Banned Dogs In The UK

Owning a dog is an enormous responsibility.  The responsibility is not only caring for your dog, but also training him to act appropriately in public, and following your country’s rules.  If you’re already part of the UK dog community, or you are thinking of joining it, be sure you know what the rules are.

Any dog can be dangerous if not trained correctly, but the UK has banned the ownership of certain breeds they have deemed too dangerous for the public.  Some of the breeds banned include the Pit Bull Terrier, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino, and the Fila Brazilero.  A banned breed is actually more of a type of dog, rather than the breed.  The United Kingdom has made it illegal to purchase these dogs, breed them, sell them or even give them away.

If you’re taking the chance of owning a banned dog in the UK, you should know what the penalties are and you may think twice about it.  A banned dog can be seized by police even if it is not acting dangerously.  They can also take the dog even if there hasn’t been a complaint about them.  Once your dog is seized, there are two possibilities of what can happen: the dog will either be released, or it can be held in kennels until a court date.

If your dog is seized and you decide to go to court over it, there are several different scenarios of what may happen.  If you are found guilty of possessing a banned type of dog, the maximum penalty for you is £5,000 and/or six months in jail.  The court can also order that your dog should be destroyed or they can grant an exemption.  If you can prove that your banned type of dog is not in any way a danger to the public, it can be put in the Index of Exempted Dogs.  If you can prove that your dog is not a banned type of dog, it will be returned to you.

If the court decides that your dog can be added to the IED, you will have many conditions that you must follow at all times.  Your dog will have to be neuter/spayed, tattooed and microchipped.  You will also have to have it on a leash and muzzled when in public and no one under the age of 16 can be in charge of the dog.  The most expensive part of having your dog on the IED is that you will have to take insurance out on your dog.

If you’re living in the UK dog community, be sure you know what type of dog you own, or are thinking of owning.  Many types are banned, and there could be severe consequences for owning a banned type.