I hate the fact that certain breeds are banned and branded “dangerous” when more often than not it is the owners fault and not the animals. I’m not sure if what you are suggesting would help much but something needs to be done to ensure people are getting their desired breed for the right reasons and not to use them as a status dog. There was recently a programme on the BBC (BBC3 I think, you can still catch it on the iPlayer on the BBC website) showing how many young people were using hard looking breeds (mostly Bull Terriers, Mastiffs, Rottweilers) as weapons and for status. I cried when I saw that programme, some of these people were happy to admit that they were cruel to their dogs as it was (apparently) “the only way to make them vicious. One poor Bull terrier puppy had cigarette burns all over her body.
Anyway, after seeing this programme my feelings that it is too easy to get a dog were confirmed. Maybe it would be a good idea to bring back dog liscencing. If people have to pay a yearly fee to own their animal then MAYBE it will prevent some of the people that want a dog for the wrong reasons as it’s too much hassle (they are obviously not genuine dog lovers so why would they want to pay to keep one). Obviously for this to work it would have to be quite a substantial fee and I am aware that this may stop genuine dog lovers from being able to give a dog a god home because they just can’t afford it.
Before anything can change though their must be stricter laws against back yard breeding. Unfortunately Pit Bull Terriers are banned in this country (I don’t agree with this law but that’s another story!) BUT because of back yard breeding it’s still not at all difficult to get hold of a Pit Bull puppy. What’s more worrying is, despite this law, very few of these people that have Pits are prosecuted because most police men, dog wardens etc cannot tell a true Pit bull and are often told when they question owners that their dogs are Staffi cross breeds. We used to have a Rhodisian Ridgeback and were approached by a police man who thought she was a Pit (dumbass!) What’s the point of having a law if this happens. Because (most of the time) the law is not enforced (because of ignorance more than anything else) dog fighting and puppy milling with banned breeds is still alive and well and it’s the dogs that are suffering more than people.
I’m not sure if I answered your question but that’s just my opinion and experience on the situation.
Ban the DEED not the BREED.