Dog Keeping Act: Draft requires certain breeds to be muzzled

So now? As demanded by critics, stricter rules for certain dog breeds have now been included in the draft for the new Upper Austrian dog ownership law. When the key points were first presented in the fall, there was only talk of a distinction between large and small dogs.

These breeds are affected

A general leash and muzzle requirement will now apply to six dog breeds. This affects Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Dogo Argentino, Pit Bull and Tosa Inu. From the age of 13 months, they should only be allowed to move around in public spaces on a leash and with a muzzle. In addition, the increased training requirements for large dogs apply to these breeds, regardless of their size and weight.

However, owners of these dogs should have the opportunity to request that the muzzle requirement be lifted from the municipality of residence. The prerequisite for this should be a positive behavioral medical evaluation of the dog and additional training for the owner.

In other federal states, Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Dogo Argentino, Pit Bull and Tosa Inu are already subject to certain regulations. A general leash and muzzle requirement for these breeds would be “viewed critically from a professional animal protection perspective,” argued State Animal Welfare Councilor Michael Lindner (SPÖ) at the end of November.

• Also read on this topic: New dog ownership law in Upper Austria: Lots of praise, but also criticism
• You might also be interested in: Stricter rules for dog owners: Lindner is planning a driving license for large dogs

More Corner points of the draft law briefly summarized:

• Before purchasing the animal, the owner must successfully complete a general knowledge course lasting six hours.
• As reported, a distinction will be made between large and small dogs in the future. Large dogs within the meaning of the law are animals that reach a height of at least 40 cm at the withers or a weight of at least 20 kg when fully grown.
• Anyone who owns a large dog must, in addition to general knowledge, also complete a practical test – the so-called suitability test for everyday use. The behavior of the dog and the owner is checked in everyday situations such as in traffic or in crowds of people.
• The criteria for when a dog can be declared “conspicuous” by notification have been significantly expanded. Anyone who keeps a suspicious dog in the future will have to complete significantly more intensive training requirements.
• The possible official measures have also been revised if harassment or even bite incidents by dogs occur in communities. The catalog of measures ranges from official orders that only affect individual dogs to a general ban on certain people keeping dogs. It also enables the removal of animals.

Tragic incidents as triggers

The innovations are to be discussed in the second subcommittee meeting on Wednesday. Lindner sees the draft, which was drawn up by an expert working group, as the most modern dog ownership law in Austria. The long-demanded, comprehensive amendment to the law was preceded by two tragic incidents: At the beginning of October, as reported, a 60-year-old jogger was bitten to death by at least one American Staffordshire terrier. A month later there was another dog attack in Eidenberg, in which a jogger was injured by a dog bite.

• From the archive: Fatal dog attack in Naarn: “Elmo was trained to be sharp”
• A review: Tragedy in Naarn: The fatal dog attack and its hesitant consequences

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