Legally obliged to muzzle the dog?

[isupposeitsverynice]

My dad has just told me on the phone that all "dangerous breed" dogs should be wearing muzzles in public because it's the law. He reckons dogs such as my gsd pup and Rottweilers are included in this designation (conveniently forgetting his own rottie/shepherd cross who never saw a muzzle in her life). I've googled but can't find anything. Is he talking out of his arse? He usually does. Surely my vet or dog trainer would've told me this, if it was true?

Talking out his arse.

He is indeed talking rubbish.

He is talking about the Dangerous Dogs Act, which allows for dogs which are one of the banned breeds to be kept, so long as they haven't harmed anyone, if they are always muzzled in public and kept on a short lead, and there are other requirements about insurance, I think.

But certainly it doesn't apply to gsds or rotties etc.

No law of the sort www.fordogtrainers.co.uk/index.php?main_page=page&id=52

Yep talking out his arse

The only dogs who HAVE to be muzzled by law, are legal dangerous dogs (so pit bulls with a license) or a dog who the police have warned the owner it must be muzzled or risk being taken away

It depends where you live Southern Ireland have restrictions on GSD, Rott, Ridgeback etc. They must be muzzled and leashed in public I think. Scotland are trying to put this in place now. It is only a matter of time before this is commonplace. Lots of States in the US ban some of these breeds altogether. I wholeheartedly agree even after owning a GSD. I am fed up of going on walks where people are not in control of powerful dogs. You shouldn't let GSD etc run up to other walkers unless there are happy to have a 25lb + dog snarling around their feet!

Nope, he's wrong. Unless you live in the Republic of Ireland where this has been the law for some time.

this link provides a good summary of which breeds are banned/restricted by country. The US data is unfortunately not broken down by state/county, so while, for example, wolf hybrids are banned in some places, they are not in others.

Smashing thanks. I will call him later and tell him he's a knob misinformed

Floatingfrog - ANY dog can be dangerous. Most dogs that I get come up to me and my pup are small little dogs who are usually quite snappy

If your gsd wasn't very friendly then that's your fault - my gsd is amazing with other dogs and people due to me socialising her from day 1 that I got her.

Eh? Clutching at straws their Sparkling. I am looking at bite statistics from dogs with powerful jaws. A small dog may be more agressive but I wrecken I could kick it off.

I have to say that it is women( this won't go down well I know) - and I am a women, are the most irresponsible when it comes to large breed dogs on walks. Men in general do acknowledge the risk and keep their dogs under strict control. Your dog may be friendly but another dog could set it off. It is quite naive tbh what you have just said and I would say you are incapable of looking after a GSD if that is your opinion.

Would you break up a dog fight? Are you capable even? It is easy for small children to get caught up im dog fights and you have to be pretty strong, experienced and OK about getting a nasty bite yourself.

It will happen, large breed dog with powerful jaws will require restriction - it is just a matter of when. As I said it looks likely in Scotland.

I await the onslaught...

There are some European Countries where certain breeds (like Stuffies) are actually banned & and others (like Rotties) have to wear a muzzle when out in public.
It's worth looking into if you decide to take your dog on an European road trip ...

Sparking I'm sorry but what a load of crap. I've got a GSD who's nervous aggressive that's had all the socialisation in the world, it's my job to train dogs, and he's still terrified of life to the point he is aggressive. Some dogs are genetically predisposed to being nervous and therefore more likely to show nervous aggressive tendencies.

I own two of them and I agree nobody should let any dog run up to anyone regardless of breed.

In response to the OP- yes he is talking rubbish

^ This with bells on!

ANY dog has that capability though. Obviously if it's a small dog then it's a hell of a lot easier to get off.

And frog - another dog has tried to fight mine. Did it turn her aggressive? Fearful? No. If it did then I'd get extra training in to help change that before it became an even bigger problem!

And I also disagree about women being less responsible. Where are your facts from? Maybe you've come across a few irresponsible female dog owners but that doesn't mean in general they're not as good as male owners

I know of MANY dogs with aggression issues. I work with these dogs - most of the owners are male.

I agree that regardless of breed you shouldn't allow your dog to just approach. I never do, I check beforehand. However I come across, and work with more aggressive small/medium sized dogs than I do large ones such as German shepherds.

Everyone claims that staffys, German shepherd, bully dogs are the worst for biting and aggression. When in actual fact we have far more aggressive labradors come to our practice. Shall I start declaring Labradors be muzzled because of this? No...

My facts are from walking dogs for the last 20 years. Your opinion is worrying. A dog can snap at any time through an illness that you are unaware of or just a clash of dog personalities. To say your dog is 100% never going to snap is ludicrous just because you have trained it!

But you agree that you shouldn't let your dog run up to others unless asked, so you are responsible anyway.

The bite from an GSD and Labrador are not comparable.

But yes I do agree agressive Labradors are a problem too. And yes they are powerful especially when mixed with other breeds.