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.

Irresponsible owners

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 child 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.

Lack of training

This is supported by the PDSA’s research, released in January 2012, 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.“

For more information, visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/dangerousdogs and www.thekennelclub.org.uk/dogtraining.