Almost all dogs are potentially dangerous, and all dogs can be a nuisance (The American bully XL furore is a stark reminder of the uneasy bond between dogs and humans, 14 September). Yet dogs can be an absolute joy to have around. The difference is not in the breed of dog but the behaviour of the owners. A responsible and knowledgable owner ensures a well-trained dog. The problem is that there is no requirement for dog owners to have any knowledge at all.
One solution would be a dog licence, issued only after passing a test to show you know how to keep a dog. This would operate in a similar way to a driving test, and dog owners would be given penalty points for poor dog behaviour, or even have their licence taken away for serious offences, such as biting.
