Though dogs are valued almost universally as one of the best domestic pets, there are certain breeds who consistently have shown that they can be dangerous and unreliable. For some countries, this means the dog breeds are entirely banned, while others require a psychiatric release, or specific tools to keep the pet under control when in public. Below is a list of countries that have restrictions on dog ownership, and the breeds they apply to. Thus list is a testament of the extent to which an administration will go to protect the safety of it’s people.
USA: (Unfortunately, there is no Federal Law prohibiting the ownership of dangerous dogs, nor any ban or restrictions on any breed. While dog fight is outlawed, and certain dog breeds are not allowed on certain military bases, there have been numerous failed attempts to put restrictions on the ownership of over 20 threatening dog breeds.)
Canada: Only two provinces of Canada in the city of Winnipeg have a ban on Pit Bulls. There is no official ban in the entire country.
Venezuela: Pit Bull breeds and hybrids have been banned from breeding and exporting since 2014.
Puerto Rico: Since 1998, no Bulldog or terrier breed is allowed to be owned, sold or bred.
Ecuador: Both Rottweilers and Pit Bulls are against the law in Ecuador.
Australia: Australians are not allowed to import any Dogo Argentinos, Dogo Canarios, Fila Brasileiros, or Tosa Inus.
New Zealand: Importing these breeds is illegal, and owning Pit Bulls, Tosa Inus, Fila Brasilerios, and Dogo Argentinos requires microchipping, muzzles and short leashes.
France: Restricted ownership applies to these dog breeds: Staffordshire Terriers, Pit Bull Terriers, Mastiff breeds, Tosa Inus, Rottweiler breeds, and any cross breeds related to them.
Poland: Pit Bulls are banned.
United Kingdom: According to the Act of Dangerous Dogs, Pit Bulls, Dogo Argentinos, Fila Brasileiros, and Tosa Inus must wear leashes and muzzles in public and be spayed and microchipped.
Germany: Pit Bulls, Staffordshire Terrios, English Bulldogs, etc. are banned.
Spain: By royal decree, Pit Bulls, Staffordshire Terriers, Dogo Argentinos, English Bull Terriers, Rottweilers, Akita Inus, Fila Brasileiros, and Tosa Inus have breeding restrictions.
Italy: On September 2003, over 90 breeds were labeled “under restriction” and included the Border Collie as well as the charming Welsh Corgi. The “dangerous dog breeds” list has now been canceled as of 2009, and dog-owners are only encouraged to walk their dogs on a leash and use a muzzle.
Portugal: Breeds are not allowed to be owned if they are: Staffordshire Terriers, Rottweilers, Dogo Argentinos, Fila Brasileiros, Tosa Insu, or Pit Bulls.
Switzerland: Since 2010 these dogs have been prohibited in Switzerland: Staffordshire Terriers, Bull Terriers, Pit Bulls, Bandogs, and any dog mixed with these breeds.
Romania: In order to own certain dogs in Romania, you must be at least 18 years old, and have a certificate from a psychiatrist certifying that you are mentally stable and able to own a dangerous dog. These breeds include: Pit Bulls, Boerboel, Bandogs, Staffordshire Terriers, Rottweilers, Tosa Inus, Neapolitan Mastiffs, and Dogo Argentinos.
Ireland: These dogs must be owned by individuals over 16 years old, walked on a leash, with a muzzle for no more than 2 metres. The breeds include: Pit Bulls, English Bull Terriers, Akita Inus, Bullmastiffs, Doberman Pinscher, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, German Shepherds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks.
Denmark: Here you are not allowed to breed or sell Pit Bulls, Staffordshire Terriers, American Bulldogs, Alabais, Tosa Inus, Kangals, Caucasian Shepherd Dogs, Tornjaks, South Russian Shepherd, Fila Brasileiros, and Yogoslavian Shepherd Dogs.
Belarus: There is a list of over 40 dog breeds that are considered a dangerous threat. For more details, refer to the exhaustive list.
Finland: All wolfdogs –except Czech Wolfdogs and Saarlos Wolfhonds are illegal.
Norway: These dogs were banned from Norway in 2004: Dogo Argentinos, Pit Bulls, Staffordshire Terriers, Tosa Inus, Czech Wolfdogs, Fila Brasileiros.
Russia: “Dangerous Dog Breeds” in Russia include: Pit Bulls, Boerboels, Karelian Bear Dogs, Anatolian Karabashes, Staffordshire Terriers, Central Asian Shepherds, Caucasian Shepherd Dogs, and any hybrids of these dogs. To walk these dogs publicly, Russia requires that a person have a training certification, and they must be legal adults in good health. Minors and people with disabilities are not allowed to walk dogs of the above breeds.
Ukraine: There is a list of over 80 dog breeds that are considered a dangerous threat. For more details, refer to the exhaustive list.
Turkey: Neither Pit Bulls nor Tosa Inus are allowed to be sold, purchased, or advertised even. If someone breaks they law, they could pay thousands of lira.
Israel: (hese dogs have been banned from Israel since 2004: Dogo Argentinos, Pit Bulls, Staffordshire Terriers, Rottweilers, Fila Brasileiros, and Tosa Inus.
Singapore: Restrictions on the following breeds apply: Staffordshire Terriers, Pit Bulls, American Bulldogs, Neapolitan Mastiff, Boerboels, Dogo Argentinos, Tosa Inus, and Fila Brasileiros. Individuals must have their pet neutered or spayed, microchipped and insured for $100,000, and walked with a muzzle and short leash.
Bermuda Islands: There are over 20 breeds that have been banned from the Bermuda Islands since 2003.
hi there
can you please enlighten me on where you found the information about Switzerland banned dog list? I cannot seem to find a clear list of whether a Staffordshire Bull Terrier is banned on the Canton of Zug or Lucerne.
Thank you so much
This is a biased article and is not correct. Stop spewing lies about breeds of dogs. There are no bad dogs, only bad owners that either abuse their dogs, do not teach their dogs, do not socialize their dogs or do not supervise their children to respect dogs. I have had dogs all of my life, from cocker spaniels, german shepards, golden retrievers, to mixed pit bulls and mastiffs. They are all different and true to their breed but NONE of them were dangerous or anywhere close to justifying banning them. This site claims to be a pet care facts site? First get your facts straight and learn about the animals you so harshly judge. I’ve have met dangerous people but not dangerous dogs.
From the first sentence I knew the author was biased.
USA: (Unfortunately, there is no Federal Law prohibiting the ownership of dangerous dogs, nor any ban or restrictions on any breed. While dog fight is outlawed, and certain dog breeds are not allowed on certain military bases, there have been numerous failed attempts to put restrictions on the ownership of over 20 threatening dog breeds.)
And notice the description of another dog breed:
Italy: On September 2003, over 90 breeds were labeled “under restriction” and included the Border Collie as well as the charming Welsh Corgi.
You should be ashamed of yourself for posting such biased garbage under the guise of “pet care facts”!
Glad you said it because I was going to! Ridiculous!
There is no ban against pit bulls in Australia I am an Aussie and I have a staffy bull terrier
Thanks for letting us know. We’ve corrected the Australian entry.
The Norway one is wrong about the English Staffies. They are enormously popular here.
And where do people come off saying the English Bull Terrier is dangerous? It’s a clown in a dog suit. They’re nothing but sweet. <3 Of course, unless, like with any breed, they've been abused and neglected.
Of course, I wouldn't agree with any of these lists, although I understand the reasoning behind a lot of them. I don't think there is such a thing as a dangerous breed. But there are bad humans who make dogs dangerous, and those should never be allowed to keep ANY dogs, but definitely not a huge, strong one.
Hi there,
A bit biased about the staffie and the Pitbull weren’t you? German shepherds and malinous have killed more people. The only reason the staffie bites more people is that its generally protecting its owner or property. I witnessed people lean in to my Mum’s car to pet my dog through an open window when we weren’t in it. A man picked up a toddler so it could pet the dog and Bella politely licked the hand. However, she could have bitten the child. Its other people that are the problem by not being taught about dogs. Dogs have clear signals which people should be shown and they do not approach dogs without asking the owner’s permission first. I have been bitten by more Labradors and collies than any other dog. I have never been bitten by a “chav dog” as some people call staffies and pit bulls. You can barely speak English and you are supposed to be from the UK! Pah!
“Joseph Abbott
Joseph is an erstwhile student of English literature and journalism, and (unsurprisingly) spends a good deal of his spare time reading and writing. Fortunately this is immensely helpful in the world of pet care, as there are always facts to be learned, new statistics, and interesting studies to be noted.”
You can’t even punctuate you slob.
Good day.
Oliver Mills.