Hong Kong is a crowded metropolitan city and conflicts among people, between dog owners and other members of the public, are seen frequently.

People need to learn a lot about pet keeping: from providing the proper care to our companion animals, to how to approach animals in a safe and friendly manner.

OBF (which stands for One Big Family) is happy to share tips for dog owners to lighten stress in the community.

Guidelines to a Responsible and Caring Owner

OBF reminds dog owners to love and care for your dogs, as well as your neighbours. The most precious gift you can give to your dog is the acceptance of him/her by your neighbours and the community.

OBF would like to share the following tips with all dog owners.

In the Community

1. Be considerate to the others. Bear in mind that some people do not like dogs, and some even have phobia. Don't find it offending if someone says something like "your dog scared me" or "don't touch it, the dog will bite". As long as your dog is a well-behaved one, time can tell,
2. Don't let you dog jump onto the others. A sizable dog can obviously knock people down, but even a small dog can scare the others,
3. Always walk your dog on a short leash, i.e. walking right by your side. This helps to minimize conflicts with the others. Any large dog (the ones who weigh more than 20Kg) should be on a leash, which is required by the law. However, in crowded areas, OBF still recommends walking your dog of any size on a short leash right next to you,
4. Practice good hygiene measures. Be aware that faeces and urine can be a nuisance and health concern to the community. Always clean up faeces after your dog with newspaper or plastic bag. This is required by the law. Although the law doesn't require cleaning up after urinating, do be considerate to the others and only allow your dog to urinate at a location with low foot traffic, and you can do so by allowing your dog to sniff on the floor only at appropriate locations,
5. Properly train and manage your dog. Dogs do not born to understand our language and our social manners. Attend dog training classes help you understand how to communicate and train a dog, allowing him to fit well into the city life.

Where you live

1. Be a legal resident. Ask to read the Deed of Mutual Covenant (DMC) of the estate before entering into any contractual agreement on mortgage or leasing (available from www.iris.org.hk), find out if the DMC has any clauses governing the keeping of any pets, and observe the rules,
2. Practice good hygiene measures. Clean up dog faeces or cat litter tray frequently, and bathe your dog once a month,
3. Barking should not be tolerated. Give proper training and management to your dog, try all attempts to encourage them not to bark. Please remember dogs do not bark all day long in the wild or their lives will be at risk. Placing them in the rear part of the apartment, leaving treats when going out, playing light music, are all measures to minimize chances of barking. OBF however discourages the use of any forms of shock collars,
4. Practice good mannerism in common areas:
1. Share the elevator only when other users invite you and your dog to enter. If the others have worries, simply wait for the next one,
2. When the elevator descends to the lift lobby on ground floor, hold your dog right next to you, walk in front of your dog when exiting from the elevator and alert anyone in the lift lobby that you are holding a dog,
3. When waiting for the elevator in the lift lobby on ground floor, stay by the side away from main traffic. When the elevator arrives, wait a minute or two until the crowd is cleared; and always ask other residents before entering the elevator with your dog,
4. Always put your dog under your control in all common areas, such as putting your dog on leash or have them lifted from the ground,
5. Do not allow defaecation and urination anywhere inside the estate. Good hygiene practice benefits your neighbours and your family. Simply walk your dog quickly without allowing him/her to sniff on the floor until you are at an appropriate location on the public premises,
6. Observe reasonable rules laid by housing management. Do not take things personal and try to avoid reacting in a confrontational manner. For example, if the housing management requires all dogs to be muzzled while inside the estate area, train your dog to comfortably associate with the muzzle for a few minutes. This will substantially enhance harmony between dog owners and other residents