How I lost my Hungarian Vizsla, Leo, to the Dangerous Dogs Act

Not everyone welcomed Rishi Sunak’s announcement last week that he would ban the XL Bully under the Dangerous Dogs Act. This American crossbreed is responsible for nearly half the deaths caused by dogs in the UK between 2021 and 2023 and hit the headlines recently after a video emerged of one attacking an 11-year-old girl, as well as several men, in Birmingham. Yet the Dog Control Coalition said outlawing them wouldn’t stop the attacks.

‘For 32 years, the Dangerous Dogs Act has focused on banning types of dog and yet has coincided with an increase in dog bites, and the recent deaths show this approach isn’t working,’ said a spokeswoman.

That struck me as odd, because while the Act does indeed ban certain breeds, it also created a criminal offence whereby owners can be prosecuted for failing to keep their dogs under proper control. I know this because my wife was cautioned under the Dangerous Dogs Act after our Hungarian Vizsla bit an Ocado delivery man seven years ago.