Dangerous, Menacing & Restricted Breed Dogs in QLD
The Queensland government and the Animals Management (Cats & Dogs) Act 2008 demand that all owners of Dangerous Dogs, Menacing Dogs and Restricted Breed Dogs comply with the Act’s requirements or face penalties for each offense. The purpose of this act is to regulate these types of dogs and to ensure that the public is safe from any attacks or possibilities of attacks.
We have compiled some of the most important facts of the Act for dog owners to be able to comply with the Act’s requirements easily. This is only meant to be used as a guide for easy compliance. For more details, contact your local council.
Click below to Download your Fact Sheet so you can Print it and share it with dog owners. You can also upload this fact sheet to your website and send it to your mailing list so people are informed.
| Download - Dangerous Dog QLD Legislation Fact Sheet |
Table of Contents
Regulated Dogs in Queensland - What dogs are included?
Dangerous Dogs in Queensland - How are they declared?
Menacing Dogs in Queensland - Do I have a menacing dog?
Restricted Dogs in Queensland - What dogs are restricted?
Dog Owner Requirements - How do I comply?
Regulated Dog ID Tag - Do I need one?
Regulated Dog Warning Signs - Which one do I need?
Dog Muzzle & Leash for Dangerous Dogs
Proper Enclosure Requirements - What do I need to have?
Dangerous Dogs, Menacing and Restricted Dogs in QLD
The Animals Management (Cats & Dogs) Act 2008 in Queensland identifies 3 types of dogs and calls them Regulated Dogs. If a dog owner in Queensland owns a dog that has been declared Dangerous, Menacing or fits the descriptions of a Restricted breed, they are required by law to comply with the Act’s requirements or face penalties.
Dangerous Dogs in Queensland
Dogs in Queensland that have been declared Dangerous are due to a serious attack or an act that has caused fear to a person or animal. This applies to all dogs in Queensland according to the Act despite the dog’s breed or size.
Menacing Dogs in Queensland
A menacing dog declaration in Queensland applies to all dogs no matter what size of breed. A declaration of a dog to be a menacing dog may only be made if the dog has attacked or acted in a way that has caused fear to a person or animal in a non-serious manner.
Restricted Dogs in Queensland
Restricted dogs are dogs of a breed prohibited from import into Australia under the Customs Act 1901 of the Commonwealth. This includes the following:
- • American pit-bull terrier
- • Pit-bull terrier
- • Dogo Argentino
- • Fila Brasileiro
- • Japanese Tosa
- • Presa Canario
- • Dingo
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How do QLD dog owners comply with the Act?
The Act requires a number of requirements from the owners of declared dangerous dogs, declared menacing dogs and restricted dogs or face large fines and other penalties. We have listed these main requirements for dog owners with such dogs to guide them through the process easily and avoid any penalties.
Regulated Dog Identifying Tag in QLD
All Regulated Dogs which includes Dangerous Dogs, Menacing Dogs and Restricted Dogs are required to wear a collar with a custom identifying tag at all times. The custom tag must have the following features:
- • Contain the engraved and legible words “Regulated Dog”.
- • Contain an engraved and legible 24 hour contact number of the owner or any responsible person for the dog.
- • Made of Plastic or Metal
- • Must be Disc Shaped
- • Must have a yellow background
- • Measures at least 25mm in diameter
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Dangerous, Menacing and Restricted Dog Warning Signs for Queensland
The Animals Management (Cats & Dogs) Act 2008 in Queensland required 3 different warning signs depending on what type of dog a dog owner has. The warning sign must be placed at or near each entrance to the relevant place where the dog is kept to notify the public of its presence.
Dangerous Dog Warning Sign for QLD- • Must measure 360mm x 260mm
- • Must be made of Firm and Strong Materials
- • Must have a Yellow Background and Black Border
- • Must have the words “BEWARE – DANGEROUS DOG” measuring 50mm in height
- • Must have the words “declared under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008, chapter 4” measuring 15mm in height
- • The words must be Indelible, Legible, Black in colour
Menacing Dog Warning Sign for QLD- • Must measure 360mm x 260mm
- • Must be made of Firm and Strong Materials
- • Must have a Yellow Background and Black Border
- • Must have the words “BEWARE – MENACING DOG” measuring 50mm in height
- • Must have the words “declared under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008, chapter 4” measuring 15mm in height
- • The words must be Indelible, Legible, Black in colour
Restricted Dog Warning Sign for QLD- • Must measure 360mm x 260mm
- • Must be made of Firm and Strong Materials
- • Must have a Yellow Background and Black Border
- • Must have the words “BEWARE – RESTRICTED DOG” measuring 50mm in height
- • Must have the words “declared under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008, chapter 4” measuring 15mm in height
- • The words must be Indelible, Legible, Black in colour
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Dog Muzzle & Leash for Dangerous, Menacing and Restricted dogs in QLD
The Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 in Queensland requires that all regulated dogs which includes dangerous dogs, menacing dogs and restricted dogs must wear a Dog Muzzle at all times and must be on leash. The person handling the dog must not have more than 1 dog under his control at the same time. An exception would be if the dog is in an enclosed part of a vehicle and contained and restrained in a way that prevents the dog or any part of it from being outside of the enclosed part of the vehicle.Housing of Dangerous, Menacing and Restricted Dogs in QLD
A declared dangerous dog, menacing dog or a restricted dog must be confined in an appropriate pen that would prevent it from causing injury to the public or escaping. The dog must be usually kept inside the enclosure unless there is a reasonable excuse. It must be childproof and must have the following features:
- • Must not be situated at a location where a person must go through the enclosure
- • The enclosed area must be at least 10m²
- • The walls must be at least 1m high for dogs weighing 8kg or less or at least 1.8m for dogs weighing more than 8kg
- • Must be made of firm and strong materials
- • The walls of the enclosure must be designed to prevent a child from entering the enclosure
- • Must include a childproof, self-closing and self-latching gate
- • Must include a weatherproof area for the dog
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Other QLD Requirements for Dangerous, Menacing and Restricted Dogs
The requirements below are still part of the above requirements. A dog owner with a dangerous, menacing or a restricted dog must comply with each of these requirements or face large fines or penalties.
- • The regulated dog must be microchipped.
- • Regulated dogs must be desexed.
- • A regulated dog must be tattooed after desexing.
- • The regulated dog must not be sold, given or transferred to another owner.
- • A regulated dog must not be abandoned unless the owner or responsible person has a reasonable excuse.
- • Breeding dangerous or restricted dogs is prohibited.
- • The owner of a regulated dog must notify the local government of the following:
- ---- If the owner obtains another restricted dog permit for a restricted dog.
- ---- If the owner changes address (Notify within 7 days)
- ---- If the owner changes address that is in another local government area. (Must notify both local governments.)
The information on this page is meant to be a guide for dog owners in Queensland. For more details, please contact your local council.
Click below to Download your Fact Sheet so you can Print it and share it with dog owners. You can also upload this fact sheet to your website and send it to your mailing list so people are informed.
The information contained on this page is meant as a general guide and general advice only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. We recommend people follow the instructions of their local government department. These materials are intended, but not promised or guaranteed to be current, complete, or up-to-date and should in no way be taken as an indication of future results. The Dog Line offers this information freely and takes no responsibility for its accuracy. For more details, please contact your local council.
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