What is the Dangerous Dogs Act, and how has it changed since being introduced?
In a nutshell, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 makes it illegal to own certain types of dogs and allow dogs of any type to be dangerously out of control in a public or private place. Under the act, breed types banned in the UK are the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, and the XL Bully from February 1, 2024.
The act was updated in 2014 to close a loophole that meant owners couldn’t be prosecuted if their dog bit someone on private property. This change meant an owner could now face charges even if a dog bite happens in their own home.
With the government adding XL Bully dogs to the list of banned breeds under the act, it’s vital that owners of these dogs understand what this means for them and their dog – find out more here.
What happens if you don’t follow the laws of the Dangerous Dogs Act?
Did you know, under the Dangerous Dogs Act, your dog doesn’t even have to bite someone for an offence to occur? If the dog jumps up and causes a scratch, or the person feels threatened or intimidated by the dog’s behaviour, owners could be found guilty of an offence.
Depending on the severity of the incident, the owner could receive a big fine, or even imprisonment. The consequences for the dog could be a control order, which means the dog must be muzzled and kept on a lead at all times in public places. If not, they could be seized by the authorities and, sadly, put to sleep.
How to protect visitors
Whilst lots of people love dogs, many aren’t confident or know how to behave appropriately around them – and this can lead to unwanted dog behaviour. Even owners who feel like they know their four-legged friend inside out can be surprised by their behaviour! For example, you might think your dog is good with people, then someone such as a stranger interacts with them in a way they’ve not experienced before which unnerves them. This could lead to a reaction that’s unsafe for both the person and the dog.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that bigger dogs are more likely to cause a serious injury to a person, but it’s possible for any dog to bite or harm someone. So it’s important that owners of all dogs – any size or breed – familiarise themselves with the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Door knocking
The biggest risk to visitors to your home is when they knock on your door or ring the bell. So, before opening the door, ensure your dog is either in another room or behind a safety gate. This means that your dog can’t get past you or have access to a potential stranger.
For dog owners, a pet/safety/child gate is a must-have. Separating your dog from visitors is the best way to guarantee they don’t make a mistake, and prevent visitors from accidently provoking a negative response from your dog.
Shockingly, nearly 2,000 Royal Mail postal workers were injured by dogs in 2022-2023. And this doesn’t include delivery drivers, gas or electrical engineers or anyone else whose job involves visiting homes. But it’s important to remember that dogs are naturally protective of their homes, and there could also be other reasons why they react to visitors in certain ways. So, it’s up to their humans to make sure they can’t access people going about their work.
Helping your dog cope with visitors
Our top tip is to help your dog develop a positive response to door knocks and bells ringing. If you connect these sounds to tasty treats being thrown into another room or behind a safety gate, then getting your dog away from the door and to a place of safety can become much easier!
Securing your garden for dog safety
If you have a garden, there are some things to consider to keep your dog, and others, safe.
Making sure that your dog can enjoy spending time in the garden means steps need to be put in place so they can’t escape and no one can enter without permission. We recommend:
- Making sure that your fence is high and strong enough to deter your dog from attempting to escape.
- Not leaving things such as wheelie bins up against your fence, as this could help your dog get over it.
- Fitting springs to your gate so that it can never be left open or ajar. Attaching two sliding bolts, one low down and one high up guarantees that no one can enter your garden easily.
We don’t recommend placing signs on your gate that use words such as ‘Beware’ or ‘Caution’, as this may go against you if an incident occurs and legal steps are taken.
Looking for more advice?
Keeping dogs under control helps people stay safe as well as the dogs themselves. But we know this isn’t always easy, so if you’d like more advice on how to help your dog cope with visitors to your home, please watch our free webinar. You can also explore more dog advice on our website.
