08:42 EST 29 May 2023 , updated 16:40 EST 15 Sep 2023

•  Here is all you need to know about dangerous and illegal dog breeds in the UK

Despite dogs being considered as loyal and loving canine companions by many, 10 people were killed by dogs in the UK in 2022, with another four deaths already so far in 2023.

In an attempt to prevent civilian deaths from attacks by dangerous dogs, the Dangerous Dogs Act was introduced in 1991 with the aim of preventing serious dog attacks but in the decades since, but serious and sometimes fatal incidents have continued to occur in the UK. 

But which dogs are actually banned in the UK? What steps can you take to control your banned dog in public? 

Read on below for everything you need to know about the law when it comes to owning dangerous dogs in the UK. 

What is the Dangerous Dogs Act?

Made law in 1991, the Dangerous Dog Act bans owning, breeding, selling, giving away, or abandoning four dog breeds, as well as banning any dog which is dangerously out of control.

After a string of attacks Kenneth Baker, Home Secretary in 1991, said that the Act aimed 'to rid the country of the menace of these fighting dogs'.

However, owners of banned breeds can get an exemption from the ban if they prove they are sufficiently well behaved.

Which breeds are banned by the Dangerous Dogs Act?

This legislation makes four breeds of dog originally bred for fighting illegal in the UK.

These are: American Pitbull terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos, and Fila Brazileiro.

Crossbreeds of those four are also prohibited, depending on a judgement of their physical characteristics  and how well they match a 'typical' description.

American Pitbull terriers

These are the dogs most commonly involved in fatal dog attacks in the UK, and were originally bred for sport, where groups of them would be pitted against larger animals.

Despite that sport being outlawed in 1835, they were then bred to fight each other, and the breed developed an aggressive reputation.

According to Purina, this perception is argued by some to be unfairly down to unethical breeding rather than the dogs' nature. 

Japanese Tosas

The Japanese Tosa is still bred to take part in dogfighting in Japan, but is illegal in the UK and many other countries.

This breed is supposed to be able to fight in complete silence, in line with Japanese dogfighting rules. 

Dogos Argentinos

The Dogo Argentino was originally bred for big-game hunting, and its bravery and protective instincts.

Its intimidating and domineering tendencies have also contributed to it being banned in the UK and elsewhere. 

Fila Brasileiro 

More commonly known as the Brazilian Mastiff, the Fila Brasileiro is commended by those in its native Brazil for its loyalty.

However, this breed is also known to often be aggressive with its intuitions to hunt and protect easily being to their detriment when brought up badly.

What to do if you have a banned breed 

If you have a well-behaved puppy which you believe to be a banned breed, you can approach the police's Status Dogs Unit for a certificate of exemption for life, on the condition that the dog is microchipped, neutered, and kept muzzled and on a leash in public spaces. 

Otherwise, if someone owns one of the dog breeds explicitly banned by the Dangerous Dog Act, the police or council are entitled to take it away irrespective of behaviour.

A warrant is needed to take a dangerous dog from someone's private property, but not in a public place.

The dog is either released, or held in kennels, before a court hearing at which the owner must prove that the dog is not a banned breed.

How to control your banned dog in public

The UK Government warns that it is against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere, such as in a public place, a private place, for example, a neighbour’s house or garden and in the owner's home. 

The law applies to all dogs, regardless of whether or not they are registered as a banned breed.

Your dog is considered to be out of control if it injures someone or makes someone worried that they may be injured by it. 

A court could also decide that your dog is dangerously out of control if it attacks someone’s animal or if the owner of an animal thinks they could be injured if they tried to stop your dog attacking their animal. 

You can report a dog that’s out of control to your local council's dog warden service or your local police force.

What is the penalty for having a banned dog?

Sometimes the dog is a banned breed, but the court rules it to not be a danger to society. 

In this case the dog is put on the Index of Exempted Dogs and the same rules as above must be followed.

In addition to those, the owner must be at least 16 years old, take out insurance against the god injuring others, show the exemption certificate when asked by a police officer, and keep the Index of Exempt Dogs aware if you change address.

If the dog is deemed to be dangerous, the owner can receive up to six months in jail, or an unlimited fine, as well as the dog being killed.