Banning specific breeds doesn't really work in the long term, as the people who want a big aggressive dog will just move on to the next big breed that isn't on the banned list (this is exactly why the Bully XL grew to be so popular). And the law moves very slowly. It also hurts the few people that train and restrain their dog appropriately.It's worth reading about the existing rules here: https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public/banned-dogsThe problem isn't as simple as specific breeds per se, but some breeds are certainly more aggressive and capable of doing far more harm than others.I don't worry about a 5kg Chihuahua, but even fit/strong adults have got next to zero chance against a 50kg Bully XL if it decides it wants to fight hard.You're average run of the mill thick as a box of stones family Labrador or Golden Retriever is generally fine. It'll still terrify the hell out of someone who's terrified of dogs (even if someone shouts "It's ok, he's just being friendly!" from 60 yards away) or has been attacked by a dog before, but it's unlikely to kill someone.Given that any dog can bite there has to be some form of determining factor.I can see the Government bringing in some requirements for dogs of a certain size. Weight is the most obvious factor and one that's available for anyone with a set of scales.Over a specific weight (no idea, maybe 30kg+) and you need to:* have gone on a specific training course for handling "large" dogs - if you weigh 45kg yourself you are not going to be able to restrain your own 30kg dog* dog microchipped* have insurance* accept that if your dog attacks someone or another animal, you'll be liable for a much heavier punishment than if you had a smaller dog* specific breeds need to be muzzled in public (already part of the Dangerous Dogs Act)* specific breeds may still need to be outright banned as they are now (although the DDA does provide some exceptions)* actually have some enforcementAny responsible dog owner isn't going to argue that much about the above. The extra cost is going to be dwarfed by the typical vet and food bills anyway (especially for a dog >30kg).It would all need to be phased in slowly to give people time to comply, so short term additions to the list of banned breeds in the DDA is the most likely stopgap.
John Kettlekey ● 640d