Montreal is seeing a pointy improve in stories involving aggressive canine.
New data from the Metropolis exhibits a 41 per cent rise in circumstances since 2021, with 586 investigations final 12 months alone into canine exhibiting aggressive behaviour or concerned in biting incidents.
Canine coach Riannon Horan says the numbers don’t shock her. She says she now sees three to 4 purchasers a month coping with visits from municipal inspectors, a pattern she says is on the rise.
“These municipal visits will be one thing like a grievance for noise or barking and they also know the Metropolis is about to go to they usually want to follow perhaps as a result of their canine is worked up or too glad and would show sort of like perhaps some vocalization or leaping when town arrives in order that they wish to ensure that the go to goes effectively,” Horan says.
In line with the report, the rise is partly linked to the rising canine inhabitants in Montreal which is now estimated at round 160,000.
A scarcity of correct coaching and socialization can also be cited as a key think about problematic behaviour. Final 12 months, prevention officers issued 268 statements of offence — a 12 per cent improve from 2024 — typically for canine being off leash or not beneath their proprietor’s management.
“Freedom is a luxurious,” says Jeremy Cloutier, one other canine coach. “Should you’re capable of recall your canine, should you’re capable of get that connection though you unleash him effectively then you may enable your self to have a canine.”
A few third of these stories are concentrated in three boroughs: Hochelaga–Maisonneuve, Rosemont–La Petite‑Patrie, and Côte‑des‑Neiges–NDG.
Horan says lack of enough areas in canine parks is perhaps a purpose for the uptick.
“A smaller house creates extra battle as a result of canine are very spatially conscious,” Horan says. “The much less house that they’ve the extra they really feel the necessity to defend or defend that house and so that may come out with barking, that may come out with lunging.”
By the tip of 2025, 110 canine had been formally listed within the Metropolis’s registry as probably harmful. Final 12 months, 450 individuals took half in 64 out of doors workshops supplied by the Metropolis of Montreal.
Cloutier says going a step additional may assist — suggesting indoor courses for future canine homeowners so individuals totally perceive the duty that comes with proudly owning a canine.
“Having a canine is a way of life it’s not simply one thing that’s going to be cool for 5, six months, a 12 months or two it’s a full dedication,” Cloutier mentioned.
