Dangerous, menacing and restricted breed dogs

  • Restricted breed dogs can be registered with Council, in accordance with the Domestic Animals Amendment (Restricted Breed Dogs) Act 2017.
  • We can declare a dog to be dangerous or menacing.
  • You can report concerns with dangerous, menacing or restricted breed dogs to us.

Menacing dogs

We may declare a dog menacing if it:

  • 'rushes' at a person – that is, comes within 3 metres of a person and acts aggressively, for example, by  snarling, growling or raising its hackles
  • causes a non-serious bite to a person or animal
  • has been declared a menacing dog by another council.

Dangerous dogs

We may declare a dog to be dangerous if it:

  • has caused serious injury to a person or animal by biting or attacking
  • is kept as a guard dog or has been trained to attack people or animals
  • is declared a menacing dog and its owner has received at least 2 infringement notices for the dog not being leashed and/or muzzled in a public place
  • has been declared a dangerous dog by another council.

Menacing dogs must be:

  • muzzled when outside the owner’s premises
  • microchipped
  • on a lead at all times in any public space, and controlled by a person over the age of 17.

Dangerous dogs must:

  • be microchipped
  • be desexed
  • wear a prescribed collar at all times
  • be housed within a dwelling or in an approved outdoor enclosure which cannot be accessed by anyone under 18 years of age
  • be muzzled and on a lead when outside of the premises
  • be housed at a property which has signs at all entrances saying there is a dangerous dog at the property

These dogs are considered restricted breeds:

  • Full or cross-bred American Pit Bull Terrier (or Pit Bull Terrier)
  • Pit Bull crossbreeds
  • Perro de Presa Canario (or Presa Canario)
  • Dogo Argentino
  • Japanese Tosa
  • Fila Brasileiro.

A restricted breed dog can include any dog of a mixed breed that visibly contains any of the above prohibited breeds.

Restricted breed dogs must:

  • be desexed (unless the owner obtains a certificate from a vet stating that the dog cannot be desexed for health reasons)
  • be microchipped
  • be wearing a prescribed collar at all times
  • be housed within a dwelling, backyard or enclosure so that it cannot escape or injure someone who comes to the premises
  • be muzzled and on a leash when outside the owner’s premises and under the control of a person aged 18 or over
  • be housed at a property which has signs at all entrances saying there is a restricted breed dog at the property

Report it to Council

If you suspect that a dangerous or restricted breed dog is not being kept according to the rules listed above, contact us on 1300 787 624 or mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au so we can investigate the matter.  

Call the Dangerous Dogs Hotline

1300 101 080

This is an additional way for you to report the matter.

Agriculture Victoria website