Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether protection dogs are recognised as a specific class of dog under UK legislation.

Protection dogs, or guard dogs, are defined in the Guard Dogs Act (1975) as a dog which is being used to protect premises; or property kept on the premises; or a person guarding the premises or such property.

The Animal Welfare Act (2006) provide protection for all animals under the control of man. Protection dogs are included within this definition so are covered by all of the Act’s provisions. The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 which came into force on the 29 June 2021 increased the maximum penalties available for cases of cruelty under the Act, and applies to protection dogs as well as service and other animals.

The Guard Dogs Act (1975) ensures that applications for a licence to operate guard dog kennels are appropriately assessed by the relevant local authority, and the act allows local authorities to assess applications in line with any conditions it sees fit. Where guard dog kennels fall within the scope of the statutory guidance published in support of The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations (2018) then those standards would apply. Where a licensee is convicted of an animal welfare offence then their licence may be revoked or suspended by the court.

Protection dogs already receive the same protections as other dogs and this will continue to be the case where existing animal welfare legislation is revised or new legislation is proposed.