Dangerous Dogs Act: What you need to know

The Dangerous Dogs Act was introduced in 1991 with the aim of reducing dog attacks and promoting public safety. It made it an offence to own a dog which is “dangerously out of control”, and also banned certain types of dogs in the UK.

Here we look at which dogs are banned, what the penalties are, and how to avoid falling foul of the act. We also address some of the controversial aspects of the law.

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What is the Dangerous Dogs Act?

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 was introduced in response to a rise in serious and fatal dog attacks. It targets specific breeds considered dangerous, imposing strict regulations on their ownership.

When the act was initially passed, four types of dog were prohibited outright. And to begin with, any of these banned dog types would be subject to a mandatory destruction order. This meant they could be put down even if they hadn’t displayed signs of aggression.

The law was amended in 1997 to create an Index of Exempted Dogs (IED). This exempts individual dogs from a mandatory destruction order on passing a court behavioural assessment. More on this in a moment.

The act also made it illegal to allow your dog to be “dangerously out of control” in a public space. This applies to any dog breed.

It was updated in 2014 to include private properties, such as the owner’s home and garden. This was to offer greater protection to people such as postal workers, delivery people and house guests.

A dog will be considered “dangerously out of control” if they injure a person or animal. They can also qualify if a person is worried the dog might attack them.

Plus if a dog attacks an assistance dog – ie a guide dog – this will be viewed as an aggravated offence. As such, the penalties will be more severe.

What dogs are banned by the Dangerous Dogs Act?

This is the list of dogs on the Dangerous Dogs Act UK:

• Pit Bull Terrier
• Japanese Tosa
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• American XL Bully (added 2023)

It’s illegal to own, breed, sell or abandon these dogs, unless they’re registered under the Index of Exempted Dogs. To qualify for exemption, the dog must be neutered, microchipped and insured with third-party liability cover. In addition, the owner must demonstrate responsible handling.

The Dangerous Dogs Act is sometimes referred to as ‘breed-specific legislation’ (BSL). But the lines are more blurry than that, as the act bans ‘types’ of dog, not breeds. If a dog shares physical characteristics with one of the five banned breeds, there’s a risk it could be considered illegal.

This means that a dog’s legal status can be based purely on its looks. Other factors such as the dog’s actual breed, the breed of its parents and DNA testing won’t be considered. 

Unsurprisingly, this has made the law unpopular among many dog lovers and behaviourists. It essentially means a dog risks being destroyed due to how they look, even if they’ve never exhibited any aggressive behaviours.

What is the Index of Exempted Dogs?

As mentioned, individual dogs can be exempted from the blanket ban by being added to the IED, a national record of dogs granted an exemption by the court. If a banned dog is reported, the owner can appeal for a Certificate of Exemption. If the court grants this based on its behaviour, they’re added to the list, and the certificate is valid for the dog’s lifetime.

This means the owner can keep the dog, provided certain conditions are met:

• The owner must be aged 16 or over
• The dog must be neutered
• The dog must be microchipped
• The dog must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public
• The dog must be housed in a secure space it cannot escape from
• The owner must have pet insurance which covers third-party liability

The owner must inform the IED as soon as possible if they change address, or if the dog dies. Also, if required by the police or a dog warden, the owner must produce the Certificate of Exemption within five days.

What are the penalties for breaking the Dangerous Dogs Act?

Owning a dangerous dog breed can land you with a prison sentence, and you can also be banned from keeping dogs. Likewise if your dog attacks someone.

You can also be fined if your dog injures a person or another animal, potentially having to pay further compensation and costs.

The maximum penalties are currently:

• If your dog injures someone: 5 years in prison
• If your dog injures an assistance dog: 3 years in prison
• If your dog causes someone’s death: 14 years in prison

The police have the power to seize a dog which injures a person. It’s likely that the dog will be put down, unless the owner can persuade the court that their dog’s not a danger.

Is the Dangerous Dog Act fair?

Public safety is important. But despite the act’s intentions, it’s faced sustained criticism from dog behaviourists, welfare groups and veterinary professionals – including The Kennel Club – many of whom consider it to be a blunt instrument with real-life consequences.

It’s arguable that breed-specific legislation (BSL) unfairly discriminates against specific breeds, rather than addressing poor ownership and irresponsible breeding. In 2022, a major study conducted by Middlesex University suggested that breed alone is not an accurate predictor of aggression.

More than this, as dogs are often identified by characteristics rather than purely by breed, this causes issues of misidentification. Some dogs have been seized and euthanised based on appearance alone, leading to wrongful classification and distress for responsible owners.

Plus the act arguably doesn’t focus on owner responsibility. Arguments for reform promote the following:

• Greater owner accountability: Rather than banning specific breeds, stricter measures should be implemented for irresponsible dog ownership, such as mandatory training courses. The study by Middlesex University suggested that these courses could be similar to speed awareness courses.
• Public education and awareness: It’s argued that greater emphasis on education regarding dog behaviour, socialisation and responsible pet ownership could help prevent attacks and reduce incidents.

See also:

• Dog behaviour guides and advice
• What to do if a dog is showing aggressive behaviour towards humans
• Aggression in dogs towards other dogs