As the owner of a large powerful dog breed which that has been constantly demonized by the UK tabloid MSM, an American Bulldog, I still don't agree that a dog licence is the solution. Authorities in the UK don't even monitor dog microchipping, which is mandatory by law. People who are willing to buy a puppy from a dodgy backstreet breeder as a status dog (no socialisation), are also more likely not to train them properly, and by then it is already too late.
In my local area, my local dog warden was made redundant during a period off work sick (probably due to the pressure he was under)and because it is just not a priority for the local council after 12 years of austerity and now dog wardens police a much larger area. My area is also predominantly working class, suffers more cutbacks and in comparison to more affluent areas, more social issues. People use large breeds to protect them and their property because the police, also due to austerity, are next to useless.
I don't recommend trying to grab the collar of a large dog either unless it is a last resort. Try and stay calm and put something physical, like the eMTB between you are the dog/s. By the time a large dog is attacking, it is already in reaction mode, the red mist, and shouting in my experience will just agitate it more, A few loud "fk" offs may help as will squirting the dog with water from your bottle. Why would anyone squirt toxic chemicals at a dog unless it is attacking them? However, when you see an owner shouting aggressively at a large dog that clearly hasn't been properly trained, then it is a good sign the owner is a wrong un and the two a lethal combination.
