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Responsible dog owner discount

Reduced dog registration fee

For the current discount on dog registration fees for Responsible Dog Owners, see: Registration - Fees

How to qualify

You can become an RDO if you meet the following conditions and requirements:

• You have attended and passed an approved Responsible Dog Owner Education or Obedience course.
  Note: Puppy Training certificates are not accepted for RDO applications. The list of approved training courses can be found on the link above.
• Your annual dog registration fees have been paid on time.
• Your dog has free access to a fully-enclosed containment area on your property (this doesn't have to be a fully-fenced garden or yard).
• In the last year, your dog has not been impounded, or been the subject of a substantiated public complaint, or received an infringement notice.
• You have not received any convictions under the Wellington Consolidated Bylaw: Part 2 - Animals; the Dog Control Act 1996; or the Animal Welfare Act 1999. 

Home inspection

An Animal Control Officer will inspect your property to check that it is fully fenced and gated. Your dog must have a suitable kennel or be kept indoors (in hygienic and humane conditions).

How to apply

RDO applications are open from 1 September 2023 until 30 April 2024.

Apply for RDO status

Don't want to fill the form out online?

No worries, just download this PDF and post or drop it in to our Service Centre.

Application for Responsible Dog Owner Status (56KB PDF)

RDO application cost

To apply for RDO status costs $132.00. This fee is on top of the annual re-registration fee for your dog(s), which is reduced for owners with RDO status.

Note: Before you apply, make sure you meet the Responsible Dog Owner (RDO) criteria set out above, as there is no refund if we decline your RDO application.

Application results

The Council will notify you of your application results. If you are granted RDO status, the special discount is automatically applied to your next annual registration fee - unless you receive a conviction, infringement or impoundment, or you fail to pay your re-registration fees by the penalty date of 31 July.

Upcoming courses

The next free Responsible Dog Owner course is coming up in April. Spaces are limited so please book.

To book please email wgtnrdo@huttcity.govt.nz.

Course dates

• Monday 8 April 2024

5.30pm – Churton Park Community Centre 

Course information

This course is for Wellington City Council registered dog owners only. If you are from outside Wellington City Council limits this course will not be required for RDO (please check with your local council what criteria is needed).

This a no-dog event so please don’t bring them.

The course is approximately 1 hour long covering Wellington City Council bylaws, dog control laws, dogs and wildlife, and your responsibilities. There is a test at the end which you can complete onsite, or can be taken away and emailed in later.  

Once the test is marked, a certificate will be emailed to you. You will need to provide this certificate as part of your RDO application.

If you intend on bringing someone with you to the course, please let us know.

Keeping your RDO status

You will lose your RDO status and have to reapply for it in the following circumstances:

Late payment of dog re-registration fees

Responsible dog owners must pay their annual re-registration fees by 31 July at the latest each year to maintain their RDO status.

Re-registration fees are due on 1 July, but an owner loses their RDO status if they fail to pay their re-registration fee by 31 July, when the late payment penalty applies.

Failure to maintain RDO requirements

To keep your RDO status you must continue to meet the care and welfare  criteria required by Responsible Dog Owners -  see the ‘Responsibilities of a dog owner’ section of our Capital Canines guide for dog owners  (794KB PDF).

Change of address

If you move, you will have to reapply for RDO status and have your new home inspected by an Animal Control Officer. There is a one-off re-application fee of $83.00 to reapply for your new address if you have had RDO with us prior. Please fill out the following form and email to dogs@wcc.govt.nz:

Application for Responsible Dog Owner Status (56KB PDF)