Browsing the web today I came across this site. Seems like a good proposal to me. A real answer to the problem. What does everyone else think?

Dog Ownership Suitability Test The Proposal

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It sounds good,it remains to be seen if the current BSL will be scraped.

We do need stronger regulations on the breeding,advertising and selling of dogs.

It certainly would be interesting to see it how it would be policed and enforced.Something definatly needs doing targetting breeds is not the answer as we all know it does nothing to stop them falling into the wrong hands and been bred by byb,it also does nothing to prevent attacks and protect the public.

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I voted 'good idea'. But I'm biased, it's my proposal

Thank you for linking to it.

If anyone has any questions on it regarding implementation or how the test would work in reality I'd be only too happy to discuss.

The most common objection I've encountered when developing this proposal over the past couple of years is 'feasibility'. Or to put it another way, 'nice idea but it can't be done / won't work etc'.

I appreciate fully how radical and different it is as a concept, especially considering what flimsy and poor dog laws we have right now.

What I would say though is that to say it can't be done is actually not correct, in fact. I say 'in fact' because there are already much larger and much more complicated schemes in place which are being run along the lines of this scheme. My proposal isn't based on new concepts, it's based on adopting existing concepts and applying them to dogs. That is probably why it seems quite big and complicated at first.

I recall when the driving licence theory exam was introduced to accompany the practical test, it didn't have people saying 'it can't be done'. The reason being, we know it could be done. So the scheme only uses existing technology, systems and principles which are already in effect and running smoothly.

Other common objections are - will it stop people who don't bother to take the test? Well, from my point of view this is the wrong way to look at it. After all, having a law against murder doesn't stop people from doing it but it certainly needs to be a law!

I see this as a scheme that genuinely can be implemented and would have a genuine effect of improving dog ownership skills across the board. There are many people who are not bad dog owners, who are not irresponsible dog owners but they DO lack some key skills and education.

I look at like this: If we applied the laws we have to dog ownership to driving a car, it would be like saying to everyone 'don't bother with a driving test, just get behind the wheel and have a go. If you have an accident, we'll punish you a little bit and we'll take your car away and scrap it. Then you can get another car'. It seems ludicrous. I personally feel a compulsory level of education before a person becomes a dog owner will protect dogs from people as much as it would protect people from dogs.

Once again, thanks for linking it here!

Hi,

I run the UKs most popular pet advertising site at Pets4Homes and think this is a great idea, and I would be happy to prevent people from advertising on our site unless the seller has a valid licence which can be checked online.

Mark

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Free Pet Advertising in the UK at Pets4Homes
Dogs - Puppies - Pets - Cats - Kittens for Sale

Who voted bad idea? No comment as to why!?!

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Good on ya, whats being done to make it a reality though?

It's not that radical, it's been discussed here a fair bit! But it's a very good idea and something definatly needs to be done!

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Thank you. I feel this proposal, if implemented, would really highlight where some of the problems are in the 'supply chain' when it comes to dogs. After all, so many problems could and would be avoided if we had less cases of the wrong people getting hold of dogs from certain sources.

Thanks for the words of support.

This is the (simplified) plan of action for trying to make this a reality

1) Soft launch (done)
2) Feedback period (doing)
3) Get public support (we'll have to see if this is something people like the idea of)
4) Take to official consultation stage
5) Refine the proposal in accordance with consultation feedback
6) Get mainstream media support (very important) - have had very positive feedback from the newspapers I've approached
7) Approach MPs with a refined, workable proposal which has been well publicised is popular with the public, offers a real solution to the problems with dogs in society and has the support of mainstream media.

MP's are nothing if not opportunists, I would imagine getting one or indeed several to take the proposal to an early day motion would be very do'able if stages 1 to 6 go to plan.

So as we're currently in the stage 1 to 3 periods, it is heartening to see and hear that their are fellow dog lovers who believe this is a solution that could offer a real alternative to the outdated and, frankly, ineffective dog laws we're currently saddled with in the UK.

As a law, it is quite a big change from what we have. Politicians will see it as radical and that will either go for or against the scheme depending on how the public feel about it. Below are some of the links from the last couple of years when I've been 'banging on' about the need for this test:

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/...name_page.html

New horror dog attacks on kids | The Sun |HomePage|News

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/rot...er-ban-uk.html

The Big Question: Are there too many dangerous dogs in Britain, and what can we do about it? - This Britain, UK - Independent.co.uk

YouTube - Dangerous Dogs Debate and Dog Ownership Suitability Test

YouTube - Dangerous dogs debate GMTV 1

YouTube - Dangerous dogs debate
Once again, thanks for the encouraging words.

I think its a excellent idea!! I have a fear of yorkshire terriers, Staffies and Jack russles...because of bad expeirences when i was a child. Between my dog being attacked and me not so much being attack but had a good go at, I can barely not wet myself when im around these dogs which is a terrible shame because they can all be lovely dogs!!

Its about time people realised that its not the dogs fault. Too many people ruin good dogs and it does my head in to be honest!! I never know if my child is going to go to stroke someones dog and be bitten!! Instead they are told not to stroke ANY dog they dont know!! Which is fine at the moment because they are 4 and 1 and half, but they will get to the age where they go out to play with their friends or round to their friends houses and well...the worst could happen!!!

There is too many bad breeders and bad people out there!!!

I ticked good idea BUT will it work?
Wont the BYB just go further underground and STILL find a way round these sorts of things?

Good point.

I think the main thing is this.

If a person is caught selling or even giving a dog away to a non licenced owner, that is a criminal offence. That is the biggest difference. At the moment BYB's and puppy farmers can operate well within the law, regardless of how un-ethical they may be, they are legal. What this proposal would do is it would 'flush out' those people and it would subject them to an actual law.

So if you sold me a dog and I wasn't able to show you I had my ownership licence, at some point in the future I'm probably going to get stopped or asked to produce my ownership certificate/number etc. If I can't, I will be fined and I will have to say where I got the dog from.

The other way of looking at it, this scheme will bring in a brand new Govt agency which would be a sub-department of DEFRA which would exclusively deal with dog owners. The revenue raised through the scheme would allow for more spot checks to be done on puppy farms - i.e. a dog control officer could approach a puppy farm or any breeder for that matter and try and 'buy' a dog without a licence. If the breeder gets 'stung' that's it, they're out. The scheme operates on a one strike and you're out rule. So try and sell one dog to one person without a licence and you lose your breeder/supplier licence. Then you are legally not allowed to sell any dogs to any people, if you do and get caught you are facing large fines. If you carry on, you are facing jail.

So dealing in puppies will become far less attractive and those who do it for profit may just turn their attentions to other, less risky 'scams'.