Dangerous and menacing dogs

Dangerous dogs

A dog is classified as dangerous if we deem the animal to be dangerous, or if the owner has been convicted in court of an attack offence by their dog.

If your dog is classified as dangerous, you need to pay a higher annual registration fee and your dog must be:

• muzzled when in public places
• on a lead when in all public places
• kept confined and in a securely fenced area
• desexed
• microchipped.

Menacing dogs

Parliament has restricted the importing, breeding and sale of dogs that are wholly or predominantly:

• American Pit Bull Terrier – dogs deemed as wholly or predominantly of Pit Bull type may be classified by us as menacing dogs
• Brazilian Fila
• Dogo Argentino
• Japanese Tosa
• Presa Canario.

All the above breeds are dogs that are classified as menacing. The dog must be:

• muzzled and on a lead when in all public places
• desexed
• microchipped.

Menacing dogs also applies to any dog (regardless of breed) which Council considers may pose a threat to any person, stock, poultry, domestic animal or protected wildlife.