Most charities and dog lovers agree that it is silly to say that one breed is more dangerous than another.

All dogs can be dangerous if they are not trained and socialised correctly.

However, the police who took part in the two-year consultation published this week showed no interest in legalising breeds currently outlawed. They think that as they were originally bred for fighting, these breeds are always going to be dangerous.

They didn’t reference any of the other types of dog that have also been bred to fight or to show suspicion towards humans.

Lots of people will be disappointed as we all know that any dog can be well-mannered or can show aggression based on lots of different factors.

By being breedist, the Government is creating prejudice towards certain types of dogs. They have decided they still think that certain breeds are more dangerous than others simply because of the way they look and so the four banned breeds – the pit bull terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro – are still banned.

We have a registered Pit Bull at The Clinic and he is the sweetest dog. Whilst they may have a genetic predisposition to be high energy and to show aggression to other dogs, with the correct training and treatment these dogs can make fantastic companions.

We feel that keeping these dogs illegal makes them more attractive to the wrong people. We also think that by making these dogs legal, breed clubs and standards could be created to encourage better breeding based on temperament.

By excluding these breeds from this sort of action the Government is creating a “black market” of dogs which will only mean irresponsible breeders breeding for the worse traits in the dog.

They also say a law which says that it is illegal to have a dog that is dangerously out of control in public should also include private places like your home.

This means that police now may seize a dog if it is aggressive during a raid.

Surely it doesn’t seem fair to expect every dog to react passively during an extreme situation like a police raid on its home? But this has much wider implications.

Perhaps you have a nervous dog that is not always comfortable with strangers knocking at the door?

Regardless of how any stranger may behave towards your dog, if they think they have reason to believe they are in danger when in your home, you could face court.

This is a bit scary for people with big and bouncy dogs or timid and anxious dogs. It means that now, more than ever, domestic obedience and training is really important.

We are really worried about dog owners who have anxious and suspicious dogs. Lots of these owners get help from people like us but some can’t afford to, or try to manage it themselves.

Dogs are now at risk of seizure, and owners of prosecution, when a dog behaves in a way that could be considered threatening in the home.

We also think that this has other problems. What one person sees as aggressive another person may not.

Two of my own three dogs “smile”. Many might confuse this as a snarl and so feel reasonably apprehensive that one of these dogs could potentially cause injury.

We think that dog owners need to be responsible for their own dog’s behaviour and seek help if they need it. We are sad that funding hasn’t been put in place for people who can’t afford help with seeking assistance with a dog’s behaviour.

We are pleased that the Government are allowing some dog owners to keep their dogs at home during the arduous and complex court processes. We hope that this becomes the default action of the police and that certain prejudices don’t prohibit perfectly good dog owners keeping their dogs.

We think that keeping dogs with their owners is always better so long as owners are given adequate support, especially if these dogs’ only crime is to look a certain way.

Dog legislation officer training is important and we hope that this money is spent on helping the police to learn more about the so-called dangerous dogs, and the best ways to approach and handle these dogs in highly stressful times.

We are however shocked that the Government has not made microchipping compulsory and think that this is a missed opportunity for positive changes to be made that would safeguard our pets from being lost, stolen and abandoned.

Keeping dogs safe is the most important thing and if you are worried about your dog’s behaviour please give one of our counsellors a call on: 01273 571024 or contact us via email EastSussexDogBehaviourClinic@hotmail.co.uk.