Dangerous dogs -to what extent should owners be educated before being allowed to purchase dogs?

I firmly believe that obtaining a dog is far to easy and the laws should be tightened up and a licence needed before anyone is allowed to own a dog.

Any uneducated and inexperienced person can just go and buy ANY breed of dog and do as they like with it. Dogs suffer needlessly because of this.

The laws regarding the breeding of dogs should be tightened right up and if laws are broken a hefty fine should be the penalty.

Underground dog breeders and dealers should then be fined, and banned from keeping dogs and possibly Jailed.

People with children under 12 should not be allowed to buy large Guarding breeds of dogs or Pit Bull, and mastiff type dogs, and other Bully breeds.

Anyone wanting to own a dog should take a written test on their ability to care for and train the dog, and pay for dog training lessons if they need to. That is my take on how I would like the law to be.

BUT PIGS MIGHT FLY....and in reality, things will only get worse as more and more dodgy breeders as allowed to ply their dodgy trade and more and more people buy dogs on a whim. Jmo.

Mmmm, apologies for the rant, I got a bit carried away.

Well, everyone should do research before buying a dog, but a dangerous dog is a whole other topic. A dangerous dog is usually deemed dangerous by law because it has injured a person or worse, and then it's most likely to be euthanized. As far as I can see, the owner must take responsibility for the dog they decide to purchase as a dog is considered property. I know it might seem odd, but by law it would be the same thing as buying a pair of jeans or a new car. There is no laws on what *type* of dog a person can purchase and there are no *classes* that are required in order for someone to purchase a dog. A future dog owner has to educate themselves, but unfortunately, many don't do that. With that said, some places have bans on certain breeds or have restrictions on the size and/or weight of a dog they can own, say if a person lives in an apartment that allows dogs but has such restrictions. Also, what about people who breed dogs that don't have a clue or care about what they breed or who they sell to? Again, there's no such thing as the breeding police as there aren't any laws about what type of dog a person can buy. BTW, what is YOUR definition of a dangerous dog? Do you personally have list of your own of breeds that you deem to be dangerous? If you do, I'd like to hear what breeds your list includes, just out of curiosity.

Like Julie D, I think people should educate themselves about dogs in general and learn all they can about their chosen breed.

JoJo as for "requirements" for someone to buy a dog, I have to respectfully disagree. I think laws should be enforced on animal abuse, but in my opinion, that should be all the government intervention needed. Again in my opinion, the government should not be allowed to tell me what kind of dog I can have or what age my children should be before I can get the breed that I want. That should be my decision and my responsibility to insure that my children are safe. I raised my son in a home with Akitas, which many consider a "dangerous" breed. I still have a Akita and my grandchildren, while under supervision, play with my Akita and my Akita adores them.

If the government can control what pets we have, then why would they not then be able to determine how many children we could have, or how much money we must earn before we have children, or even how many children we could have?

It is my responsibility to make those type of decisions, not the responsibility of government.

I hope I have not offended anyone with this post

People who want to own a dangerous breed should have to forgo a government test as to why they want a particular dangerous breed , what do they want it for and why!? They should also have to be registered .Im sick to death of dangerous dog breeds falling into the hands of young inexperienced youths who want one as a status symbol! These young impressionable youths have a thing about wanting to be seen as Hard and untouchable, and to have a dangerous dog breed boosts their ego and street cred!

Too many babes infants and young innocents have come to an untimely end due to ignorant and clueless owners of dangerous dog breeds!

I would like to see them BANNED from the uk altogether! All owners should muzzle them in public!

There has been a tragic attack in the UK, with one child dead and another mauled.

All dogs have the potential to be a risk to children and need responsible owners and training. How to achieve that is another matter.