Dogs trained to hang from branches by teeth in Bradford
The Rise of Status Dogs and Aggressive Training
The increasing prevalence of so-called "status dogs" in Bradford has raised concerns among community leaders, who believe that the trend of training animals to "dangle from branches with their teeth" may be contributing to the rise in dangerous dog incidents. According to recent data, over 180 dogs have been seized by authorities in the past four years after being classified as dangerous.
These figures were obtained through a Freedom of Information Request submitted by the T&A to West Yorkshire Police. The numbers show a steady increase in dog seizures: 23 in 2022, 44 in 2023, 65 in 2024, and 48 up to December 9, 2025.
A Growing Concern for Public Safety
Elizabeth Hellmich, a representative from The Safe Project, has highlighted the growing issue of aggressive dog training. She notes that more dogs are being trained to be hostile towards people and other animals. “It’s still going on,” she said, explaining that the practice is becoming increasingly common.
Hellmich, who has always owned Spaniels, now avoids taking her dogs out in public. “I don’t take them out of the street anymore. If we go anywhere, we go in the car and go further afield,” she explained. She recounted an incident where two larger dogs approached her while she was walking in a field, but the owner managed to control them before they caused any harm.
She pointed out that the types of dogs being used as status symbols have shifted over time. “It used to be Alsatians, but now it's Akitas, Pitbull-type dogs, and XL Bullies,” she said. “They’re almost like status symbols now.”
The Role of Owners in Aggressive Behavior
Hellmich emphasized that the responsibility lies with the owners rather than the dogs themselves. “They shouldn’t be used like that. It’s not the dog’s fault, it’s the owner’s fault,” she said. She described instances where dogs are taught to grab people and dangle from trees, which she believes is only done with an ulterior motive.
“Even working dogs are well looked after. They don’t teach them to do things that are going to be dangerous to other people or animals,” she added.
A Disturbing Incident
One particularly disturbing incident this year involved a girl named Hawwa-Jannat, who was chased and bitten by a dog while collecting post from her neighbor’s property. Video footage captured the event as the girl accepted the parcel and ran home. The dog followed her into her home, knocking over her younger sibling and causing injuries to Hawwa-Jannat’s leg. She is now terrified of dogs.
A man voluntarily attended a police station in relation to the incident, admitted to being in charge of a dog that was dangerously out of control, and was given a conditional caution. The dog was released to the owners under three conditions.
Historical Context and Legislative Efforts
The T&A has been running a campaign called Curb the Danger Dogs for over a decade. This effort was partly inspired by a 1991 incident in Bradford, where a six-year-old girl, Rukhsana Khan, suffered severe injuries after being attacked by a dog. The incident led to the creation of the Dangerous Dogs’ Act.
Rukhsana, now an advocate for responsible dog ownership, has supported the T&A’s campaign. Despite legislative changes over the years, including mandatory microchipping and registration for dogs at eight weeks old, some issues remain unresolved.
One of the T&A’s key calls is for a record of control orders to be kept on every dog’s registration. Although the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has recently unveiled its new Animal Welfare Strategy, aimed at protecting pets and wildlife, the call for stricter measures remains unfulfilled.
New Proposals for Responsible Ownership
The Labour government has introduced new proposals to promote responsible dog ownership and protect public safety. These include better protection for farm animals in England and Wales from dog attacks through new livestock worrying laws.
While progress has been made, the ongoing challenge of managing dangerous dogs continues to require vigilance and proactive measures from both the public and authorities.
