Councils urge crackdown on dangerous dogs (From Wandsworth Guardian)

a crackdown should be on the idiots who gain possession of the dogs, not the dogs themselves! so annoying that this fact keeps getting ignored.

people who use dogs as weapons have no interest in learning about responsible dog ownership, these learning events are only preaching to the choir!

idiot dog owners should be made to spend a night, a week, a month (or however long it takes to get through their thicko skulls) on the cold, concrete floor of a dog rescue kennel (not human prison, they're too pampered there).

let them listen to the echoing barks for attention *all day long* and the whimpering cries of loneliness and sadness *all night long*. if that doesn't make a person more caring and responsible, i don't know what will.

"They are also calling for enforcement to made cheaper and quicker and for the law to be extended to include private land to protect those who have to visit other people's homes as part of their work."

As long as it cant be used by someone who has burgled your house and subsequently gets bitten by your dog.

I am all for reforms to the useless Dangerous Dogs Act legislation.
But I fear this will again be a kneejerk reaction just as The Dangerous Dog's Act was and will be ill prepared to deal with the problem.

Don't punish the breed punish the deed!
Vilifying a particular breed does nothing to curb the problem but may infact make things worse, a dog gets labelled a vicious breed then people who see intimidation as desirable get that breed to instil fear in others.
Its caveman stuff, My club is bigger then yours etc.

Just how effective has the DDA been?
It has been a complete failure (Or in political speak a partial success as the breeds named in the act are no longer responsible for dog attacks) but what has it achieved, really?
Nothing, we still have a problem with so called status dogs. Youths/Teenagers parade their bastardised bull breeds round our streets and our parks, training the dogs to bite and hold by using the rubber swing seats. (Next time you walk through a park look at the swings and you will see most off them have been chewed to the point of being useless)
We have to change the rules on ownership, it really is that simple. Make it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to be in possession of a dog.
All dog owners should have to take out pet insurance with a hefty public liability.
A condition of ownership would mean taking part in Government approved Basic Dog Training.

Make microchipping compulsory. No microchip and your dog is taken, simple.
These would be easily enforced, any police officer or council warden would be able to scan your dog with the handheld microchip readers.
We can police untaxed, uninsured drivers so it is not inconceivable to have a similar system in place for dogs.

The root cause of the problem, however is to be found at the other end of the lead and it is there the real blame should lie, with the 2 legged animal not the furry 4 legged one who only lives to please his owner.
I own an American Bulldog for the record, and fully understand her requirements and have trained her well. My dog is an extension of my family and should be viewed as such, not like the many youths who see their dogs as a weapon they cant get nicked for.

I urge you to watch this BBC programme: My weapon is my Dog, then you will see just who is to blame for this problem

http://www.bbc.co.uk
/programmes/b00kmtl9

yawn

how about abolishing london councils--will save us a fortune

Agree with earlier posts.
Why should the dogs be punished?
Anyone who wants to buy/own a dog should have to buy a licence and have public liability insurance. The fees would help pay for implementation and housing (humanely) confiscated dogs.
These dogs should then be fairly assessed, as to whether they can be re-homed, with responsible owners.
However, compulsory training courses should be introduced in order to obtain a license and the above mentioned insurance.
Any responsible dog owners would not have a problem with these conditions.
As the "status owners" and irresponsible people probably wouldn't comply, in a few years I believe we would see a huge decrease in dogs.
The programme would have to be nationwide, but it would work.
It would be beneficial for everyone: dogs, owners, the Police and the thousands of people who get bitten by poorly trained or managed dogs every year!
We have to remember that there are no "bad dogs". Just "bad dog owners"!

Councils are following a few leads

I wish people would think before bringing in knee jerk laws and regulations- it is never really the dog's fault- it is the owner who teaches that dog how to behave- yes we need to promote responsible dog ownership but why aim this at the dogs ?

I agree that the problem is almost entirely with the owners. Anyone who scores 8 or more on the chav index and who can't spell Staffordshire should be disqualified from owning a dog.