If you are a large rescue or organisation please send the message out by promoting trainers and behaviourists with qualifications (academic) and FULL insurance. Verify all claims of certification and membership of associations or groups. Check out these associations with specific reference to how a member is assessed, who assesses them, how and why they are qualified to assess a person, what protocols are in place for colleagues assessing colleagues? What is the pass criteria, how is this documented and most important what is the code of ethics and what happens when a member breaks this code? Remember self regulation is no regulation.

Industry standard and regulated organistions include the Association of Pet Dog Trainers UK (APDT UK), Association of Pet Behaviour Councillors (APBC), Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), Centre of Applied Ethology (COAPE). Good trainers are and want to me members of these groups.

For now and until this area is regulated please ask questions, do not do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable and always dig deep and find the meaning of titles, associations and certifying bodies.

Please view and send to all appropriate parties – county councils etc

The definition of ‘Restricted Breeds’ is a breed as listed in the Irish Control of Dogs Act and are as follows:

American Pit Bull Terrier
Bull Mastiff
Doberman Pinscher
English Bull Terrier
German Shepherd
Japanese Akita
Japanese Tosa
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Rottweiler
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Bandog

Instead at Dog Training Ireland we work with each dog and their specific needs regardless of breed or breed type.

Our policy is based on the dogs who have attended our classes, research studies on various breeds, behaviour studies, knowledge and experience. In addition we monitor the yearly results published by the American Temperament Testing Society. These results clearly show that the dog breeds listed on the restricted breeds list are no different from other breeds. For more info on the ATTS go here www.atts.org

We strongly believe in the promotion of responsible ownership and helping owners understand their dogs.

Should you have any queries regarding this please contact us at Info@DogTrainingIreland.ie

McGarr Solicitors have experience in this area.

Their contact details are:
McGarr Solicitors
12 City Gate
Lower Bridge St.
Dublin 8

(Access to 12 City Gate from St. Augustine St.)

Phone: +353-(0)1- 6351580
Fax: +353-(0)1- 6351578
Email: info@mcgarrsolicitors.ie

Now existing laws will be enforced. These include making sure dogs are on lead and the promotion of education programs. There is also a plan for a temperament evaluation process for dogs displaying any aggressive tendencies.

“RAD exempted purebred dogs that were registered in Holland, such as the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The policy was applied to non-registered dogs on the basis of their appearance as being of the “pit bull type”. These characteristics included a powerful build, a square head, a pointed tail and a short coat. Genuine pit bulls (American Pit Bull Terriers) are not recognized as a real breed in Holland, and therefore they could not be registered as purebred” says International Friends, Best Friends Network.

Rottweilers were added to the law in 2000 and this breed will also be removed.

Sadly however many innocent dogs have died since this law was introduced in 1993. Dog were not assessed before being euthanised. The criteria for destroying the dog was simply based on how the dog looked.

This is of course the problem with BSL or Breed Specific Legislation. It simply does nothing to protect human or dog and leads to the destruction of innocent dogs based on breed or appearance while the breeding of fighting dogs or aggressive dogs goes underground. Not forgetting the heartbreak caused to many dog owners who had to allow their loyal pets be destroyed.

The Netherlands have excellent, structured animal welfare laws and offer considerable help and assistance to many animal welfare organisations in other EU countries offering homes to many stray and unwanted dogs. This law was not in line with their other animal welfare laws and it is best that is has now been scrapped.

We support the Netherlands decision to get rid of this law and hope that other EU countries will follow suit and realise that BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) does not work. We need education and the promotion of responsible ownership. Punish the deed not the breed.