Why Has Chandigarh Banned 6 Dog Breeds Like Pitbulls & Rottweilers? Here’s Everything You Should Know

To make the city safer for both people and pets, Chandigarh has made significant progress. The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh has decided to ban six dog breeds that are considered aggressive or potentially dangerous. The decision is made in compliance with the new Pet and Community Dogs Bye-laws, 2025, which aim to enhance pet ownership in the city by encouraging accountability, security, and order.

Chandigarh Bans Six Dog Breeds To Keep The City Safe

The ban on certain dog breeds has swiftly become one of the most talked-about issues in Chandigarh; some locals think it’s a crucial step towards public safety, while others think it might unfairly target specific breeds.

The banned breeds are:

• American Bulldog
• American Pitbull Terrier
• Bull Terrier
• Cane Corso
• Dogo Argentino
• Rottweiler

These breeds have been classified as “aggressive” or “potentially aggressive” because of their strength, protective instincts, and in some cases, past incidents of attacks.

The new bye-laws make it clear that no new registrations for these six breeds will be allowed from now on. However, if you already own one of these dogs, you won’t have to give them up. You must follow certain safety guidelines and make sure your pet is registered with the Municipal Corporation.

These include:

• When out in public, always keep your dog on a leash and wearing a muzzle.
• Control the dog while walking with sturdy and secure equipment.
• Hire a qualified dog trainer to teach your pet how to behave calmly.

The authorities have also advised that such dogs should not be taken to popular public areas in Chandigarh, like Sukhna Lake, Rose Garden, Rock Garden, Leisure Valley, or other city gardens and parks where people gather.

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Strict Rules For Dog Owners And Breeders

If you already own any of these six breeds but haven’t registered them yet, the civic body has given you 45 days to do so. After this period, breeding, selling, or keeping these banned breeds without permission will be considered a violation, and the authorities can seize the dogs. There will also be penalties and fines for those who break the rules.

For the first time, the bye-laws also set limits on how many dogs a family can have, depending on the size of their home:

• In a five-marla house (around 125 square yards), 1 dog is allowed.
• In a house up to 12 marlas, 2 dogs are allowed.
• In a house up to one kanal, 3 dogs are allowed.
• In a one-kanal (20 marla) house, 4 dogs are allowed.

This is being done to ensure that the dogs are kept in comfortable spaces and can be looked after properly.

The new rules also focus on keeping Chandigarh clean. Pet owners will now be responsible for cleaning up after their dogs. This means that if your dog poops in a public place, you must scoop it up and dispose of it properly. If you fail to do so, you could be fined. 

Even people who feed stray or community dogs have been included under these new rules. The feeding of stray dogs will now have to be done only at specific locations approved by the Municipal Corporation. Anyone caught throwing food on the streets or in random places to attract stray dogs may face penalties.

The Chandigarh government has declared that public safety and responsible pet ownership are the primary goals of the new regulations and ban on dog breeds, despite the controversy surrounding them.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva/alberto clemares expósito