If you're a dog owner, or prospective dog owner in Germany, know that having a furry family member could soon come with strict rules. The European country is considering bringing in a new regulation that ensures canines are taken on two walks per day, totalling to at least one hour.
"Pets are not cuddly toys, their needs have to be taken into account," said Agriculture Minister Julia Klockner of the planned changes.
In order to crack down on puppy farms, there are also rules being devised to ban breeders from looking after more than three litters at a time, as well as restrictions on the time dogs can be chained in one place. Owners will also not be allowed to leave their dogs alone for the entire day.
The new rules come under the Hundeverordnung, or Dogs Act. As it stands, Klockner says that the country's 9.4 million dogs are not getting sufficient exercise or stimuli.
Germany's dog owners have not all responded warmly to the new government direction.
With almost one in five German homes owning a hound, the new Animal Welfare Dog Regulation, which also sets limits on the transportation of farm animals in hot weather, affects a significant proportion of the population.
"Compulsory Walkies for Dog Owners? Rubbish!" wrote the top-selling Bild newspaper in an opinion piece on the new decree.
A spokesman for the VDH German Dog Association claim most owners were laughing at the new rule because they already spend enough time walking their four-legged friend.
"One rule for all dogs is probably well meant but unrealistic," said VDH spokesman Udo Kopernik.
Dog trainer Anja Striegel said the amount of exercise a dog needs is dependent on the health, age and breed of dog.
"For a young, fit Labrador, two hours of walkies are healthier than for an arthritic pug with heart problems," she told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.
Germany's most popular breeds are the German shepherd and short-legged, long-bodied dachshund, known as "sausage dogs" followed by Labradors, retrievers, Jack Russell terriers and pugs.
Additional reporting by Reuters
