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Visiting and enforcement

Dangerous Dog Risks: Practical Guidance for Visiting and Enforcement Staff

How to recognise dog-related risks, prepare for visits and make safer decisions when dogs are present.

A man in a high-visibility jacket standing back from a metal gate with a dog behind it

Many employees regularly enter homes, communal areas and other locations where dogs may be present.

For housing officers, repairs teams, care workers and local authority employees, dealing with a dog is rarely the purpose of the visit. However, an unsecured or unexpectedly aggressive dog can quickly turn a routine appointment into a dangerous situation.

This guide explains how employers can prepare staff, what employees should consider before entering a property, how to recognise warning signs and when it may be necessary to withdraw.

The guidance also considers enforcement officers whose duties may involve responding to concerns about dogs.

The central message is simple: staff should not be expected to enter or remain somewhere when a dog presents an unacceptable risk to their safety.

Who should read this guide?

This guidance is intended for employers, managers and employees whose work may bring them into contact with dogs.

It is particularly relevant to housing officers, local authority visiting teams, repairs and maintenance workers, health and social care staff, welfare teams, dog wardens and authorised enforcement officers.

The risks and responsibilities differ between roles.

A housing officer attending a tenancy appointment should not be expected to handle or restrain a dog. A trained dog warden may have specific responsibilities, equipment and procedures for dealing with animals.

Employers must ensure that staff receive instructions and training appropriate to their actual duties.

Understanding the risk

Any dog can bite or injure someone, regardless of its size, breed or previous behaviour.

A dog may react defensively when frightened, startled, restrained, approached unexpectedly or when it perceives a threat to its owner, territory, food or possessions.

Employees should not assume that a dog is safe simply because its owner describes it as friendly.

Equally, staff should avoid assuming that a particular dog is dangerous solely because of its appearance or breed.

The important questions are how the dog is behaving, whether it is securely controlled and whether the employee can safely complete the work.

Common situations include:

  • A dog is loose when an employee arrives.
  • A resident opens the door before securing the animal.
  • A dog escapes through an unsecured gate.
  • An employee enters a room where a dog is resting or guarding something.
  • Another person arrives with a dog during the appointment.
  • A dog becomes distressed by noise or unfamiliar equipment.
  • An employee cannot reach the exit because a dog is blocking the way.

Employers should consider these situations when planning work.

What employers should arrange before visits

Dog-related hazards should form part of the organisation's workplace risk assessment and relevant visiting procedures.

In Great Britain, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 provide the general framework for assessing and managing foreseeable risks to employees.

These are general workplace safety duties, not separate statutory duties specifically named for dangerous dogs.

Employers should establish clear arrangements for identifying properties where dogs may be present, checking previous incidents, asking occupants to secure animals, deciding whether visits can proceed safely and supporting employees who need to withdraw.

Arrangements should also cover sharing relevant information with colleagues and contractors, reporting incidents, emergency communication, first aid and post-incident support.

A missing warning marker does not mean that a property is free from dog-related risks.

Information may be incomplete or out of date. A resident may have acquired a dog recently, or another person may bring one into the property.

Before attending a property

Preparation can prevent employees from being placed in avoidable danger.

Staff should consider:

  1. Previous information: Are there reports of dogs, threatening behaviour, bites or difficulties entering the property?
  2. The appointment: Is the visit planned or unexpected?
  3. The occupants: Who is expected to be present?
  4. The animals: How many dogs are there, and where will they be secured?
  5. The surroundings: Could a dog be loose in a garden, communal area or entrance?
  6. Working arrangements: Is lone working appropriate, and how will the employee request assistance?
  7. Withdrawal: Does the employee know when to stop and what to report?

Where appropriate, contact the occupant before attending and explain that dogs must be securely separated from the working area.

Do not rely solely on an assurance that an animal is friendly.

Children in the home matter for visit planning. Current Since 1 November 2026, that also matters for exempted banned types under the Certificate of Exemption condition. It is not a general legal duty for all dogs.

Approaching the property safely

The assessment begins before knocking on the door.

Look for signs that a dog may be present, including barking, scratching, movement behind windows, warning signs or an animal visible in the garden.

Check whether gates are secure and whether a dog could approach from the side or rear of the property.

Avoid entering an enclosed area where a loose dog could prevent you from leaving.

At the door:

  • Knock or ring the bell and step back.
  • Allow enough space to observe who opens the door.
  • Ask for any dog to be secured in another room before entering.
  • Wait until there is reasonable confirmation that the animal is securely separated.
  • Check that the route into and out of the property remains clear.

Do not accept a shout from inside as confirmation while you are already stepping in.

If the dog cannot be secured, or the occupant refuses, follow the organisation's procedure for postponing or ending the visit.

Recognising changes in a dog's behaviour

Dogs communicate through posture, movement, facial expressions and vocalisations.

No single behaviour should be interpreted in isolation. Consider the whole situation and whether the animal's behaviour is changing.

A dog that appears relaxed

A relaxed dog may have a loose body, natural movement and a relaxed facial expression.

However, relaxed behaviour does not guarantee that the dog will remain calm.

A dog becoming alert or uncertain

The dog may become unusually still, focus intensely on someone or shift its weight forwards.

Avoid approaching or attempting to touch the dog.

Signs of increasing stress

Warning signs may include:

  • A stiff or tense body.
  • Repeated pacing.
  • Showing the whites of the eyes.
  • Lip licking or yawning in a stressful situation.
  • A rigid or tightly tucked tail.
  • Increasing fixation on a person or object.

These signs can have different meanings, but may indicate discomfort or increasing tension.

Clear warning behaviour

Growling, baring teeth, lunging, snapping or a sustained threatening posture are reasons to stop and reassess immediately.

A dog becoming quiet after growling does not necessarily mean the danger has passed.

Do not test whether a dog is safe by approaching it or offering a hand to sniff.

During a visit

Even when a dog appears settled, circumstances can change.

Employees should remain aware of the animal's location and maintain access to a safe exit.

Avoid unnecessary interaction with unfamiliar dogs.

Do not reach over a dog's head, disturb it while eating or resting, or attempt to move it away from possessions or a person it may be guarding.

Where a dog is present, avoid sudden movements or actions that may startle it.

A repairs operative using noisy equipment may unintentionally frighten a dog that was previously calm.

If the dog cannot remain securely separated from the working area, stop the task and reassess whether it can continue safely.

Stay side-on rather than square-on to an unfamiliar dog. Avoid sustained staring or raised voices. Do not crouch.

What if a dog appears unexpectedly?

A visit may begin safely, but another person could arrive with a dog or an animal may escape from another room.

If this happens:

  1. Stop the task.
  2. Avoid approaching or attempting to restrain the dog.
  3. Keep movements controlled and avoid sudden gestures.
  4. Ask for the dog to be securely separated, where safe.
  5. Keep the nearest safe exit in mind.
  6. Withdraw if the animal cannot be controlled or the situation becomes unsafe.

If a dog approaches in a threatening manner, avoid running or making sudden movements that may increase the danger.

The appropriate response depends on the dog's behaviour, the surroundings and the available escape route.

Employees who are not trained and authorised to handle dogs should not attempt to capture or restrain an unfamiliar animal.

Working in communal and public areas

Dog-related risks are not confined to private homes.

Housing and local authority employees may encounter dogs in communal corridors, stairwells, gardens, streets, parks and shared entrances.

Staff should consider whether the dog is under effective control, whether they can move away safely and whether gates or doors could allow another animal to approach.

A lead or muzzle may be required for certain exempted prohibited-type dogs in public, but these measures do not guarantee that an encounter is safe.

If an animal presents a danger, employees should withdraw and report the concern rather than attempt to resolve it themselves.

When should staff withdraw?

Employees should be supported in ending or postponing work where dog-related risks cannot be managed safely.

Examples include:

  • The occupant refuses to secure the dog.
  • A dog is loose in the working area.
  • The animal displays threatening behaviour.
  • The employee's exit is obstructed.
  • Another dog arrives unexpectedly.
  • The owner cannot control the animal.
  • The situation changes and the employee no longer considers it safe.

Withdrawal should not be regarded as a failed appointment.

Where possible, leave calmly without provoking or approaching the animal.

Do not turn your back on the dog when you leave.

Once safe, notify the appropriate manager or contact point and follow reporting procedures.

Do not remain at the doorway arguing about whether the dog is dangerous.

If there is an immediate threat, personal safety takes priority over explaining the decision.

Additional considerations for different roles

Housing officers

Housing officers may encounter dogs during tenancy visits, complaints, inspections and enforcement appointments.

Staff should check available risk information and make sure the occupant understands that dogs must be secured before the appointment proceeds.

If the visit cannot be completed safely, the organisation should decide what arrangements are needed before another attendance.

Repairs and trades operatives

Repairs employees may work in enclosed spaces, use noisy equipment, carry tools or have their backs turned while working.

Contractors should receive relevant warnings before attending, including information recorded by housing officers or previous trades.

If a dog enters the working area, stop the work and request that it be securely separated.

Care and support workers

Care workers may spend extended periods in people's homes and develop familiar relationships with occupants and their pets.

Familiarity does not remove the risk of injury.

Managers should consider how visits will continue when a person relies on care or support but cannot safely secure an animal.

Alternative arrangements may be needed to protect both the employee and the person receiving support.

Welfare and safeguarding visits

Urgent welfare concerns can create pressure to enter a property despite uncertainty about an animal.

Staff should not attempt to handle a dangerous dog or expose themselves to an uncontrolled risk simply because the visit is important.

Follow safeguarding, escalation and emergency procedures, including requesting specialist assistance where appropriate.

Dog wardens and enforcement officers

Dog wardens and authorised enforcement staff may investigate complaints, assess dangerous dogs or support lawful enforcement activity.

Their work requires specific procedures, equipment, training and authorisation.

The guidance for ordinary visiting staff is not a substitute for specialist dog handling or seizure procedures.

Kennel staff receiving and caring for seized dogs also require separate arrangements and training. See the Kennels seized dogs resource.

Recording incidents and near misses

An incident does not have to result in a bite before it should be reported.

Examples include a dog lunging towards an employee, an occupant refusing to secure an animal, a dog escaping into the working area or a visit being abandoned because of threatening behaviour.

Reports should record:

  • The address, date and time.
  • The reason for the visit.
  • What the dog did.
  • Whether the animal was secured.
  • What the occupant said or did.
  • What action the employee took.
  • Whether anyone was injured.
  • What precautions may be needed before another visit.

Avoid unsupported assumptions about the dog's temperament or breed.

Managers should review reports, update warning markers and ensure relevant information reaches others who may attend.

Where another employee or contractor may attend the same property later that day, make sure the warning is passed on promptly. Do not rely on the next person discovering the risk for themselves.

What to do following a dog bite

The immediate priority is to get away from the animal and reach a safe location.

Arrange appropriate first aid and medical assessment. Dog bites can cause puncture wounds, tissue damage and infection, even where the injury initially appears minor.

Significant bleeding, serious injuries or other urgent symptoms require prompt emergency medical assistance.

Safety Solutions Training does not treat, stitch or prescribe. This is signposting, not a clinical protocol.

Once the immediate needs have been addressed:

  • Report the incident.
  • Record what happened while details are fresh.
  • Preserve relevant evidence.
  • Consider whether the police or local authority dog warden should be notified.
  • Review risks before further visits.
  • Offer appropriate welfare and post-incident support.

See post-incident support for staff.

Depending on the circumstances, an injury may be reportable under RIDDOR 2013. The responsible person must assess the relevant reporting criteria.

This page is not a decision tool for those Regulations. See the Workplace Safety Legislation Guide and the Health and Safety Executive.

The importance of training

Employees who may encounter dogs need to understand how to recognise developing risks and make safer decisions.

Training should help staff recognise warning signs, prepare for visits, communicate with occupants, make safer doorstep decisions, withdraw when necessary and report incidents accurately.

Training should reflect the employee's role and the organisation's procedures.

It does not replace a suitable risk assessment or make every encounter safe.

The key message

Dog-related incidents are not always predictable, but employers can reduce foreseeable risks through preparation, clear procedures, training and reliable reporting.

Employees should not feel pressured to enter or remain in a property where a dog cannot be safely controlled.

If a dog presents a risk that cannot be managed safely, stopping the visit and withdrawing is an appropriate safety decision.

Official sources used for this page

First published 24 August 2026. Source check 31 August 2026. Legislation reviewed on 31 October 2026 against the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, Part 7 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and SI 2026/602 on legislation.gov.uk, including the under-12 Certificate of Exemption condition that applies in England and Wales from 1 November 2026. Next review 31 January 2027, or sooner if Dangerous Dogs Act, exemption or Health and Safety Executive rules change. Not legal advice.

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