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Should you be allowed to walk as many dogs as you like at once? Many say no. Auckland recently joined Christchurch City Council in reviewing its bylaws on the maximum number of dogs you’re allowed to walk at the same time. Dog walking is increasingly under the spotlight, with news of a terrier being mauled during a pack walk last year pushing the issue to the fore.
Below, we take a look at both councils’ proposed changes as well as share insights from certified dog behaviour consultant Maria Alomajan on pack walks.
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Auckland dog walking bylaw changes proposed
So what are Auckland Council’s proposed changes, exactly? A cap of six dogs per walker with no more than three off-leash at any time. Other proposed rule changes include:
Revising rules on where dogs can go in 14 regional parks and 64 local parks, including Waitawa, Whakanewha, Wenderholm, Shakespear, Te Ārai, Scott Point, and Mahurangi East.
Clarifying that dogs classified as menacing, including those relocated from outside Auckland, must be neutered.
The public has until 11.59pm on Sunday, 23 February 2025 to give feedback on the proposed changes. A final decision is expected in the middle of the year.
Christchurch City proposed dog walking rules
This follows similar suggestions by Christchurch City in August 2024 to their Dog Control Bylaw and Policy, including:
- Clearer rules for off-leash dogs: Explaining what “under control” means when dogs are off their leash.
- Limit on dogs per person: Setting a limit on how many dogs one person can walk at the same time, with exceptions for professionals.
- Updated leash and no-dog zones: Reviewing areas where dogs must be on a leash or are not allowed.
- Better perks for responsible owners: Updating the benefits and rules for being a “responsible dog owner.”
- Protecting nature: Better rules to protect native plants and animals near rivers, wetlands, and estuaries.
Public feedback closed in December, with feedback and a recommendation expected in March 2025.

Pack walking dangers
A big focus of the above proposed changes are on professional dog walkers who take out several dogs at once – also called pack walks. The idea is that the dogs, walking together as a group or “pack,” can socialise and exercise together. This can be beneficial for their mental and physical health. However, it requires the walker to have good control over all the dogs to ensure they’re safe and well-behaved.
This was not the case in an April 2024 incident in Auckland, when a terrier named Kippa was brutally attacked by four large dogs during a pack walk led by a dog walking business. The walker had dogs tethered to her waist as well as the four dogs that had escaped her grasp.
The incident led many East Auckland residents to share similar frightening encounters with the same dog-walking business. It’s also possibly what sparked Christchurch Council’s proposed bylaw changes.
Six may still be too many
Auckland Council’s proposed restriction is six dogs per walker. However, dog behaviour consultant Maria Alomajan urges people to walk no more than two dogs at a time.
“There’s a whole bunch of brain-hurting physics involved in calculating a dog’s pulling power: size, weight, velocity, distance to gain velocity, energy absorbed by leashes, the angle of the pull, and goodness knows what else,” she says. “But the basic premise is pretty simple. We only have two arms – and even then, that doesn’t necessarily mean we should walk two dogs.”
It’s all dependant on your own weight and experience with walking dogs. A 52kg woman walking two adult Great Danes, for instance, is different from a 90kg man walking two Pekingese. Unexpected situations, like dogs reacting suddenly to loud noises, other animals, or distractions, can quickly turn dangerous.
“The question is, ‘can you manage a sudden bolt?’. And if you have multiple dogs, can you handle the possibility of all of them bolting at once?”

Dog walking bylaw pushback
On the other side of the conversation are professional dog walkers. They argue that a pack walk bylaw will restrict their income and raise the price of their service. Others say that this one-size-fits-all approach is unfair to professional dog walkers who know how to handle packs.
As Checkers Dog Walking owner Julia Knoef told Checkpoint:
“For professional dog walkers, what we’d normally do is we’d get those dogs together very carefully before we agree to take them out. Even individually, but certainly before we take them out as part of a smaller group to start with. And then gradually build that into a pack of, you know, up to six or more dogs for the more experienced and trained professionals.”
Additionally, there are worries that the limit might inconvenience dog owners who rely on dog-walking services. This could potentially lead to fewer exercise opportunities for their pets.
There have also been calls to rather require walkers to have certain credentials. In Wellington, for instance, a bylaw requires that all commercial dog walkers have to do a course and pass an exam to be able to walk dogs in public spaces. Either way, it’s clear that something needs to change so that incidents like the above don’t happen again.

Dog bylaws in New Zealand
Laws around walking aren’t the only dog bylaws in New Zealand. Here’s an overview of bylaws that apply to most regions:
Bylaw | Specifics |
Leash requirements | All dogs in NZ must be on a leash when they’re in a public space, unless it’s a specified off-leash area. |
Off-leash areas | Your dog is allowed to roam freely in some parks, beaches, and reserves, but remember that even in these spots they need to be under control at all times. |
Prohibited areas | Some conservation areas, islands, beaches, playgrounds and sports fields strictly prohibit dogs. These rules help protect wildlife and keep public spaces safe. |
Dog fouling | You’re responsible for picking up after your dog. Not doing so can lead to fines. |
Restricted times | In some places, there are specific times, like during the busy summer months, when dogs might be restricted from certain public spaces. |
Dangerous or menacing dogs | Under the Dog Control Act 1996, if your dog is classified as dangerous or menacing, there are stricter rules to follow. For example, your dog may need to wear a muzzle in public and must stay on a leash. |
Dog registration and microchipping | In NZ, all dogs (with the exception of working dogs) need to be microchipped and registered with your local council, and you should always have the registration tag with you when walking your dog. This applies to cats in some regions, too. Check out article on NZ cat bylaws for more on this. |
Public nuisance | If your dog is barking excessively or acting aggressively, you could face penalties. |
Number of dogs | Certain regions have dog bylaws on the number of dogs you’re allowed to own on a property. For instance, in Auckland there are regulations around owning more than two dogs in urban areas. |
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