Just restrict dogs over a certain weight/size?

[Stroopwaffels]

The main problem with the proposed law about banning these XL bulldogs appears to be defining exactly what a XL bulldog is, given that so many are part one thing, part another. All that's going to happen is that the irresponsible owners are just going to argue that their dog is something else, and it's going to cost a fortune in kennelling and legal fees while it's all decided.

Wouldn't it be simpler and fairer to come up with some sort of law that says that dogs over a certain height/weight are restricted - they must be chipped with owner's details regularly updated, must be muzzled in public, must be neutered unless you have registered and paid £££ to be an official breeder, must be kept on a lead at all times etc etc etc. It's then far easier for a police officer to whip out a tape measure or scales and say that this dog is either covered by the law, or not.

Yes it would affect people like the woman who lives near me and who has two large Newfoundland dogs which don't appear to be aggressive at all but it's certainly clearer and easier for public and police.

I think even little dogs have the ability to savage people and other dogs / wildlife so no cant agree. I do think we should have limits on how many dogs people are allowed to keep as pets, limits to how many can be walked together, proper licensing, always on leads except in designated areas, muzzles in public places, and massive fines for non compliance.

Of course they can. But most adults can hold their own against something cocker spaniel sized. Give it a good kick or whatever and get it off you or your child. With larger dogs you can't do that. You're never going to stop every single dog bite ever.

Or how about just making it more difficult for the general public to have ANY type of breed of dog, make it as inconvenient and expensive as possible with lots of training and proof needed to be able to have one the only those who are properly responsible owners and working dogs would be left

Please let’s not go down the route of saying little dogs bite / attack etc. Of course they do, everyone knows they do. The bottom like is you’re far less likely to be killed by an aggressive Yorkshire terrier than an xl bully.

I agree, this is the system they use in Spain (and possibly other countries) it makes far more sense as as soon as the XL bullies are banned another very similar, powerful breed will be created.

It's exactly what the government should do, to make licensing, insurance compulsory for big breeds to address risk. Responsible owners will do that.

The irresponsible ones will not, and they can be banned from keeping animals for life and prosecuted.

Ha! My first thought was “but Newfoundlands…”

Lovely gentle giants

Not that simple. What about breeds like Saint Bernards? Or Irish Wolfhounds? Absolutely giant things, but wouldn't ever hurt a fly.

You are much more likely to get a nasty bite from something like a chihuahua which is just a rat on a rope.

I would support that - but I don't think it would be popular with the "fur baby mums". Owning a dog should be expensive - and for people who do it properly with insurance, vet checks, buying from a reputable breeder etc it is expensive.

Yeah, less likely to kill but I stand by my measures, i don't want to have to fight off / get bitten by any dog whatever its size. Muzzles leads etc will help prevent this.

@Stroopwaffels i would hazard a guess that the vast vast majority of dog owners currently are not ones who have gone down the proper channels and spent lots of money on different things for the dog or would even be able to prove they can provide adequate care and training for the animal. Things do need to change for all dog ownership as numbers continue to increase really

Again, you are not going to be killed or permanently disfigured by a "rat on a rope".

Me personally I would never have a dog because I work and have children so couldn’t provide the time and training it would need plus I don’t really want to have to pick up another animals faeces which, judging by the amount of dog crap lying about, neither do actual dog owners

This is the argument all over the Internet at the moment.
"Well yorkies have killed babies...."
I can punt a small dog over a fence in an attack, I can't against a bigger dog.
I do think dog licensing should make a come back. If you can't afford it, then you can't really afford a dog.

I think the tories have just declared an outright ban on XL bullies to make it look like they've taken action when they've yet to establish what the XL bullbreeds actually consist of. The variants in puppies is absolutely crazy. You have some that are stocky, little tanks and others with a leaner, longer build. They aren't even a pure breed of dog. It's lazy law making.

I agree with you OP and I say that as a dog lover. There should be regulations about owning any animal really, particularly over a certain size. Yes large dogs are often gentle giants but the point is <if> they were to attack the damage would be far more devastating. I thinking of house cats and big cats - both hunt in the same way (yes house cats are domestic but still predators) - you could fight off a house cat while a big cat would just eat you! I honestly think all dogs needs to be licences but all dogs with a certain jaw size need muzzles. Feels unfair but that’s the damage these idiot owners have done.

There has to be the appetite to actually prosecute. Given that electric scooters are illegal but the police turn a blind eye, I can't see it happening. The problem dogs usually belong to a certain type of person, who dont follow laws on drugs, trafficking, prostitution, extortion, I can't see them being that fussed that 'Titan' isn't registered.

Or we could use evidence-based techniques to reduce the number of attacks and/or copy other countries or states that have successfully reduced the number of attacks by 80% or more.

It's widely believed that Calagary's method is the most successful, having reduced the number of dog-related injuries by over 80% since it was started. As opposed to BSL and the DDA which has seen our dog-related injuries rise by over 150% since it was implemented.

I am a dog lover and but I agree that we need far more regulations around dogs, including ownership and breeding.

Yes people will ignore regulation's etc, but just because the system wouldn't be perfect doesn't mean it's not worth doing.

I have a rescue beagle cross, and he is the gentlest dog going. However I still take precautions, as you can never be 100% what any animal will do.

The Tories are desperate to look like they're doing something about something. An outright ban on a breed that isn't a recognised breed, so difficult to prove, is just to try to get some votes. They will just be replaced with another big status dog. The XL bullies, not the Tories, unfortunately.

All dog owners should be registered and as a requirement of that they should have to have their dogs chipped, take puppy training classes and have insurance. This would cut down on irresponsible dog ownership.

I do think that's a good idea. I know this is impossible, but I'd actually also like a prison sentence for anyone who posts a picture on social media of a baby/child cuddling/sleeping on/sharing toys or food with/ dogs. Or any other so called "cute" interaction. They are all just disasters waiting to happen. For everyone involved, including the dog.

And what have they done? You post as if this "evidence-based technique" is common knowledge and I really don't think it is.

In a country where 34% of households own a dog that’s never going to happen. No MP who actually wanted to stay in the job would vote for it.

My newfoundland is so gentle. He doesn't appear to know what his teeth are for and wouldn't hurt a fly. We don't allow him off the lead when we walk him because his recall isn't brilliant and people are often nervous of him because of his size. If we had to muzzle him he would die because he doesn't cope well with heat and needs to be able to pant even in relatively mild temperatures.

Let's bite the bullet and deal with people who have large dogs to intimidate others and make themselves look big ibstead of penalising people who research dog breeds and specifically select gentle breeds.

Surely just reducing the amount of irresponsible dog owners and the number of dogs would go some way towards reducing the problems currently faced? It isn’t just the XL bully deaths it’s the dogs under no control in parks, shops, restaurants, the vast amount of dog crap lying about, the incessant barking etc all because idiots buy dogs and then can’t be arsed with the upkeep