There’s nothing worse than being out for a walk and accidentally stepping in dog poo that has not been binned.

Dog owners who get spotted not clearing up after their dog can get handed an on-the-spot fine of up to £100, and a further £1,000 if prosecuted.

Research into Freedom of Information (FOI) data by TopDog, which sells dog harnesses and collars, highlights just how much residents are getting tired of seeing dog poo, with thousands of complaints being made last year.

Those in Manchester top the list of complainers, with 1,147 complaints being made to the council in 2024, with only a small 38 of which resulted in fines.

Complaints from other councils across the country are rife, again with many resulting in little to no fines. Northumberland comes in close second with 1058 complaints across 2024 and only 6 fines, and Durham had 884 complaints for the year, with 18 of those being fined and Southwark amassed 703 complaints and no fines from October 2023-2024.

This table details the counties with the biggest number of complaints for dog fouling over the last year.

City/Region
Time period
No. of complaints
No. of fines
Manchester
2024
1147
38
Northumberland
2024
1058
6
Durham
2024
884
18
Southwark
Oct 2023 – Oct 2024
703
0
North Yorkshire
2024
326
0
Birmingham
2024
460
8
Shropshire
2024
404
1
Great Yarmouth
Oct 2023 – Oct 2024
160
N/A
Dorset
Sep 2023 – Aug 2024
88
0
Whilst you can get fined for not picking up after your dog, you can also get fined for not being prepared to do so. Councils such as Canterbury, Daventry and North Somerset will issue fines of up to £100 for anyone not having at least two poo bags.

John Skinner, co-founder of TopDog, says: “The last thing you want when taking your dog out for a walk is to suddenly be without dog poo bags when you need them. Even those short walks can surprise you, so we would recommend investing in a useful dog walking bag which can hold all the essentials such as keys, wallet and your phone, but also has a poo bag dispenser so you’ll never be short again.”

It’s not just dog fouling that owners have to be mindful of, there’s a long list of laws that need to be obeyed when owning a dog, especially when taking it out in public.

Going for a walk on the beach for example is something that dog owners have to be mindful of or risk facing a fine. Most beaches have restrictions from May to September where if you are caught you could face fines of up to £1,000. There are however many beaches in the UK where you can walk your dog all year round, so it is worth checking and planning ahead.