Next Tuesday (13 May) sees the new changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act coming into force. http://www.ddawatch.co.uk/dda_amendments_guide.html There is a few ‘grey areas’ one that most concerns me is ,that if the person attacked is a burglar or trespasser your dog may not be considered dangerously out of control if) it is in a building that is your private dwelling at the time of the attack. However, this does not cover incidents in your back or front garden. I am sure there will be some interesting test cases on this part of the legislation Another of my concerns is that (You also need to consider how your dog greets people. What you view as a dog being friendly by jumping up at visitors may be seen as threatening behaviour by a stranger. Edited to add extra info: NAWT Video: NAWT PDF Guide: Download this advice sheet (PDF-29KB) NAWT web page: https://www.nawt.org.uk/advice/changes-dangerous-dogs-act-advice-owners
I guess law abiding dog owners who train and keep their dogs under control will continue to do so and those that don't bother will do likewise whatever changes are made to the DDA .
Exactly what I think and I don't think dogs jumping up in greeting is acceptable and definitely not acceptable to jump up and greet strangers.
What if (a) a burglar or tresspasser climbs over your fence to get in your back garden? (b) said burglar or tresspasser climbs over a locked gate in your front garden?
Dont suppose its going to have much effect on good dog owners and the bad ones only if the act is actually enforced. Liked the part about the dog being in or part in the dwelling. Does that mean your dog can bite a burgler in the garden aslong as she keeps a foot inside the house.
The way I read it is that if you have a locked gate and someone comes over it ‘or climbs over fence you can get into trouble if they are being threatened by your dog (doesn't even have to bite) I don't think jumping up to greet people is acceptable either, but in the case of young dogs it can occasionally happen,although fenced in my dogs don't go out the front unless with me, and are put away when delivery people ect come to door, My back garden is well fenced so if some scumbag decided to enter why should my dogs be penalised for protecting their property .
I've added some extra info to your post @GsdSlave, hope that's ok. I am not happy about the updates at all - almost all dogs who have territorial instincts will bark at strange noises or knocks at the door. They should have just made it for access up to the front door, and/or covered delivery men who have been asked to deliver goods or other people working who have been invited in. Friends/family/other guests don't need to visit - they can choose not to if they don't like dogs.
Not just dogs with territorial instincts as many people rely on their dog to let them know if someone is at the door because they are deaf/hard of hearing.
I don't have a problem with it on the whole and my lot go mental at the doorbell but as they can't get anywhere near the front door they don't pose a threat to anyone. They are about 20 foot from the front door. The bit I think is odd is they admit there is a grey area and surely the point of new legislation should be to eliminate any grey areas. There is a slight grey area in these changes in that if the person attacked is a burglar or trespasser your dog may not be considered dangerously out of control if it is in a building that is your private dwelling at the time of the attack. However, this does not cover incidents in your back or front garden so while the law is yet to be tested, all dog owners should ensure that all areas of their gardens where their dogs could encounter unexpected visitors are secure. Surely any burglar finding himself in your secure garden gets what he deserves if your dog takes a chunk out of his thieving a***
Making these laws tighter is going to cause problems for some of my security friends. 80% of the dogs live outside in the secure garden. Anybody going in there uninvited isnt going to make it out unharmed then the dog could be pts for doing what its owner has trained it for. They all have signs everywhere making it know that security dogs are in there. Not sure what more they can do. Had 2 friends in court last year because their dog bit in the line of duty. Thankfully they got away with it but was a huge stress and expence for them. One of them was beaten half to death when his dog bit the attacker and still got dragged through court. And that was before tougher laws.
DEFRA Press Statement. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dangerous-dogs-owners-face-tougher-sentences-for-attacks Didn’t realise as many Guide Dogs were attacked,( average of ten attacks a month.) but I wonder how many of the perpetrators will actually be caught as according to article Almost a quarter of the victims attacked in 2011-13 had been attacked before and, of these, 26% had been attacked before by the same aggressor dog – this indicates it is the same irresponsible owners who are causing problems and need to be deterred by robust legislation to make it a prosecutable offence. Alarmingly, aggressor dogs were not with their owner on 22% of occasions and were with their owner but off the lead on a further 42% of occasions. Guide Dogs Response http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/news/20...cing-bill-receives-royal-assent/#.U3JTZIFdUqd
Does the word "trespasser" in the comment from DEFRA include someone who has climbed over a fence or locked gate into your garden?
Phoebe attacked a guild dog . was horrible and totally unprovoked. she spotted it and set of dragging me. went straight for it ended up with me, the blind man and both dogs in middle of road. I got phoebe off dragged her home then went in pursuit of the blind man to check him and his dog were ok. Thankfully both were fine and he said it happend all the time he thought it was something to do with the coat and harness. I was mortified and ashamed of Phoebe. Its the only time she has been the dog that started something but we have also never seen another guild dog since i hope that she wouldnt do it again but that was when i got the head collar and hunted out a trainer to get my "kevin" under control.
Guide dogs, deaf dogs, helping dogs & system alert dogs are trained not to bite back, when I had K9 trained the person training him said he be no good as system alert dog as K9 will go for other dogs that attack him, I did say if another dog was attacking K9 then I would want K9 to fight back, not that I would encourage dogs fighting, but to be able to defend himself.
Thats the 'grey area, how does one define a trespasser and who will the onus of proof be on ' the dog owner or the alleged trespasser?
Didnt it say that it will be decided in court. I think it will be hard to say a person in your garden is not a trespasser. As its secure and has no public right of way or access and is surely classed as part of your private property. How can an uninvited person not be a trespasser
I believe this is bringing the rest of the UK in line with Scotland? Hopefully common sense will be applied on both sides.
