The issue of better regulation for dangerous breeds of dogs is starting to get a bit serious right now in Ireland. This is one where the solution is simple, but might not be easy for governments and councils to see.
Many people cannot control their dogs. But those people still bring their dogs to public places. They don't understand that this is a problem.
They don't have the discipline to train their dogs. Or they don't have the time or interest. And nobody is forcing them to do so.
People propose many solutions, like banning certain dangerous breeds, enforcing muzzling, licensing, etc. These solutions are familiar, but wrong. They punish educated dogs and savage ones alike.
Being a good dog or a bad dog does not depend on breed. It is true that some breeds are harder to train, and some breeds are more dangerous when untrained. But any dog of any breed can be raised to be good or bad, safe or dangerous.
Dogs must be banned from all public spaces, unless muzzled and leashed, or unless they have passed a test. They get a collar of a specific colour and design when they pass.
There could be various levels of exam. The dogs which pass higher levels are allowed more freedoms.
For example:
- Does not react aggressively to children
- Does not react aggressively to other dogs
- Can be pet by strangers
- Obeys instructions to return to owner, when off lead
- Can resist eating food left out, when directed to
- Can resist chasing a small animal like a cat or pigeon, when directed to
No dog is required to do any test, but tests are required to go certain places or do certain things. For example level 5 might be required to enter a picnic area. You could imagine pubs and shops allowing dogs which have level 3. Level 2 might be required to be allowed off the lead in a park. Level 1 to go outside without a muzzle.
Because the collars are visible, the rules are enforceable.
There are a few things that need to be decided. Whether puppies should have collars with adjustable size. Whether the collar should be non-removable by the owner. Whether the collar should be generic, or have identification on it, like owner's name or microchip ID number.
I have yet to meet a bad dog, but I have met many bad owners. Dogs behave to please their owners.
The owners of dangerous dogs are who should be banned from the parks, until their dogs can behave. Behavior training really should be mandatory for a dog license.
How could that work, on a practical level? Would it work better than what I have proposed?
I think mandatory training before licensure is an existing framework that people already understand, and we could therefore implement with relative ease instead of the color thing.
That's probably what will happen in the end. Using old familiar idea, because it is familiar.
But that's not what I'm doing here. I'm interested in new and more effective plans, even if they are not familiar and are unlikely to be used for that reason.