The number of people hospitalised by dog bites has risen by 51 per cent in the last 15 years to 2014. Reliable statistics for dog-on-dog attacks are harder to come by because of the lack of official reporting and difficulty in prosecuting (the law dates back to the 19th century, and police are reluctant to use it) but the RSPCA says it is concerned. And it is difficult to know how many of any of these attacks happen while in the care of professional walkers because of the sheer lack of a legal framework.