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Restricted breed FAQs

Why are dogs declared as restricted breed dogs?

Restricted breed dog laws help prevent physical and emotional injuries as well as death to people and other animals.

The laws help the owners of restricted breed dogs understand how to properly control their dogs and prevent injuries to other people or animals.

Restricted breed dogs are breeds of dogs that are more likely to be aggressive and can cause more serious injuries than non-restricted breed dogs if they attack a person or another animal.

What are the restricted breed dogs in Tasmania?

Some breeds are banned from importation into Australia. Of these, only the American pit bull terrier or pit bull terrier are believed to be in Tasmania.

Restricted breeds are

  • American Pit Bull Terrier (or Pitt Bull Terrier)
  • Dogo Argentino (or Argentinean mastiff)
  • Fila Brasileiro (or Brazilian mastiff, Brazilian guard dog or Cao de Fila)
  • Perro de Presa Canario (or Presa Canario)
  • Japanese tosa (or tosa Inu, tosa fighting dog or Japanese fighting dog)

There are guidelines to help council officers identify restricted breed dogs. The approved guidelines are available to view and download.

The following dog breeds are not restricted but can look similar to and be mistaken for restricted breed dogs

  • American Staffordshire Terrier
  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier
  • Mastiff
  • Bullmastiff

What do I need to do if my dog is declared a restricted breed dog?

  • Get your dog de-sexed and microchipped within 28 days from the date your council declares your dog to be a restricted breed dog
  • Give your council a copy of the certificate from the vet saying the dog is de-sexed and microchipped, within 7 days of the dog’s operation
  • Don’t remove the microchip from your dog without approval from the council
  • When you are in a public place, make sure your restricted breed dog:
    • is muzzled so that it can’t bite a person or animal
    • is held on a lead that is not more than 2 metres long, and that is strong enough to control and restrain the dog and
    • is under the control of a person at least 18 years of age.
  • Put up approved restricted breed dog warning signs at all the entrances to the place where your dog usually lives
  • Keep an approved restricted breed dog collar on your dog at all times  
  • Ask your council where to get the warning signs and collar from
  • Don’t have more than 2 restricted breed dogs over 6 months old
  • Tell your council within 24 hours if your dog attacks or bites a person or animal
    • Your council may declare your dog to be a dangerous dog if it attacks. A dangerous dog must be kept in a specific enclosure

How do I become an owner of a restricted breed dog?

You must apply to your council if you want to become the owner of a restricted breed dog.

A restricted breed dog may only be sold or given away after the future owner has been given approval from their council.

Once the council has approved the transfer or sale of the restricted dog, the seller must notify their council within 24 hours of the transfer or sale.

How do I bring a restricted breed dog from interstate to Tasmania?

Dogs declared as a restricted breed dog in another state will also be a restricted breed dog in Tasmania.

You must notify the council within 7 days if you bring a restricted breed dog into Tasmania.

What happens if my restricted breed dog strays or is lost?

If your restricted breed dog goes missing, strays, dies or is lost you must tell the council as soon as possible.

It is against the Animal Welfare Act 1993 to abandon an animal and you can be fined up to $16,300 (correct as at September 2018) and/or imprisoned for up to 12 months.

How can there be American pit bull terriers (or pit bull terriers) in Australia if they have been banned?

Pit bull terriers have been banned from importation into Australia for over 15 years but there are some living in Australia from before the ban.

There are also many cross-breed dogs that look similar to pit bull terriers.

Cross-breed dogs are not declared restricted breed dogs in Tasmania.

Can I appeal if the council declares my dog is a restricted breed dog?

If your dog has been declared a restricted breed dog, you may appeal against the declaration to the Magistrates Court (Administrative Appeals Division). You will need to prove that your dog is not a restricted breed dog to the court. You have 28 days to appeal the declaration from the date of the notice from the council.

If the court agrees with the council’s declaration that your dog is a restricted breed dog you will have to get the dog de-sexed and microchipped within 7 days of the court order.

What is the difference between a restricted breed dog and a dangerous dog?

Restricted breed dogs are breeds of dogs that are more likely to be aggressive and can cause more serious injuries than non-restricted dogs if they attack a person or another animal.

A dangerous dog is a dog that has actually attacked a person or animal or is likely to cause serious injury to a person or another animal. A dangerous dog can be any breed of dog, because the declaration is based on the dog’s behaviour not its breed.

The council will decide if a dog is a restricted breed dog or a dangerous dog and will let the owner know.

A restricted breed dog can become a dangerous dog if

  • it causes serious injury to a person or animal OR
  • if a council thinks it will cause serious injury to a person or another animal

The owner or person in charge of a dangerous dog will have to follow more rules such as putting up an approved enclosure for the dog to live in.

Resources and related information

For further information

For further information or queries regarding restricted breed dogs contact your council.  Contact details for your council is provided in the Tasmanian council directory.

Go back to the main dog control page