say that $1000 a year would cover the basics plus give some leeway for unexpected vet bills/kennel stays, but that's a general feel, nothing scientific!

Thanks - for some reason OH was thinking that it would cost in the region of $1000 a MONTH; not per year!

I imagine that we would have to have one over-pampered and very sick dog to spend anything like that! :)

[incredible hulse]

We pay about 80 dollars dog tax a year I think - after all the discounts.

Feed - guess about 100 dollars a month and then vets about 200 dollars a year assuming no more than checks, jabs, etc needed

[Spooky]

How do let your dog have swim while on a leash?

I have an old collar and leash which I let my dog use when she goes swimming (just need to make sure the leash is very short and won't get snagged). If someone questions why my dog is 'off leash', I casually remark, 'But she's on a leash!'.

It's ridiculous, these rules, but this is my cheeky way of skirting around the issue. :D

[timeanzbound]

Thanks - for some reason OH was thinking that it would cost in the region of $1000 a MONTH; not per year!

I imagine that we would have to have one over-pampered and very sick dog to spend anything like that! :)

If you get a small sized dog, the yearly cost may even be cheaper regarding the cost of food. I spend in the US about $50 for 3-4 months for 2 chihuahuas and I buy the most expensive dog food. But really small breeds like chi's are not suitable with young children.

[James 1077]

Eleanor isn't the biggest fan of small dogs (bad experience with a friend's chihuahuas) so we are looking at possibly getting a lab or beagle.

We probably won't get the dog for a while as we probably don't have the time to give one the attention that it deserves at the moment. When the twins are a little older though things will be different and that will be when we go for it.