From Rottweiler to American Pitbull: Chandigarh bans six aggressive dog breeds

Chandigarh: The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh has banned six aggressive dog breeds, including the American Bulldog, American Pitbull, Bull Terrier, Cane Corso, Dogo Argentino and Rottweiler  in the interest of public safety.

The decision follows the formal notification of ‘The Municipal Corporation Chandigarh Pet and Community Dogs Bye-Laws, 2025’, issued by the administration on Wednesday.

According to the notification, the breeds identified as aggressive, potentially aggressive or dangerous will not be registered within the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation.

What about the current owners?

A 45-day buffer period has been granted for existing owners to register their dogs. After this period, any owner, breeder or pet shopkeeper found breeding, keeping or harbouring the banned breeds will face penalties, including immediate seizure of the animals by authorised officials.

However, the restrictions will not apply to owners who have already registered these dogs with the civic body prior to the notification. Such owners must ensure their pets are muzzled and leashed securely while in public to prevent any untoward incidents. The byelaws also recommend that these dogs be trained by trainers registered with the Municipal Corporation to promote calm and controlled behaviour.

What are the new rules?

Under the new rules, registration of all dogs is mandatory. The byelaws specify the number of dogs allowed per household based on property size — one dog in up to a five-marla house (approximately 125 square yards), one dog per floor in a three-storey house, two dogs in homes under 12 marlas, three in homes under one kanal, and four in one-kanal (20 marla) houses.

Dog owners are prohibited from taking pets to public places such as Sukhna Lake, Rose Garden, Shanti Kunj, Rock Garden, Leisure Valley, Bougainvillaea Garden, Chandigarh Botanical Garden, Sarangpur, and other areas as notified by the Commissioner.

Owners must also prevent their dogs from defecating in public areas, including parks, streets and residential spaces. If a dog defecates in a public place, the owner must clean up and dispose of the waste properly, failing which penalties will apply.

The byelaws further mandate that dog breeders, pet shop owners, trainers and groomers must register with the Municipal Corporation.

For community or stray dogs, feeders and caregivers are required to feed them only at designated spots to maintain cleanliness and avoid littering. Throwing food in undesignated public areas that may attract dogs and cause a nuisance or safety risk will be treated as an offence.

The civic body also reserves the right to impound dogs found unattended, causing nuisance through excessive barking, or left tied up unsupervised for long periods. Dogs found wandering in public places without supervision or control may also be seized.

Violations of the new bye-laws will attract fines and penalties as determined by the Registration Authority.