The Problem with Breed Specific Legislation

Everyone has heard of "Dangerous Breed" dogs. These dogs are often the target of legislation, insurance policy bans, and bad reputations. But this list is growing. There are 75 Breeds of dogs that have been targets of legislation. Many of the dogs listed don't even make sense, such as St. Bernards, which are well known for their ability to rescue humans.

The real problem with breed specific legislation is that it reinforces the idea of a 'safe' dogs. There is no such thing as a 'safe' dog. A dog is an animal, and like any animal, needs the proper love, guidance, and training early in life to become a well adjusted adult dog.

If people think their dog is 'safe' simply by virtue of not being a dangerous breed, they are more likely to not invest in training, or supervise children with the dog, or even take the time to assert their dominance over the dog. While most people understand the importance of asserting dominance over a larger breed dog, very few see the necessity in doing so with a smaller breed. To be entirely honest, I have met far more nasty and ill-mannered small and toy breed dogs than I have large breed dogs.

Additionally, it does not help that an entire industry has been built around people treating their dogs like children, rather than dogs, only reinforcing the idea that they do not need training.

There are very few dogs that terrify me. I have been around dogs of all sizes, all breeds, but the dogs that terrify me the most are those that are not trained.

Regardless of size, an untrained dog is a dangerous dog. This is a fact. A dog that is untrained and unchecked is completely unpredictable, and the owner has no control over this dog.

Breed specific legislation places blanket judgment on breeds that have bad histories or who have been utilized for their strength and size, and does nothing to protect the public from the untrained dogs.

If the studies and reports were different, I think the underlying factor behind dog attacks would be a lack of proper training.

Allison

These are the 75 that have been unfairly targeted:

1. AIREDALE TERRIER
2. AKBASH
3. AKITA
4. ALAPAHA BLUE BLOOD BULLDOG
5. ALASKAN MALAMUTE
6. ALSATIAN SHEPHERD
7. AMERICAN BULLDOG
8. AMERICAN HUSKY
9. AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER
10. AMERICAN STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER
11. AMERICAN WOLFDOG
12. ANATOLIAN SHEPHERD
13. ARIKARA DOG
14. AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG
15. AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD
16. BELGIAN MALINOIS
17. BELGIAN SHEEPDOG
18. BELGIAN TURVUREN
19. BLUE HEELER
20. BOERBUL
21. BORZOI
22. BOSTON TERRIER
23. BOUVIER DES FLANDRES
24. BOXER
25. BULLDOG
26. BULL TERRIER
27. BULL MASTIFF
28. CANE CORSO
29. CATAHOULA LEOPARD DOG
30. CAUCASIAN SHEPHERD
31. CHINESE SHAR PEI
32. CHOW-CHOW
33. COLORADO DOG
34. DOBERMAN PINSCHER
35. DOGO DE ARGENTINO
36. DOGUE DE BORDEAUX
37. ENGLISH MASTIFFS
38. ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL
39. ESKIMO DOG
40. ESTRELA MOUNTAIN DOG
41. FILA BRASILIERO
42. FOX TERRIER
43. FRENCH BULLDOG
44. GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG
45. GOLDEN RETRIEVER
46. GREENLAND HUSKY
47. GREAT DANE
48. GREAT PYRANEES
49. ITALIAN MASTIFF
50. KANGAL DOG
51. KEESHOND
52. KOMONDOR
53. KOTEZEBUE HUSKY
54. KUVAZ
55. LABRADOR RETRIEVER
56. LEONBERGER
57. MASTIFF
58. NEOPOLITAN MASTIFF
59. NEWFOUNDLAND
60. OTTERHOUND
61. PRESA DE CANARIO
62. PRESA DE MALLORQUIN
63. PUG
64. ROTTWEILER
65. SAARLOOS WOLFHOND
66. SAINT BERNARD
67. SAMOYED
68. SCOTTISH DEERHOUND
69. SIBERIAN HUSKY
70. SPANISH MASTIFF
71. STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER
72. TIMBER SHEPHERD
73. TOSA INU
74. TUNDRA SHEPHERD
75. WOLF SPITZ