Wellington City Council is getting set to override the three strikes rule, to make way for immediate action if a dog does something animal control thinks is serious.

Wellingtonians may have the best behaved dogs in the country but that won't stop new rules for instant fines.

Wellington City Council is getting set to override the three strikes rule, to make way for immediate action, if a dog does something animal control thinks is dangerous or inexcusable.

Council's public health manager Helen Jones said staff were working on new rules that would not require any changes to council legislation. It could be implemented in the next two months, she said.

The current three strike rule sees the owners of dogs educated – making them aware of the wrong-doing, such as having their dog off the lead.

The owner details will be taken and if they are caught another time, they will be given a warning. The third strike results in a fine.

"Sometimes more action needed to be taken."

Animal control would not be bound by strict rules and could be use their judgement, she said.

"We had conversations with community groups about it [three strikes] being overly cautious, so that is why we are looking at it.

"We are trying to create a risk matrix so the officers don't always have to go to the three strikes rule and can move straight to infringement if it is serious enough."

This would happen in serious situations such as attacks, a dog rushing at somebody or out of control in a sensitive wildlife area.

Jones and her colleague, Julie Sleep, gave the council's regulatory processes committee an overview of the annual dog control report on Wednesday.

"I would say Wellington dog owners are generally good and responsible. We have probably one of the lowest numbers of menacing dogs across the country. People look after their dogs and generally comply with the rules."

There were more than 11,000 dogs registered with the council and the number of offenders was proportionally low, she said.

In 2106/17 there were 46 menacing dogs and in 2017/18 that reduced to 19 dogs.