As new figures released by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) reveal that over one million dogs in the UK are showing signs of aggression, including growling, snarling, and biting, towards humans and pets on a weekly basis, the Kennel Club has again expressed concerns that certain irresponsible dog owners, combined with highly flawed dangerous dog legislation, are putting public safety at risk.
 
The issue of dangerous dogs has been thrust into public consciousness of late, with a six year old being attacked last month by an ‘out of control’ dog in Chingford, north-east London - a rare incident which the Kennel Club stresses is not reflective of a particular breed or type of dog, but of irresponsible ownership.
 
The actions of the irresponsible minority unfortunately have an effect on the millions of responsible dog owners in the UK and it is incidents such as these that further emphasise the need for dog owners to act responsibly with their canine companions.
 
This is supported by the PDSA’s research, released last week, which highlights issues such as a lack of training and little to no socialisation as key reasons behind a dog behaving aggressively. The Kennel Club’s Dangerous Dogs campaign, which lobbies for the overhaul of the Dangerous Dogs Act, also aims to educate the public on the potential risks of not training a dog properly.
 
Caroline Kisko, Communications Director at the Kennel Club, said: “Any dog can behave aggressively if not trained or socialised correctly or responsibly, just as any dog can be a wonderfully calm and loving pet if trained and socialised in the proper way.
 
“By taking your dog to suitable training classes, such as those offered by the Kennel Club’s Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme, you can ensure you are doing your best as a responsible owner to protect your dog, as well as anyone who comes into contact with your dog.
 
“The Kennel Club, along with many other leading organisations, believes that current dangerous dog legislation needs to be overhauled to better protect the public by tackling irresponsible owners whose dogs have been allowed to become aggressive through poor training and socialisation.”
 
To find out more about the Kennel Club’s Dangerous Dogs campaign, visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/dangerousdogs or for more information on the Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme, visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/dogtraining.
 
ENDS
[023.12]
1st February 2012
 
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The Kennel Club is the largest organisation in the UK devoted to dog health, welfare and training. Its objective is to ensure that dogs live healthy, happy lives with responsible owners.
 
It runs the country’s largest registration database for both pedigree and crossbreed dogs and the Petlog database, which is the UK’s largest reunification service for microchipped animals. The Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme is the only scheme in the UK that monitors and sets standards for breeders, in order to protect the welfare of puppies and breeding bitches. It also runs the UK’s largest dog training programme, the Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme and licenses shows and clubs across a wide range of activities, which help dog owners to bond and enjoy life with their dogs. The Kennel Club runs the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts, and the Discover Dogs event at Earls Court, London, which is a fun family day out that educates people about how to buy responsibly and care for their dog.
 
The Kennel Club invests in welfare campaigns and the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, which supports dog welfare charities and research into dog diseases and also into dog training and education programmes. The Kennel Club jointly runs health screening schemes with the British Veterinary Association and through the Charitable Trust, funds the Kennel Club Genetics Centre at the Animal Health Trust, which is at the forefront of pioneering research into dog health.
 

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