Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee 07 May 2025
I have a lot of sympathy for the petition. Since we last wrote to the Scottish Government, we have received a detailed response. The petition aims to make changes for responsible dog owners who have the kind of dog that does not require muzzling and can routinely socialise well. According to the Scottish Government, if that dog looks like an XL bully, its exercise and training must be restricted.
I believe that the committee has given an answer to the petition. Ultimately, as the convener has highlighted, it is up to dog owners to attempt to identify whether they have one of the designated types of dog. In many cases, that is very difficult to discern, but I urge members of the public, if they feel that their dog is covered by the legislation, not to immediately place a muzzle on it, but, rather, to sign up to muzzle-specific training, so that the dog can become routinely used to it.
Unfortunately, given all that, I think that we have to close the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders.