Other Ways That Dogs Can Be Considered Dangerous

Return to your topic: Dangerous and vicious dogs

Killer dogs are not necessarily the only dangerous dogs. In some circumstances, any dog can be dangerous. Here are some examples:

Overly playful

A dangerous propensity can include dangerous playfulness and over-demonstrative affection:

"[O]ne who keeps a large dog that he knows to be accustomed to fawn violently upon children and adultsis liable under [section 509 of the Restatement] for harm done by its dangerous playfulness or over-demonstrative affection .... [Par.] ... [L]ikewise [i]f the possessor knows that his dog has the playful habit of jumping up on visitors, he will be liable without negligence when the dog jumps on a visitor, knocks him down and breaks his hip .... " (Restatement Second of Torts, sec. 509, comments (c) and (i), cited in Drake v. Dean (1993) 15 Cal.App.4th 915.) Excessive number of dogs

Too many dogs might be dangerous; the City of Beverly Hills apparently thinks so, judging by this section of the Municipal Code:

Sec. 5-2.204. Walking dogs. It shall be unlawful for any person owning, controlling, or having in their care or custody, whether upon a leash or not, upon any public street, alley, or public place or upon any unenclosed land or property, four (4) or more dogs at any one time.  (5-1.206 Amd.) 

Training of attack dogs

Some jurisdictions have laws making it an offense to train attack dogs on residential property. The Virginia State Code contains the following provision:

3.1-796.93:2. Authority to prohibit training of attack dogs.

Any county with the urban county executive form of government may enact an ordinance which prohibits persons from training dogs on residential property to attack. As used in this section, "attack" means to attack or respond aggressively, either with or without command. Any such ordinance shall exempt from its provisions the training of dogs owned by any person who resides on the property. (1999, c. 848.)

Based on the authority given in section 3.1-796.93:2, the following provision was enacted in Fairfax County, VA:

Section 41.1-2-18. Prohibition on training of attack dogs.

It is unlawful for any person to train dogs, on property used for residential purposes, to attack or respond aggressively, either with or without command. However, this prohibition shall not prohibit a person from training dogs owned by such person on the property where the owner of the dogs being trained resides. (26-04-41.1.)

Other Ways That Dogs Can Be Considered Dangerous