Which dog is banned in UK?
British law determines four certain types of dogs as dangerous and therefore makes it illegal to own, breed, sell or give away. These are a Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro.
Is a pitbull cross illegal in UK?
There is no definitive breed standard for the Pitbull and our Legislation makes it an offence to keep a Pitbull, a Pitbull cross and even a Pitbull type.
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world
The government’s dangerous dogs strategy is “riddled with inconsistencies”, and results in the unnecessary death of safe dogs while the overall number of deaths and injuries from canine attacks has risen, MPs have said.
Hundreds of harmless dogs from banned breeds are put down every year, while most serious incidents involve dogs that are not banned, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) Committee said, calling for a full review.
Hospital admissions for dog attacks have increased by 81 per cent since 2005 and an “unacceptably high” number of victims suffer life-changing injuries, the committee’s report said.
Under the existing guidelines, banned dogs are not allowed to be rehomed, even if they are good-natured, a state of affairs committee chairman Neil Parish described as “cruel and illogical”.
The report recommends the ban on rehoming animals deemed to be safe should be lifted immediately.
The breeds of dog currently illegal in the UK are the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and the Fila Brasileiro.
But crossbreeds including any of those types of dog may also be subject to the law, depending on their size and characteristics.
The Efra committee said an independent review should be launched into the reasons for dog attacks and aggression, and it should examine whether banned breeds pose an inherently greater threat.
If such a review found they did not, then the law should be changed, they said.
The report also recommends the government undertake a comprehensive review of the laws and policy on dangerous dogs, and support an alternative model focusing on prevention of attacks through education, early intervention and robust sanctions.
Mandatory training and education courses should also be introduced for minor dog offences, similar to speed awareness courses for drivers, the committee said.
It recommended a new “dog control act” be introduced to consolidate the existing patchwork of legislation, with dedicated dog control notices to allow for early intervention in incidents.✕Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events
Mr Parish said: “The government’s current strategy for tackling dangerous dogs is well-intentioned but misguided.
“Existing laws and the breed ban have not stemmed the rising tide of injuries and deaths from dog attacks.
“Children and adults are suffering horrific injuries, many of them avoidable. This is unacceptable.
“The public must be properly protected, and we are therefore calling for a full-scale review of existing dog control strategies.”
He said the Dangerous Dogs Act was “riddled with inconsistencies, harms animal welfare unnecessarily, and offers false reassurances to policymakers and the general public”.
“All dogs can be dangerous, and we can’t ban all dogs that might one day bite someone.
“Evidence from across the world shows that the government should focus instead on encouraging responsible ownership, improving education and ensuring offenders face robust penalties.”
A spokeswoman for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home welcomed the report and its call for charities to be allowed to rehome banned breeds if the dog passes a strict behavioural assessment.
“Rescue centres across the UK are currently not allowed to rehome any dog found by the police to be a banned breed type and are forced to put them to sleep, even though many could have gone on to be lovely pets.
“For years, Battersea and other rescue centres who deal with the consequences of this failed legislation first-hand have been calling for it to be changed and we’re very pleased that the Efra Committee has listened to us.”
5 Things You Know If You Own A Pit Bull
There are four breeds of dogs it is illegal to own in the UK. It is also the law to sell a banned dog, abandon a banned dog, give away a banned dog, or breed from a banned dog.
Below, we look at the four banned dogs in the UK. We also look at some of the laws surrounding the animals.
Pit Bull Terriers were banned in 1991 following a series of incidents involving this breed. There were 15 fatal attacks in England and Wales from 1981 to 1991.
Pit Bulls were bred for fighting and had been used in blood sports such as bear and bull baiting. There were also used in dog fighting.
Japanese Tosa have a very high pain tolerance due to their fighting origins in Asia. Tosas were often referred to as the Sumo wrestler of the dog world.
Dog-fighting rules in the last century in Japan demanded that dogs fight silently, without cowering, and the Tosa fought by these rules—relentlessly and silently, Dog Breed Info reports.
The Dogo Argentino is a pack-hunting dog, the American Kennel Club says. It was bred for the pursuit of big game including wild boar and puma. It “possesses the strength, intelligence and quick responsiveness of a serious athlete”.
As well as being banned in the UK, there are restrictions on ownership in other countries including Australia, New Zealand, Iceland and Norway.
This breed was developed in Brazil as a large game hunting dog and is also know as the Brazilian Mastif. DogTime.com says: “This massive dog probably isn’t the best choice for novice pet parents or people who live in apartments, as the Fila Brasileiro needs firm, experienced training and a lot of space to run around.