17/04/2026
Leaving this hereโฆ.
Agriculture Vic
"It is not appropriate for a member of the community to have access to an attack trained dog, unless they are a licensed security guard."
Under the Domestic Animals Act in Victoria, โattackโ or โdangerousโ dogs include dogs trained to bite a sleeve.
This classification effectively removes any lawful pathway for members of the public to participate in protection sports within the state.
But hereโs the problem ๐
A dangerous dog is rarely a trained one.
More often, itโs a dog that lacks training and fulfilment.
Dogs have internal drivers - prey, hunt, defence, social/pack.
When these are ignored or suppressed, we see a high rate of frustration, anxiety and unpredictable behaviour.
Protection sports are not attack training.
They are highly structured, internationally recognised dog sports, developed to test stability, control and clarity under pressure - which requires the handler to have an incredible amount of discipline and passion.
Sports like IGP require:
โข precision obedience
โข clear-headedness
โข stability
โข discrimination and control
These dogs are trained more, not less - and held to a higher standard than almost any dogs in society.
Claiming these dogs pose a risk to the community isnโt just wrong - itโs damaging to dog welfare as a whole.
Perception wins again.
Dogs pay the price.
