Hi,
I'm likely going to be moving from Los Angeles, California to the UK in a year, and I have (among other pets) a sweet American Stafforshire Terrier that I intend to bring with me. I've read about the Dangerous Dogs Act, so I'm very nervous that he may not be allowed in the country, or worse, he may be seized upon arrival. I've also heard, however, about Amstaffs and other bull breeds already in the UK, so my question is: how often is the dangerous dogs act enforced, and what is the attitude of law enforcement towards these dogs in the UK?

Amstaffs are not one of the 4 banned breeds listed BUT the Dangerous Dogs Act does state dogs of pitbull type so if it looks like a pitbull it can be seized. These days there is no mandatory death sentance for the dog but it could end up in kennels for years until they decide to let the dog go.

Jesse

Do you know what the four banned breeds are?

Pitbull, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasiliera.
:)

Trevor Cooper, the solicitor (attorney!) most famous for DDA cases, working for the defence, has written articles saying that the Amstaff is considered under the law (whether rightly or wrongly) to be the "show version" of the Pitbull, and so is illegal in the UK.

If it were my dog, I wouldn't risk trying to import it. Sorry.

JJ is correct. The amstaff is recognised as a pit bull not a pit bull type. It is banned.

the amstaff is the show version of the apbt.they would be considered pitbull type.however i have heard some people getting away with it cos its called am staff.
its not 4 breeds banned its 4 breeds plus any crosses of those breeds like bandogs(swinford,lucero type) and dogs that were bred for fighting or considered pitbull type.