Don't give a leash: teenagers may be banned from walking large dogs

Teenagers under the age of 16 and people in a state of intoxication may be prohibited from walking dogs of potentially dangerous breeds on their own — such a bill was supported by the government, a source told Izvestia. An exception is made for cases when the owner releases the pet into a private fenced area. According to the authors of the initiative, cases of large dogs attacking passers-by due to the owners' oversight have become more frequent in Russia. About how the changes will work and what could be threatened for violating the proposed rules, see the Izvestia article.

Who will be affected by the ban

Children under the age of 16 may be prohibited from walking potentially dangerous dogs unaccompanied by their parents or legal representatives. The Cabinet of Ministers gave a positive review to such a bill, subject to its revision (the document is available to Izvestia). The restrictions will also apply to citizens who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, regardless of where they walk.

An exception is made only for cases when the dog is in a fenced area that belongs to the owner "by right of ownership or other legal basis," the document says.

Not only potentially dangerous dogs, but also large breeds can pose a danger to life and health if they are walked by people who do not have sufficient responsibility and control, Vladimir Gruzdev, Chairman of the Board of the Russian Bar Association, told Izvestia.

According to him, similar restrictions are already in effect in several regions.

For example, in the Tyumen, Ulyanovsk and Stavropol regions, children under the age of 14 are prohibited from walking potentially dangerous dogs without adults, while in Karelia there is a stricter age limit — up to 16 years, according to the explanatory note to the bill. The ban on walking dangerous dogs also applies to people who are intoxicated and declared legally incompetent.

— It is advisable to work out the issue of defining at the federal level uniform approaches to the physical qualities of dogs and requirements for those who walk them, — said Vladimir Gruzdev. — This initiative is part of a broader government policy aimed at improving regulatory regulation in the field of animal welfare.

In the summer of 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers approved an action plan providing for the development of legislative changes that will affect the regulation of the maintenance and breeding of domestic and wild animals, as well as the promotion of voluntary sterilization, vaccination and labeling of pets.

— The introduction of new rules for walking potentially dangerous dogs is designed to increase the safety of citizens and contribute to the formation of a culture of responsible animal ownership, — said Vladimir Gruzdev.

The list of potentially dangerous dogs includes 12 breeds and their mestizos, for example, the American Bulldog, Pit bull Mastiff, bandog (or bandog) and wolf-dog hybrids.

"The list also includes breeds used for harassment and native breeds that have not been selected for human loyalty, and the specifics of their behavior have not been fully studied," the government decree of July 2019 states.

How the changes will work

The bill banning the walking of potentially dangerous dogs by children under 16 and people in a state of intoxication has been overdue for a long time — practice shows that tragic cases most often occur precisely when an animal is left without proper control, Alexander Yakubovsky, one of the authors of the document, a member of the State Duma Committee on Construction and Housing and Communal Services, told Izvestia.

"The initiative is correct and necessary, but it can and should be supplemented with a number of specific norms," the deputy believes. — First, it is necessary to establish a clear and understandable list of breeds that fall under the category of "potentially dangerous". Now regions and experts have different interpretations, which can lead to disputes.

According to Alexander Yakubovsky, owners may be required to chip and register dogs of potentially dangerous breeds so that local governments and veterinary services have accurate information about them.

— It is worth considering the training of owners. Training courses and maintenance rules could be a condition for allowing such dogs to walk," he added.

The MP noted that the system of fines and liability for improper dog walking should be structured so that it "is tangible, but not exclusively punitive in nature."

— Information campaigns and explanatory work will help to create a culture of responsible attitude towards animals. Only in a complex, these measures will allow not just to increase punishment, but to really increase security in courtyards and on the streets," the deputy is convinced.

The reason for introducing the bill was the increased frequency of attacks by dangerous and large dogs on people, Nina Ostanina, another author and chairman of the State Duma Committee on Family, Women and Children, told Izvestia.

— Dogs of potentially dangerous breeds can only be walked by citizens from the age of 16, because a child is not able to cope with such a dog. Attacks have become more frequent, especially against children and women. And the people who protect them also become victims. Stray animals on the street, whether they are household dogs or strays, pose a threat in any case," the deputy stressed.

It is necessary to expand the list of potentially dangerous dogs, since many large-breed animals, such as the Rottweiler, are not included in this list, she stressed. When preparing the draft law, the authors relied on existing international norms. For example, according to her, in Belarus, the right to walk potentially dangerous dogs is granted only from the age of 16.

In August 2025, aggressive domestic dogs attacked a resident of Novosibirsk and a schoolgirl in Kaliningrad. In February, two pet huskies bit the face of a 10-year-old boy in Sochi. And in Yekaterinburg, a Rottweiler attacked a woman with a child — the mother was seriously injured.

What can be the risk for improper dog walking

Dogs can behave aggressively during a walk due to lack of training and lack of adaptation to an urban environment, veterinarian Mikhail Shelyakov told Izvestia.

—The reason for the dog's inappropriate behavior may be harsh noises," he said. — For example, a car honked, a firecracker exploded. And the greater the mass of the animal, the more difficult it is to cope with it. The aggression of a dog can arise from a lack of upbringing. Some pets snap and attack anyone who approaches them during a walk.

Before getting a large breed dog, it is necessary to be aware of all the risks, because the owner is fully responsible for the pet, the expert noted.

If the bill comes into force, the owner, who was walking a potentially dangerous dog in violation of the rules, may be fined from 1.5 thousand to 3 thousand rubles under the article on "Non-compliance with animal welfare requirements," says lawyer Yana Vorobyova.

— The bill itself does not introduce a separate responsibility for teenagers, therefore, the existing legal norms will apply. If a teenager walks a dog in violation of the rules, his parents are responsible as the owners of the animal," the lawyer noted.

If, while walking, the dog has caused harm to human life or health, the fine increases to 30 thousand rubles, said Stepan Uglov, a lawyer at Pravo-City. Additionally, the victim may collect medical expenses and compensation for moral damage in court. And in cases of severe consequences or death, criminal liability may occur.