Residents and commercial dog walkers react to ban on commercial dog walking at Stamford Brook Common

Image: The PSPO at Stamford Brook Common already has a four-dog limit in place for dog walkers

Licensed dog walkers with too many dogs have been a problem for some time

The Chiswick Calendar has been speaking to residents who live beside the recreation ground at Stamford Brook, and to commercial dog walkers, following the announcement by Hounslow Council that dog walking commercially at the common will be banned from September.

The Council announced the ban at the monthly Cabinet meeting last week, when they also introduced on the spot fines for owners who leave their dog’s mess in public spaces.

READ ALSO: Fines introduced to tackle dog mess public spaces in LB Hounslow

Some people who walk dogs for a living have as many as 12 dogs in their care at one time. At Stamford Brook Common there is already a rule in place limiting people to four dogs per person, but even so, a dog walker told us, that means two dog walkers together can be walking eight dogs, which is intimidating for some people, and for other dogs.

Shalini with her dog at Stamford Brook Common recreational ground

Nick, a regular walker at Stamford Brook Common, told us that as the park is entirely fenced off and generally quite safe for dogs to roam around in, it attracted licensed, commercial walkers, and anti-social behaviour amongst the animals was the main issue:

“I’ve got absolutely no problem with commercial dog walkers, because obviously it’s a good service. But there are too many, and often they can’t control the dogs.

“I don’t think they do it intentionally, but it’s impossible to keep an eye on all those dogs”.

Commercial walkers tend to convene together at the recreation ground, he told us, each sticking to the current rule of a four-dog limit, but together causing a problem:

“They’ll come in with four or five dogs or whatever they are allowed, but you’ll have three or four commercial dog walkers like that standing together talking, and not paying attention to the dogs.

“So I think the commercial dog walkers need to be more attentive and focus on what their actual job is, which is to look after the dogs.”

Notices to dog owners on Stamford Brook Common 

Shalini, a dog owner who lives nearby, told us the number of dogs at Stamford Brook Common had been a problem for residents for some time.

“There was a time where the cacophony was crazy, because someone would come in with twelve dogs. And the problem with that is they can’t watch that many dogs.”

This changed when the Council introduced the four dog limit, she said, following consultation with local residents. Shalini told us dog mess was still a problem in the park, but that this should not be blamed on professional walkers.

“It’s not only commercial, it’s all dog walkers. Sometimes owners with one dog won’t pick up after them, whereas the commercial dog walkers actually take effort to pick up their poops. I think there were a few groups that were more of a problem, but they’ve since dissipated.

“It’s more about responsible dog owners than the commercial enterprises”, she added, “enforcement of bad behaviours by all dog owners will improve things”.

Dogs must be on a lead at all fenced-off playgrounds in the Hounslow borough, including this one at Stamford Brook Green

The current Public Spaces Protection Order already allows for dog walkers on Stamford Brook Common to be fined if they do not clean up after their dogs. The Council’s new measures could also see owners fined for not having disposable poo bags on them while walking their dog in public.

The new measures also introduce fines for owners who do not keep their dogs on a lead in fenced-off play areas and remembrance gardens in the borough, such as the one on Turnham Green.

Dog trainer says an enclosed space like Stamford Brook Common is important for socialising dogs

Another case of NIMBYism, says commercial walker

One licensed walker at Stamford Brook Common, who wished to remain anonymous, felt they were the target of unnecessary anger.

“There’s a few people that don’t like us. It seems to polarise opinions.

“Some people like us because we keep an eye on the park all year round. They say sometimes that we’re responsible for not picking up poo—I would say we are far more conscious of it and pick up other dogs’ poo, and it is people walking around on their phones not paying attention to their dog who are not.”

The new Public Spaces Protection Order only bans commercial walkers from Stanford Brook Common recreation ground and Brent Leas Park, so she felt it was clear this move had come from residents. Once the ban comes into effect in late September, she will take the dogs elsewhere, she said.

“There are other parks. I come here and I have made really good friends, and there are a few people who have said to me they will really miss the dog walkers because they can chat to us or get advice about their dogs.

“It’s a shame because I will miss the social side, its not the most exciting of parks. Often the people who have voiced opposition are people who don’t use the park anyway. Its NIMBYism in my opinion, but there you go.”

“Has the council considered where it does want dogs to be exercised?

Local dog trainer Tom Holloway, known as That Dog Guy on social media, told us it wasn’t commercial dog walkers who were the problem:

“I’m concerned that dog owners are being targeted, while human visitors leave behind dangerous rubbish and even human faeces in the park. Such waste can be lethal to animals.”

In response to the council’s decision to ban dogs from fenced-off areas, and commercial walkers from certain parks, Tom said:

“Has the council considered where it does want dogs to be exercised?

“The Animal Welfare Act 2006 requires owners to provide animals with sufficient exercise and opportunities to socialise. For dogs, that means daily off-lead running, play with other dogs, and sniffing.”

Tom said that it is important to have options for dog owners to “responsibly and affordably look after their dogs”, which professional services provide.

“Nervous rescues and young puppies need a not-too-crowded, enclosed area like Stamford Brook Common.”