What dog breeds are banned in the UK? Complete list of dangerous canines and how the RSPCA treats them

Posted On: March 25, 2022

Dog ownership increased during the lockdown, with a total of 3.2 million UK households buying pets since the start of the pandemic, according to the Association of Pet Food Manufacturers.

With increasing pet ownership comes the possibility of unregulated pet purchases and an increase in dog attacks.

Earlier this week, 17-month-old Bella-Rae Birch from St Helen’s died at her home after she was attacked by a dog her family bought a week earlier. The breed is the American Bully XL, which is not subject to a ban under the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991.

Japanese Tosa is banned in the UK

What dog breeds are banned in the UK?

The Dangerous Dogs Act was introduced in 1991 following a series of fatal incidents involving dogs.

Under the law, four types of dog breeds are currently banned in the UK:

Pitbull Terrier
japanese cough
Argentinian dogo
brazil queue

United Kennel Club said of the Pitbull Terrier: “The important characteristics of the Pitbull Terrier are strength, confidence and a passion for life. This breed is eager to please and full of enthusiasm. They are excellent family friends and always stand out for their love for children.”

Although the Pitbull Terrier can be trained to be aggressive. There were 15 fatal attacks in England and Wales between 1981 and 1991, with the breed being banned in England in 1991.

The rare Japanese Tosa was originally bred as a fighting dog, and is now considered nearly impossible to obtain.

Primarily used for hunting, the Fila Brasileiro dog, also known as the Brazilian Mastiff, is renowned for its excellent tracking abilities and is often considered aggressive.

The Dogo Argentino is a large, white, muscular dog breed that was developed in Argentina primarily for the purpose of hunting animals such as wild boars.

What about forbidden dogs?

According to the RSPCA: “Dogs suspected of being a prohibited breed were removed from their owners and kept in kennels.

“Many dogs find the process very difficult to cope with and can result in unwanted changes in health and behavior.”

They added: “Prohibited species can be legally kept and released from euthanasia if they do not pose a risk to public safety and their owners deem appropriate and appropriate.

“However, conditions must be met for the rest of the dog’s life which can have a negative impact on its well-being. For example, being gagged and tied up whenever you are in public.

“Unfortunately, many dogs have had to be euthanized and thousands of people have died from BSL since 1991.”