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'd prefer to take on a chihuahua attacking my dc as opposed to bully breed!

I'd be more scared of an aggressive chihuahua than a newfoundland.

A prison sentence 🤣🤣🤣

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

this is true, the amount of shit on pavements now!!!

My first thought was "erm, poor Bernese!". @GolgafrinchamB

Licenece, mandatory training attendance. Where I grew up we made it very clear what we thought of people who didn't train their dogs. Everyone i know went to training ground.

My brother nearly lost part of an ear to a Jack Russell when he was a kid.

A Newfound is a mountain of gentleness. (And drool and shedding hair)

@Stroopwaffels The government has known about it since it was highlighted in the report they asked EFRA to create a report re the effectiveness of the DDA.

I suspect it won't get the Tories as many votes as banning an unquantifiable mixed breed will though as it's based on common sense and scientific evidence around dog behaviour and not knee-jerk hysteria.

Bylaws related to dogs (calgary.ca)

https://redstarcafe.wordpress.com/2010/08/25/the-calgary-model/

if a primary school aged kid couldn’t defeat it in a fight, ban it.

Personally, I would make owners face criminal charges directly proportionate to the actions of their dog(s). Your dog shits in a public place and you don't immediately clear it up then you personally get charged as if you had taken a shit yourself. Your dog snarls/barks aggressively at someone in a manner that would put a reasonable person in a state of fear then you get charged as if you had been acting in a threatening and aggressive manner yourself. Your dog bites someone then you get charged with assault/gbh etc. Your dog kills someone then you get charged with manslaughter/murder/unlawful killing. Such an approach would negate all this painful jumping through hoops as to the definition of a breed and puts the responsibility and consequences firmly where they should be, with the owner.

My last service dog was nearly killed by two Newfoundland dogs. Two weeks in a veterinary hospital and he was never able to work again.

I don't like the so- called "status dogs" but whatever the breed it's the owners that are the problem. Banning dogs doesn't solve the problem and neither does registers. The irresponsible owners just move on to the next one, and the responsible ones will be the only ones on the register.

A child near me was permanently disfigured by a Jack Russell. Lost sight in one eye. Out with her mum and dad and sibling in a park, disabled mum who couldn’t easily fend off the dog, dad had taken sibling to toilet.

Its not hard to muzzle train a dog, but small dog owners always think they’re above big dog owners. At the end of the day you own an unpredictable animal that can cause harm, do something to protect others.

You're really dumb if you think a 6lb Yorkshire terrier can do the same damage as an XL Bully. Grown men have been killed by these beasts and a little nip from a Yorkie is not the same. It's literally a Pit Bull mix. I think any 'staffy mix' that's above a certain weight and height should be destroyed. That would prevent people from registering their XL Bully as a staffy mix.

No fan of large aggressive breeds but the only time my family members have been bitten was by a cocker spaniel (who'd been badly socialised as a pup due to family trauma), and random terrier cross.

So I don't think ehem that size always matters

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.
basket muzzles don’t prevent panting.

Everyone’s dog wouldn’t hurt a fly, doesn’t know what teeth are for etc etc until they’re the ones mauling someone
.

@JohnFinlaysNewTeeth aahh but they won’t because Joe Public is just meant to sit back and put up with other idiots choices whether it affects other people or not

I think owning a dog that you can’t overpower very quickly, should you need to, is major issue.

So many stupid statements in this thread, might as well add another I guess!

Any adult dog could win in a fair fight with a primary school age child.

I am not dumb how unnecessarily rude and i did not say that little dogs would do the same damage, i said they can savage ie bite people or dogs regardless of the damage i don't think it acceptable to ‘ get a little nip’ from any dog large or small, muzzle them all and use leads

So I don't think ehem that size always matters

jaw strength matters, I've been bitten by a cocker spaniel. I wouldn't like to be bitten by a bully breed.

Of course there are irresponsible owners of all dogs.

https://x.com/monitoringbias/status/1701246216007463230?s=46&t=TMUOZCqGbx3Pv9MjeQqrig

I have a soft lab x that I'd happily muzzle in public if he was over the weight He is currently 25kg.

I would do this as I am also sick of the deaths and injuries being caused presently even though my own dog isn't the issue.

A lady was killed by a Jack Russell a few years ago, banning dogs on size won’t work.

i said they can savage ie bite people or dogs regardless of the damage

You do know savage doesn't just mean bite?! You do understand that a savage dog attack doesn't equal a "little nip". 😆

Banning dogs doesn't solve the problem and neither does registers. The irresponsible owners just move on to the next one, and the responsible ones will be the only ones on the register

accepting that an action isn’t a complete solution isn’t a reason not to do it.

Registers, specifically, are a way of differentiating responsible owners from those who are not. It’s another black mark against someone found with a dog that’s either dangerous or in some way being mistreated. It’s enables another possible legal avenue to pursue them over. I’d support it.

Yes me too but I still don't want to be bitten by any dog regardless of size.