The state-level rules every owner and walker in Tasmania should know. Local leash lengths, licensing and off-leash rules are set by each city — find those on the city pages below.
Tasmanian dog law runs on the Dog Control Act 2000, which makes the owner OR the person in charge of a dog responsible for its behaviour — so a walker is directly on the hook while holding the leash. Any dog declared dangerous or of a restricted breed must be desexed, microchipped, muzzled and kept on a lead no longer than 2 metres in public, and individual councils set the registration, leash areas, off-leash areas and fines.
Tasmanian dog law is set by the Dog Control Act 2000, administered by the municipal councils. The Act repeatedly frames duties around the owner OR person in charge of a dog: section 16 requires that the owner or person in charge ensure the dog is not at large, and 'owner' is defined broadly to include the keeper of the dog. For a dog walker the practical effect is direct: while the dog is in your charge you are the person in charge, and the control, containment and clean-up duties fall on you. This statutory responsibility sits alongside any civil claim, so a walker's own liability cover matters.
A dog that is declared dangerous or is of a restricted breed attracts the strictest controls in the Act. Such a dog must be desexed and microchipped, and when off the owner's premises it must be muzzled, controlled by a person aged 18 or over, and kept on a lead no longer than 2 metres held by hand, wearing the approved collar. Breaching these controls carries penalties of up to 20 penalty units. A walker should confirm any dangerous or restricted dog in their care is desexed, chipped, and handled strictly to the muzzle-and-2-metre-lead rule before taking it out.
Two identification rules apply to ordinary dogs. The owner of a dog over 6 months must register it with their municipal council, and must have it microchipped. Registration is a council function, so the fee and the model differ by area: Hobart City Council charges an annual fee (roughly $40 desexed and $88 entire, with pensioner and assistance-dog concessions) [VERIFY: exact current-year Hobart fees against the council fees & charges schedule], while the City of Launceston primarily uses a lifetime (lifelong) registration (roughly $149 desexed and $505 entire, a large desexing discount) [VERIFY: current-year Launceston fees and whether an annual option exists]. A walker should treat registration and microchip as the owner's responsibility but worth a quick intake check.
The general rule is that on roads and in built-up areas a dog must be on a lead no longer than 2 metres held by hand. Beyond that, councils declare the areas: exercise (off-leash) areas, on-leash areas, prohibited areas and restricted areas, with breaches of a prohibited area drawing up to 20 penalty units. The person in charge must immediately remove and dispose of faeces in a public place. Because the leash rules, off-leash zones and fines are set council by council, a walker working across Hobart and Launceston must check each council's declared areas. Penalties are expressed in penalty units, whose dollar value is set by regulation [VERIFY: current AUD value per Tasmanian penalty unit].
This is general information about Tasmania law, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with the official state and municipal sources.