Vicious dog breeds could be subject to an import ban and neutering policy in order to wipe them out in Denmark

Fourteen breeds of dog considered dangerous could be banned in Denmark on the recommendation of a parliamentary committee.

Jyllands-Posten newspaper uncovered the suggestion, which came from the committee set up by the justice minister in February last year to propose a revision of current dog laws.

A spate of attacks on humans and smaller dogs by such dogs last year lead to calls for reviews of current legislation and, if the committee’s recommendation is approved, owning dogs like Pit Bull Terriers could soon be made illegal.

The fourteen breeds considered dangerous by the committee include: Pit Bull Terrier, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentine, Tosa Inu, Boerboel, Kangal, the Central Asian, Caucaisna and South Russian varieties of Ovcharka, Tornjak and Sarplaninac.

The dog breeds in question would no longer be allowed to be imported and owners would be forbidden from breeding them through selected neutering.

The 10 member committee was not able to fully agree on one proposal, so another model has also been put forward for approval. This calls not for the banning of dangerous dogs, but the owners’ requirement to keep them on a leash and muzzle.

Vibeke Knudsen of the Danish Kennel Club is one of the committee members who couldn’t agree with the proposal for an outright ban.

‘It’s the Danish Kennel Club’s position that a ban model is not the right way to go, but we agree that something should be done,’ she said, adding that the club advocated the leash and muzzle option.

The committee has also recommended that police be given greater means to deal with the extra work brought about by the new legislation.

The political revision of the dog laws is expected to be dealt with by March.