Dangerous dogs

It is an offence to allow a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place or in a private place where it is not allowed to be.

A dog can be regarded as being dangerously out of control on any occasion where it causes fear or apprehension to a person that it may injure them. Furthermore, if that dog does injure a person then the offence is aggravated.
Legal action may be taken against the owner and/or the person in charge of the dog at the time.

In addition, the ownership of certain types of dog, (Pit Bull terrier, Japanese tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro) is prohibited.
It is also an offence to breed from, sell or exchange (even as a gift) a prohibited type of a dog.

In the UK, dangerous dogs are classified by 'type', not by breed label. This means that whether a dog is considered dangerous, and therefore prohibited, will depend on a judgment about its physical characteristics, and whether they match the description of a prohibited 'type'. This assessment of the physical characteristics is made by a court.

A dog is not necessarily dangerous simply because it may be a stray, or barking, or appearing aggressive to other dogs.
If a dog has physically attacked a person or there is reasonable cause to believe that it may do so then it is considered dangerous.

You can find more information at the Defra website.

Page last updated on 25 November 2011