Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, which statement is true for groomers?

• A. It is a criminal offence to have a dog out of control in public or on private land, and you must have a licence to groom these dogs with a protocol.
• B. It bans all dogs from public parks.
• C. It requires all dogs to be microchipped.
• D. It only applies to dogs used in research.

Answer: (A)

Keeping a dog under control is essential for groomers because the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 makes it a criminal offense to have a dog out of control in public or on private land. In a grooming setting this means you must properly restrain and manage canine clients, use muzzles if the dog is known to be aggressive, keep dogs secure on a lead when moving between stations, and never leave a dog unattended where it could pose a danger. The mention of needing a licence to groom these dogs with a protocol is not a standard requirement of the Act itself, which focuses on control and potential danger rather than licensing grooming practices. The other statements aren’t correct: the Act does not ban all dogs from public parks, it does not require every dog to be microchipped, and it does not apply only to dogs used in research.