Owners of aggressive pets in Britain will face mandatory dog awareness courses under measures put forward Wednesday by a committee of House of Commons politicians.

Dog training.[Photo:VCG]

A report by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee on the control of dangerous dogs calls for a full-scale review of current rules to better protect the public from attacks by family pets.

The inquiry by the MPs was launched to investigate current laws which ban specific breeds, as well as examining wider dog controls. It follows concerns that the current approach to dog controls was not protecting the public adequately.

The committee said an alternative dog control model should be developed to focus on prevention through education, early intervention, and consistently robust sanctions for offenders.

Among its recommendations to the government is a call for mandatory dog awareness courses for owners involved in low to mid-level offences. A compulsory training course would be similar to speed awareness courses for car drivers.

There should also be awareness campaigns to encourage responsible ownership and improve childhood education on staying safe around dogs.

The MPs also want an independent review into the factors behind dog aggression and attacks, and whether banned breeds pose an inherently greater threat.

The committee members raised serious concerns about the robustness current banned breed legislation, highlighting evidence showing that some legal breeds can pose just as great a risk to public safety as illegal breeds.

It is estimated that more than a quarter of all households in Britain own a pet dog.