Petition · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Reform Dog Laws: Licensing & Mandatory Training Instead of Breed Bans

Closed 93 signatures

What the petition asks

Replace breed specific bans with a licensing system for all dogs and stricter requirements for powerful breeds. Licensing could include mandatory training for owners and dogs, ensuring responsible ownership, improving public safety and preventing breed bans that we think are unfair.
We believe that breed bans do not work - they shift demand to new breeds. A licensing system with background checks and mandatory training could ensure responsible ownership of powerful dogs and improve public safety. We believe the focus should be on training and accountability, not banning breeds. We believe we need a solution that addresses what we see as the root cause of dog attacks - irresponsible ownership. We think a licensing system could ensure all dogs are well trained and properly controlled, reducing the strain on police resources and preventing dangerous situations before they can occur.

Timeline

4 Apr 2025 Petition opened for signatures
4 Oct 2025 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 93
Status Closed
Department Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Opened 4 Apr 2025
Closed 4 Oct 2025

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 14 Aug 2026.