Status dog

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Dogo Argentino breed, one of four banned by the UK in 1991. Dogo argentino 5.jpg
Dogo Argentino breed, one of four banned by the UK in 1991.

Status dog is a term used in the United Kingdom to describe a potentially dangerous or aggressive dog that is kept as a symbol of the owner's hard or tough image, to intimidate others, and possibly as a weapon. [1] [2] This idea has persisted through centuries, tracing back to Roman times. [3] More recently, after news of vicious dogs mauling young victims, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 placed restrictions on the ownership and care of four types of dog (the Pit Bull Terrier, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino, and the Fila Brasileiro); while two further breeds, the Rottweiler and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, are also widely perceived as status dogs. [4] The UK has been taking steps to address the problem, starting with the Metropolitan Police establishing a dedicated Status Dog Unit in 2009. [5]

Contents

History

Throughout the ages, dogs have been used as tools for violence. As early as 7th century BC, there is historical evidence of weapon dogs being utilised by the Roman army. [6] Varying historical circumstances began to build negative connotation with specific breeds, starting with bloodhounds in the 19th century. [6] Bloodhounds received heavy criticism in America due to their involvement with tracking down runaways during the slavery era. [6] The same fate awaited the Doberman breed, which initially were in high regard during the 1900s as symbols of nobility and trust. [6] Their reputation plummeted once photographs emerged of German concentration camps during World War II, featuring Nazi officers and their Doberman pets. [6] Government propaganda and popular media started portraying this breed, along with Rottweilers and German Shepherds, as 'demon dogs'. [6]

Arguably the most notorious of status dogs, the pit bull type, can be traced back to the Middle Ages. [3] This species was achieved through centuries of selective breeding, a method by which humans intentionally select animals with desirable physical traits to reproduce. [3] The pit bull was made to be vicious, in order to be used for bull-baiting during the 1800s. [6] The sport was eventually banned, which in turn resulted in a new blood sport, dog fighting. [6]

This trend ultimately created the infamous public image of the pit bull, thus making way for street gangs to take advantage of it by adopting the use of pit bulls as symbols of strength and ferocity during the 1960s. [6] Their image became worse in 1987, when a young boy was attacked and killed by a pit bull in California. [7] [6] Major magazine publications, like Sports Illustrated and Time , initiated the introduction of laws across the US banning specific dog breeds after running issues with pit bulls on the front cover, with titles such as "Beware of this dog" and "Time Bomb On Legs". [6] In 1991, an incident similar to the pit bull mauling in California 1987 occurred in the UK, where a girl of six years was hospitalised after being mauled by a pit bull while playing outside in a park, [8] which ultimately led to the Dangerous Dogs Act. [6]

Subtypes

A dog shall be regarded as dangerously out of control on any occasion on which there are grounds for reasonable apprehension that it will injure any person, whether or not it actually does so, but references to a dog injuring a person or there being grounds for reasonable apprehension that it will do so do not include references to any case in which the dog is being used for a lawful purpose by a constable or a person in the service of the Crown.

— Section 10(3) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 – DEFRA 2010:3. [10]

Breeding

Although owning and breeding certain types of status dogs is unlawful, people get around this by cross-breeding. [10] Some of the most common motivations for breeding status dogs are profit and the desire to continue a dog's bloodline. [10] The ideal mating age for dogs is 2 to 6 years old. However, more mature females (closer to 6 years old) tend to take better care of their pups, thus ensuring greater puppy health.

The ban of specific breeds under the DDA have resulted in numerous crossbreeds, as a means for breeders to avoid legal repercussions. [10] These ambiguous mixes involving illicit breeds have been assigned various pseudonyms. [10] For example, pit bull mixes are often labelled as: [10]

Often, the buyers of status dogs are not necessarily set on the specific breed. [10] Instead, youths often look mainly at a pup's size, colour, and 'potential' when acquiring a status dog, given that they are purchased with the intention of looking tough. [10] Buyers want pups that have the potential to grow large and strong.

Addressing the situation

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is seeking to reform current legislation regarding dangerous dogs, the ultimate goal being that dogs would be judged solely by their behaviour, not by their breed. [11] In his book, Unleashed: The Phenomena of Status Dogs and Weapon Dogs, Harding claims that the issue lies with the lack of education on animal treatment. [3] Harding believes that banning breeds will not solve the status dog trend, and instead the efforts should be focused more on teaching young people how to take good care of animals. [3] The RSPCA is currently working with the status dog unit within the Metropolitan Police for the sake of amending the Dangerous Dogs Act. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pit bull</span> Type of dog

Pit bull is an umbrella term for several types of dog believed to have descended from bull and terriers. In the United states, the term is usually considered to include the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and sometimes the American Bulldog, along with any crossbred dog that shares certain physical characteristics with these breeds. In other countries, including the United Kingdom, the term is used as an abbreviation of the American Pit Bull Terrier breed specifically, while the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is not considered a pit bull. Most pit bull-type dogs descend from the British bull and terrier, a 19th-century dog-fighting type developed from crosses between the Old English Bulldog and the Old English Terrier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staffordshire Bull Terrier</span> British breed of dog

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, also called the Staffy or Stafford, is a purebred dog of small to medium size in the terrier group that originated in the northern parts of Birmingham and in the Black Country of Staffordshire, for which it is named. They descended from 19th-century bull terriers that were developed by crossing bulldogs with various terriers to create a generic type of dog generally known as bull and terriers. Staffords share the same ancestry with the modern Bull Terrier, although the two breeds developed along independent lines, and do not resemble each other. Modern Staffords more closely resemble the old type of bull terrier, and were first recognised as a purebred dog breed by The Kennel Club of Great Britain in 1935.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dog fighting</span> Blood sport

Dog fighting is a type of blood sport that turns game and fighting dogs against each other in a physical fight, often to the death, for the purposes of gambling or entertainment to the spectators. In rural areas, fights are often staged in barns or outdoor pits; in urban areas, fights are often staged in garages, basements, warehouses, alleyways, abandoned buildings, neighborhood playgrounds, or in the streets. Dog fights usually last until one dog is declared a winner, which occurs when one dog fails to scratch, dies, or jumps out of the pit. Sometimes dog fights end without declaring a winner; for instance, the dog's owner may call the fight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wolfdog</span> Dog-wolf hybrid

A wolfdog is a canine produced by the mating of a domestic dog with a gray wolf, eastern wolf, red wolf, or Ethiopian wolf to produce a hybrid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breed-specific legislation</span> Legislation specific for breeds that are used in illegal dog fighting

In law, breed-specific legislation (BSL) is a type of law that prohibits or restricts particular breeds or types of dog. Such laws range from outright bans on the possession of these dogs, to restrictions and conditions on ownership, and often establishes a legal presumption that such dogs are dangerous or vicious to prevent dog attacks. Some jurisdictions have enacted breed-specific legislation in response to a number of fatalities or maulings involving pit bull–type dogs or other dog breeds commonly used in dog fighting, and some government organizations such as the United States Army and Marine Corps have taken administrative action as well. Due to opposition to such laws, anti-BSL laws have been passed in 21 of the 50 state-level governments in the United States, prohibiting or restricting the ability of jurisdictions within those states to enact or enforce breed-specific legislation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dangerous Dogs Act 1991</span> United Kingdom legislation

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom prohibiting or restricting certain types of dogs and codifying the criminal offence of allowing a dog of any breed to be dangerously out of control. After a series of eleven dog attacks in 1991, Home Secretary Kenneth Baker promised "to rid the country of the menace of these fighting dogs". The Act has been controversial for failing to stem the rise of dog attacks and for focusing on a dog's breed or looks instead of an individual dog's behaviour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guard dog</span> Working dog

A guard dog or watchdog is a dog used to watch for and guard people or property against unwanted or unexpected human or animal intruders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Pit Bull Terrier</span> Dog breed

The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) is a dog breed recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) and the American Dog Breeders Association (ADBA), but not the American Kennel Club (AKC). It is a medium-sized, short-haired dog, of a solid build, whose early ancestors came from England. When compared with the English Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the American Pit Bull Terrier is larger by margins of 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) in height and 25–35 pounds (11–16 kg) in weight. The American Pit Bull Terrier varies in size: males are normally about 18–21 inches (45–53 cm) in height and around 35–60 pounds (15–27 kg) in weight, while females are normally around 17–20 inches (43–50 cm) in height and 30–50 pounds (13–22 kg) in weight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dobermann</span> Black and tan dog breed from Germany

The Dobermann is a German breed of medium-large domestic dog of pinscher type. It was originally bred in Thuringia in about 1890 by Louis Dobermann, a tax collector. It has a long muzzle and – ideally – an even and graceful gait. The ears were traditionally cropped and the tail docked, practices which are now illegal in many countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tosa (dog)</span> Dog breed

The Tosa Inu is a breed of dog of Japanese origin that is considered rare. It was originally bred in Tosa, Shikoku, as a fighting dog and is the only breed still used (legally) in Japanese dog fighting. Ownership is restricted in some countries as a dangerous breed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dog bite</span> Bite by a dog that is upon a person or other animal

A dog bite is a bite upon a person or other animal by a dog, including from a rabid dog. More than one successive bite is often called a dog attack, although dog attacks can include knock-downs and scratches. Though some dog bites do not result in injury, they can result in infection, disfigurement, temporary or permanent disability, or death. Another type of dog bite is the "soft bite" displayed by well-trained dogs, by puppies, and in non-aggressive play. Dog bites can occur during dog fighting, as a response to mistreatment, by trained dogs working as guard, police or military animals, or during a random encounter.

Pet shipping is an industry that involves transporting animals, specifically pets, often by plane. This service is commonly used when the animal's owner is moving house. However, it can also be used when transporting animals for other reasons, such as performing in dog shows. The worldwide industry body for pet shipping is the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association. Pet microchips, vaccinations, rabies titre tests, import permits, and health certificates may be required to ship an animal. Certain breeds are banned from the process due to the increase in associated risk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bull Arab</span> Dog breed

The Bull Arab is a type of dog developed in Australia by Mike Hodgens and Heather Rea for pig hunting. The dog was developed from crossing large, strong dogs of which the most common were Bull Terriers, Pointing breeds, and Greyhounds. The result was a medium to large size, short-haired, muscular dog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Bully</span> Dog breed

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DogsBite.org is a nonprofit organization that publishes accounts of and compiles statistics of dog bite related fatalities throughout the United States, victim testimonies, an overview of breed-specific legislation within the United States, and advocates for victims of dog bites by promoting breed-specific legislation as a means to reduce serious dog attacks. The organization provides statistics and information to news organizations and has filed amicus briefs in court cases related to breed-specific legislation. The organization has been criticized of publishing misleading or inaccurate information.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal Farm Foundation</span> Pit bull advocacy group against BSL

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References

  1. ↑ "Status Dogs". Society for Companion Animal Studies. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  2. ↑ Minto, Natasha (11 September 2013). "Pedigree scum: dangerous dogs and their owners". exposure:Youth communications charity. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Clifton, Merritt (May 31, 206). "Unleashed: The Phenomena of Status Dogs and Weapon Dogs, by Simon Harding". Animals 24-7.
  4. ↑ Iqbal, Nomia (21 May 2009). "Dangerous 'status' dogs on the rise". BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat. BBC . Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  5. 1 2 Iqbal, Nomia (21 May 2009). "Dangerous 'status' dogs on the rise". BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat. BBC . Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Crookes, Del (2016-04-13). "A short history of the 'dangerous dog' and why certain breeds are banned". BBC Newsbeat. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
  7. ↑ "Pit Bull Kills California Boy". The New York Times. 1987-06-15. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  8. ↑ Lewthwaite, Gilbert A. (1991-05-21). "Britain considers banning pit bull imports after brutal attack". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  9. ↑ http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1975/50/contents
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hughes, G., Maher, J., & Lawson, C. (2011). Status dogs, young people and criminalisation: towards a preventative strategy.
  11. ↑ Glazebrook, Louise (2016-04-13). "What makes an animal dangerous? The nature v nurture debate in dogs". BBC Newsbeat. Retrieved 2020-02-14.
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