Dangerous Dog Collars Australia: Everything You Need To Know

Red and yellow striped collars aren't the usual dog collar you'd buy for just any pooch, their aim is to draw attention, but they aren’t a fashion statement. 

They are a mandatory form of identification for dangerous dogs in Australia. 

But what exactly is a dangerous dog? In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about dangerous dog collars in Australia.

If you want to find out what exactly these special collars are; which dogs need to wear them; and where to find one that fits the regulations. Keep reading.

What Is A Dangerous Dog Collar?

Dangerous dog collars were designed to act as a warning sign. The collars are visually distinctive, thus letting anyone easily recognise a dog that might be dangerous.

The idea behind this is to know whether a dog is safe to approach or not from a distance, thus preventing potentially dangerous situations.

Furner was referring to new legislation in QLD that obliges all regulated dogs to wear a prescribed red and yellow collar. The requirement for a ‘distinctive’ collar existed before that, but the look of it was not clearly defined, which caused confusion.

This is why, in recent years, there is a tendency towards making dangerous dog collars an easily recognisable sign Australia-wide, although the rules are still not exactly the same in every legislation (see comparison table below)

Of course, to do so, a warning dog collar needs to be made as apparent as possible. And to avoid any confusion, these collars have a very specific design and strict requirements.

Dangerous Dog Collar Requirements

Every state and territory in Australia has its own legal acts defining the rules and obligations regarding dangerous dogs. Hence the definitions might be slightly different, but the basic requirements for a dangerous dog collar tend to be the same:

Who Needs To Wear A Dangerous Dog Collar?

In most parts of Australia, dogs that are potentially dangerous to humans and/or animals (except for vermin) are required to wear this collar. The regulation is relatively new in some states, like Queensland, while states including New South Wales, Tasmania, Western Australia and Victoria have had it in place for several decades now (4).

As mentioned, there are differences between legislations, but if we consider them together, there are 3 types of dogs that may be required to wear this special type of collar.

Dangerous Dogs

A dog can be declared dangerous by the council of the municipal district you’re living in. This happens in case of an unfortunate event where your pooch gets aggressive with a person or another animal. Now, exactly how aggressive a dog needs to be to get declared differs a bit from legislation to legislation, but the premises are pretty similar.

For example, according to the VIC Domestic Animals Act 1994, a dog can be declared dangerous in several cases. First things first, dogs that are kept for guarding non-residential premises and will attack anyone that comes trespassing, be it an animal or a human, are automatically recognised as dangerous dogs by this act. The same goes for dogs that are trained to attack or bite a person or anything a person might be wearing.

Related: My Dog Was Attacked By Another Dog: What Are My Rights?

One area that is clear, is it has to be a serious injury, to either a human or an animal. However, there might be cases where the above does not apply, like when it’s been confirmed that the dog was acting in self-defence.

Additionally, hunting dogs may also be declared dangerous, depending on the state. So for instance, that’s the case with the Bull Arab breed, but only in the state of New South Wales (5). Other states don’t differentiate hunting dogs from pets in this sense.

Bottom line - a dog is considered a dangerous/regulated dog once it has been declared as such by the local government. From this moment on, the rules and obligations apply including wearing the special collar.

You should know that once a dog is declared dangerous by the council, the decision can’t be revoked, amended or otherwise altered - at least not in the state it was passed.

Menacing Dogs

Some states, like NSW, VIC, and QLD recognise an additional category of dogs - menacing dogs.

In VIC, under the same Domestic Act of 1994, local councils may also declare a dog to be menacing.

That could happen under two circumstances. First is in the case your canine companion bites a human or an animal, without causing serious injury. And second, if your pooch rushes at or chases someone (including displays of aggression).

Like in the case of dangerous dogs, this doesn’t apply to situations where your dog is simply self-defending or protecting you from someone. That also goes for attacking people trespassing in your backyard. Now, the council needs to first inform you about their intention to declare your dog menacing, to which you can object if you can prove that your canine companion was acting in such a manner.

Now, in NSW and QLD dogs that are declared as menacing need to wear the dangerous dog collar, while in VIC they don’t. However, menacing dogs can get the dangerous dog label if there are are repeat offences.

On the other hand, the definition of a dangerous dog in WA also covers ‘menacing’ dogs - i.e. those who are threatening to attack without actually attacking.

Restricted Breeds

Finally, we have the so-called restricted dogs. This is a term that actually to dog breeds that are considered to be “more dangerous” than other breeds. And aside from Australia, the majority of countries across the world have a list of breeds that are prohibited.

The restricted dog breeds in Australia are:

Now, that’s not to say there aren’t any dogs from this breed list currently living in Australia. It is forbidden to import them, but not to own them. Depending on where you are, though, there are special regulations regarding these breeds, including the mandate to wear the dangerous dog collar.

Does My Dog Need to Wear the Collar?

Which dogs have to wear the collar? The rules are not the same everywhere. The table below gives you an overview, but to be safe, it’s always to check with your local council, as there might be additional specific rules imposed.

The dangerous dog collar by the Dog Line is designed to¨the legislative requirements of all the Australian states that require the use of such a collar.

That’s the first and most important thing, but there are other good things to be said about this particular collar:

First, it comes in four different sizes, so that you can find a suitable one for your pooch. Given that sizes are determined by the weight of your canine companion, the collar might not fit your dog like a glove, but luckily, you can easily pierce the fabric to make more holes if needed.

That’s the great thing about polyurethane, you can easily cut off the excess part and add holes without causing the material to rip. What’s also great is that it’s resistant to water, mould and odour, so it can withstand quite a bit of wear and tear. The material is further improved with a Flouro coating, which makes it even stronger and reflective at night for better visibility.

Even though it’s tough and durable, you shouldn’t use this dog collar for tethering or keeping your dog on a lead. Since it’s designed purely for identification purposes, you don’t want it getting broken and leaving your pooch without it, which could cause legal issues for both of you.

My Final Thoughts

Pooches that are declared as dangerous, menacing or restricted must wear a red and yellow identifying collar at all times, be it at home or in the streets.

 Not only does it prevent other people from approaching your dog, but it’s also your legal obligation. Just keep in mind that the collar is there for identification and not for tethering purposes. In that case, your canine companion should wear a regular collar or a harness as well.

References

1. Trajkovich, M. December 16, 2021. “New collars now mandatory for Queensland's dangerous dogs”. Nine News. Retrieved January 15, 2023. https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-dog-collar-rules-new-warning-collars-mandatory-for-queenslands-dangerous-dogs/27a818c2-1ba6-49f3-8f07-1828560b1f81
2. July 06, 2020. “Standard for restricted breed dogs”. Agriculture Victoria. Retrieved January 15, 2023. https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/animal-welfare-victoria/dogs/restricted-breed-dogs/standard-for-restricted-breed-dogs
3. Dog Regulations 2013, Western Australian Legislation https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/main_mrtitle_13105_homepage.html
4. January 11, 2022. “Do Dangerous Dogs Have to Wear Collars By Law?”. PD. Retrieved January 15, 2023. https://www.pd.com.au/blogs/do-dangerous-dogs-have-to-wear-collars-by-law/
5. Orr, B; Malik, R; Norris, J; Westman, M. October 22, 2019. “The Welfare of Pig-Hunting Dogs in Australia”. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved January 15, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6826489/#:~:text=Under%20the%20NSW%20Companion%20Animals,declared%20dangerous%20dog%20%5B37%5D