Aussies react to plans to mandate a minimum human contact time with dogs in the ACT

One tiny detail in the new draft Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs in the Australian Capital Territory is sparking plenty of debate.

Under the new guidelines dog owners would have to give their dog "human contact for a reasonable length of time each day, three hours minimum".

To find out what Aussies think about the idea of governments mandating time spent with dogs and the length of time proposed by the ACT, 9honey surveyed readers in an exclusive poll of more than 500 participants.

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There were strong feelings about the government advising how long we should be in contact with our pooches, with 55 per cent of those surveyed saying they're not a fan of the idea.

A further 18 per cent said "it depends", while 13 per cent are supportive of governments setting minimum standards for time spent with dogs.

One issue with the idea is that it would be difficult to enforce.

"Government should not make rules they can not police," one person surveyed said.

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Another thinks there are more pressing issues for governments to be dealing with.

"Councils & governments should be concerned with the increasing homeless and cost of living crisis that this country is in the grip of which is increasingly getting worse, not legislating how much time an owner spends with their pet," they commented.

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On the other side of the debate, one survey participant said human contact time should be breed dependent.

"Some breeds need a lot of time with people (or other dogs), others less so," they said.

Another survey participant commented that daily contact time isn't realistic.

"Dog owners don't always have the time," they said.

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Despite the strong reactions to the government having a role in mandating time spent with dogs, those surveyed were mostly in favour of the proposed minimum length of time.

Of the 563 people polled, 39 per cent agreed three hours is the minimum amount of human contact time people should have with dogs.

For 19 per cent of participants two hours is the ideal minimum, while 14 per cent said one hour. Twenty-eight per cent voted "other" but did not specify how much time.

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Perhaps if a minimum length of time for human contact is mandated there will need to be education for the community on exactly what that means.

"I hope spending time with a dog includes just hanging out and engaging with them at home not just out of the home," one survey participant wondered.

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According to Susan Hazel, School of Animal and Veterinary Science at the University of Adelaide, in her opinion, "mandating a certain number of hours isn't the answer".

In an article for The Conversation, Hazel argued that quality time is likely to matter more than the length of time.

"Some dogs like lying on the sofa bingeing the latest series with you. Others might prefer long walks, or a strenuous game of fetch," Hazel wrote.

"And dogs have different needs. A one-year-old dog might love going for a big walk, but a 12-year-old dog with arthritis may find that painful. Some dogs love chasing balls, and others would rather watch grass grow...

"What's important is what you do with your dog when you're together, to meet their needs."

However, Hazel noted that having a mandated length of minimum human contact time could prompt owners to consider how they're spending their time with their dogs. Meanwhile, potential owners would be given pause to consider whether they can commit to that guideline.

She added that if three hours isn't achievable then it's best to make the most of the time you do have by being present with your dogs.

The draft Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs in the ACT is open for feedback until 22 August 2025.

The nine.com.au poll, which runs once a fortnight, canvases the views of the nine audience on 9Nation, which is an online community of our readers and Nine viewers.

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