Question about "vicious" or "dangerous" dog breed laws?

Question

Would a dog that's mixed be included in these laws? For example, if someone had a dog that was like 60% Old English Bulldog and had like 10% pitbull in it would this dog be included in these "vicious" dog laws?

Personally I think the law is senseless, these dogs are not any more vicious, it's alla bout how people treat and socialize their dogs. Rotweillers, Can Corsos, German Shepards, Dobermans, none of these dogs are included in these laws and I would argue a Rotweiller could cause much more harm than a pitbull because of it's size. Just wondering if these laws would apply to a dog who had a small % of pitbull in him?

Answer 1

It doesn't matter if there mixed or purebred, to be included in the law they just have to look like one.

These laws are ridiculous and very discriminating.

Punish the deed not the breed.

Answer 2

This depends on the individual law, utterly.

I do agree that other dog breeds can easily be as aggressive or damaging as pit bulls, indeed breeds that we don't even consider stereotypically aggressive. I have also seen pit bulls that were quite nice. Whether or not they should be outlawed is a matter of opinion.

The best thing, in my opinion, to be done is to temperament test all animals moving through shelters, and focus our efforts on those animals which are wonderful pet dogs... regardless of breed.

However, socialization and how people treat their animals is not the entire picture of an individual dog's behavior. Indeed, an aggressive dog and an undersocialized dog, although there can be some overlap in behaviors since you can have both, display radically different behavior patterns.

The problem is that our spay and neuter message, at least in the United States, particularly in urban areas, has reached most families and thus their family pets as well. We're sterilizing the kinds of dogs that we want as pets, and the dogs left reproducing are unsuccessful pets or fighting stock. Although rural areas of the South and Midwest are not as affected, it's beginning to occur there more. There's simply more aggression than even ten years ago. But this is really all quite divergent from the question, so I'll stop.

Answer 3

It depends on where you are. As mentioned before, in Ontario any dog that animal services thinks looks like a dog that is considered a banned breed can fall into this category. It's a gray area and the law makes it very too easy for all sorts of dogs to fall into this category. Also, they state it is up to the owner of the dog to prove otherwise. Best to check your local laws. Be sure to read the entire thing too, a dog my not be banned per say, but you must muzzle and spay/neuter, always on a leash etc. Call your local animal services for guidance.

I also agree the law is senseless...."ban the deed, not the breed" I recently read a story about a lady who was mauled by poodles when she was young. Any dog is capable of being vicious if the circumstances are right, even if it well socialized etc. I would like to see money spent on educating dog owners and investigating irresponsible dog owners than hunting down dogs that look like pits and make stupid laws like this.

Answer 4

In the UK, a mixed breed is not included in the Dangerous Dog Act, only pure breeds. Whilst I don't think this is confusing, it does allow people to claim that their banned, pure breed dog is a cross and so should not be put down.
Whilst i agree that handling and training are a major factor in the way dogs act, there is little you can do about natural instinct (for example going for other dogs because it is in their nature to exert their dominance through fighting).
I am surprised that Rottweilers & Dobermans are banned in some US states. It really is amazing how laws differ from country to country!

Answer 5

The dogs you mentioned often are included in the laws. In my state, Rottweilers and Dobies are both on "the list". In answer to your question, if the dog looks like a breed on the list, it can be treated as one. If a dog only has 10% pitbull, it may not look much like one, so will not be included under the laws. However if you have a dog that looks like a Doberman, you'll need to be able to prove that its parentage is Dachsund/Chihuahua cross (j/k) in order to have it not treated as though it IS a Dobie.

Answer 6

It really is society that has branded them as vicious dogs and not to be trusted. Some of the dogs on list do come from fighting ancestors which enable them to always be on alert and more aggressive. Pitbulls are seen as most dangerous becuz stories people fabricate and their demeanor. My dog and i were attacked by a pitbull and although i was a little hesitant around them, i realized taht the attack would not of occured if the dog was being handled by an experience dog owner.

Answer 7

That a very wide open question. Laws vary state to state and country to country. I would think the preponderance of breed would go on what the animal looks and behaves like.

Any dog can be vicious--I was cornered by an inbred Basenji dog once. I will never again not fear that breed but then, I don't think they should all be euthanized.

Answer 8

You bet they would.

In Ontario, if an Animal Control officer THINKS it looks like a pitbull, they can confiscate it.

They recently tried to confiscate a Labrador Retriever. Only the fact that the dog was Canadian Kennel Club registered (and the owners actually had the certificate) saved this dog's life.

Answer 9

Yep, in the UK it also comes down to what they look like. They'll be on the lookout for a 'Pitbull Type'. You could in theory have a dog that's got absolutely no pitbull in it but would fall under the UK Dangerous Dog Act if it looked like the type.

Answer 10

Well in my state all the dogs you mentioned are on "the list". I think if the dog looks like , lets say a lab, but has "pit" in it, you would not need to even say anything about it. I'm not saying lie, but if it looks like a lab or whatever say that is what it is.