Are these 23 dog breeds really banned in India? Let’s get into details
It is no brainer that a dog’s love towards its master is the purest form of affection. Though they serve their masters with fullest loyalty, the dogs can sometimes hurt the innocent people mistaking them as a threat
Hyderabad: It is no brainer that a dog’s love towards its master is the purest form of affection. The four-legged companions can go to any extremes to save their beloved if they are in any trouble.
Till date we have witnessed countless instances where the canines stood strong as a shield to save their owners. There are also many incidents where the dogs lost their lives while saving others.
Though they serve their masters with fullest loyalty, the dogs can sometimes hurt the innocent people mistaking them as a threat.
In many cases, people get injured and some might even lose their lives because of a dog’s aggressive behaviour. There are few god breeds that are very aggressive in nature. Such breeds are very tough to handle and possess danger to others around them. At times they can even attack their owners owing to their natural aggressiveness. To curb such attacks and ghastly behaviours by the canines, countries impose a ban on their breeding and sale.
Last year, i.e. in 2024, the Indian government ‘recommended the ban’ of around 23 dog breeds citing the rise of attacks on innocents.
On 12th of March 2024, Dr OP Chaudhary, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying issued an official letter stating:
“The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying constituted an Expert Committee under the Chairmanship of Animal Husbandry Commissioner…has identified the following breeds of dogs as ferocious which are dangerous for human life.
Breeds (including mixed and cross breeds) like Pitbull Terrier, Tosa Inu, American Staffordshire Terrier, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, American Bulldog, Boerboel, Kangal, Central Asian Shepherd Dog (ovcharka), Caucasian Shepherd Dog (ovcharka), South Russian Shepherd dog (ovcharka), Tornjak, Sarplaninac, Japanese Tosa and Akita, Mastiffs (boerbulls), Rottweiler, Terriers, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Wolf dogs, Canario, Akbash dog, Moscow Guard dog, Cane Corso and every dog of the type commonly known as a Ban Dog.”
The committee has recommended that the aforementioned dog breeds including cross breeds shall be prohibited for import, breeding, selling as pet dogs and other purposes. Therefore it is requested that the local bodies, Department of Animal Husbandry shall not issue any licenses or permit for sale, breeding of dog breeds as mentioned above and keeping of these dog breeds and shall be banned. The local Bodies may also issue necessary implementation guidelines in this regard. However the dogs which have already kept as a pet shall be sterilised so that further breeding may not happen,” it read.
Therefore, there is no such thing as a ‘banned dog’ in India, but the sale, breeding and illegal importing is banned. Let’s know why some of these dog breeds are recommended to be banned in the country.
Pitbull terrier: Known for their masculine appearance, they are one of the most affectionate breeds. But at times they can be a threat to other dogs and also humans if they aren’t trained or guided properly.
Tosa Inu: The companion dog, originated in Japan, is known for its calmness. Under improper guidance they can be very aggressive because of their history as ‘fighting dog’.
Dogo Argentino: The breed is known for their intelligence. They were initially bred in Argentina for game hunting. This breed needs rigorous training to tame its aggressive behaviour. The recent order by the Telangana High Court on shifting a foreign breed dog to a safer place brings into sharp focus the dangerous associated with the man’s best friend.
American bulldog: This breed is famous for their nature of protection towards their family. But they can be a major threat to other animals and humans around them if not looked after carefully.
Kangal: The Turkish breed was initially bred to protect livestock from wolves and bears. They are primarily courageous, loyal, and strong guardians. Gentle and affectionate, Kangal can be aggressive toward unfamiliar people or animals if they lack early socialisation or strict training.
Mastiff: The sociable breed is very loyal and loving in its nature. But its sudden aggressive behavior towards strangers or intruders should be tamed properly.
Rottweiler: Rottweilers are known for their strength. They are also famous for the increasing cases of dog attacks. Originally bred for herding and guarding, they are highly protective of their families. Without proper training, the dogs can be aggressive towards anybody.
Bandog: The bandog is a mascular breed created from crossbreeding between mastiffs and terriers or other work dogs. Due to its protective and possible aggressive character, the breed will pose a threat unless properly trained.
Central Asian Shepherd: The Central Asian Shepherd Dog was bred as a guardian for the livestock from predators in a rough environment. The dog is powerfully independent and loyal, with strong guarding instincts. But its territorial nature can become problematic if not socialized or trained.
Akita: The Akita is a powerful but loyal dog breed. It is flexible enough to remain an affectionate family server but can be quite a threat to others because of its introverted nature.
