Guide to dangerous dog breeds and exemptions

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dangerous dog breeds

Below is a list of dangerous dog breeds and I have included worldwide information, particularly UK and America.

The British law states:the dogs listed below are illegal; they are officially banned. It is an offense to own or keep any of these types of dogs.

The U.S. law states: dogs that have the physical characteristics of these breeds, or are partly bred from these breeds are banned or have severe restrictions, could mean you need to hold a Certificate of Exemption.

If you own a certificate of exemption, then your dog is required to be muzzled while in public areas. The owner or the person walking the dog must be at least 16 years old.

The dog must be micro-chipped, tattooed on the inside of the thigh; he must be castrated or spayed, and have insurance. Insurance can be difficult to obtain for a dog that has a certificate of exemption.

Failure to act in accordance with these regulations can lead the owner in prison, the dog euthanatized and/or a fine of £2000 approximately.

Dangerous dog breeds in America

No dog breed is banned in the whole of America; however, there are quite a lot of dangerous dog breeds in various States of America. Each State in America chooses its own laws, exemptions and regulations; therefore, whilst one State can have dangerous dog breeds, the next State could overrule that ban.

You should check with your local authority before buying any dog in America, there are many other dogs that have succumbed to different rules and regulations.

Dangerous dog breeds in UK

  • Dogo Argentino
  • Fila Brasileiro
  • Japanese Tosa
  • Pit Bull Terrier

These dogs in England are banned by TYPE. If you think, you may have been sold a prohibited dog, it would be wise to contact the police.

Other breeds considered dangerous

dangerous dog breeds

A Purebred Czechoslovakian Wolfdog

In line with the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and its amendments you may have difficulty obtaining insurance for the following breeds and including the banned dog breeds above, regardless of the country you live in.

  • Any dogs used for trade or business
  • American Bandog/Bandogge Mastif
  • American Pit Bull Terriers
  • American Staffordshire Bull Terriers
  • Argentine Dogos
  • Canary Dogs
  • Cane Corsos
  • Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs
  • Dogue Brasileros
  • Irish Staffordshire Bull Terriers
  • Korean Jindos
  • Northern Inuit Dogs
  • Perro De Pressa Canarios
  • Pit Bull Mastiff
  • Presa Canarios
  • Racing Greyhounds
  • Saarloos Wolfhounds
  • Shar Peis
  • Tosa Inus
  • Utonagan
  • Wolf Hybrids

What behaviour is considered dangerous?

  • If you consider your dog to be dangerous, or even out of hand, then your dog is best muzzled to avoid injury to other dog breeds and innocent humans.
  • If your dog becomes over excited at seeing the postman, it is best that you buy an exterior mail box. This will avoid your dear postman’s fingers being bitten off to avoid having a lawsuit filed against you.
  • If your dog jumps up and bites you or your clothing, then your dog will behave this way in public. These dogs are best muzzled until they have been fully trained.
  • If it is possible that your dog could be dangerously out of control in public areas, then your dog is best muzzled. It should be worn at least until they have been fully trained.

Whilst it is true that if a ‘so called’ dangerous dog breeds has been trained, and has been socialized from a puppy, it shouldn’t become an aggressive dog as it matures. However, even if your dog is outstandingly brilliant, and is the greatest dog ever, you should still carry a Certificate of Exemption to avoid lawsuits against you.

Dangerous dog breeds and knowing your job as an owner

Some dog owners are clueless about how to train a dog, sometimes it’s not the dog, but the owner who needs educating and training. Become the best dog owner in your area by joining a dog obedience class; contact a qualified, reputable dog trainer.

  • There are approximately eight million dogs in the UK, in American it levels out to 1 million per State; therefore, it is obvious the UK is extremely over populated with dogs.
  • In England in 2008/09, over 5,000 humans were hospitalized because of being bitten by a dog. This excludes minor injuries and accidents.
  • In 2009, dogs that attacked humans in the UK cost the NHS £3.3 million.
  • It is estimated that 6,000 postmen are attacked by dogs each year in the UK.

If you are thinking about buying a dog, be very scrupulous where you buy your companion. There are some extremely indiscriminate dog breeders out there who have carelessly over bred. These dogs can become unstable, temperamental and unhealthy. Often, you won’t realize there’s a problem until you’re home or had the dog for a few weeks.

Find a companion the right way – click here to see a book about Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds which has been written by D. Caroline Coile Ph.D. This is a real published book that’s currently #1 on a best-seller list at Amazon.

1 Comment

  • Wow, Sharon, being a dog love and owner myself, I had no idea there were laws in the US regarding to dangerous dog breeds. They are definitely needed. I spent over an hour reading all the interesting articles here like, How to train a dog. If you have a passion and love for animals then raising and training them comes easy. If you don’t you shouldn’t own pets because they can be hard work. I really enjoyed visiting your site and I have bookmarked it to check back on new articles.

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