Gangs are using dangerous dogs as status symbols - and even weaponsEvery dog owner in the UK would have to take out insurance against their pet attacking someone under government proposals to tackle dangerous breeds.
Police and local councils could also get new powers to force the owners of dangerous dogs to muzzle them or even get them neutered.
Ministers say they are responding to public concern about vicious dogs being used to intimidate or threaten people.
Each week, more than 100 people are admitted to hospital after dog attacks.
There has also been a reported rise in levels of dog fighting and illegal ownership, particularly by gangs who are using dangerous dogs as status symbols.
The government wants to amend the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, under which four types of dogs - the pit bull terrier, the Japanese tosa, the dogo Argentinos and the fila brasileiros - are banned.
It wants to tweak the law so that the breeds are banned from people's homes - rather than simply from public property, as is currently the case.
'Fundamental right'
It is argued that this will also protect postal workers, telecoms engineers and other people whose work often takes them onto private land.
Another proposal is to introduce compulsory third-party insurance for dog owners to ensure victims of attacks are compensated.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: "Britain is a nation of animal lovers, but people have a fundamental right to feel safe on the streets and in their homes.
"The vast majority of dog owners are responsible, but there is no doubt that some people breed and keep dogs for the soul purpose of intimidating others, in a sense using dogs as a weapon.
"It is this sort of behaviour that we will not tolerate; it is this sort of behaviour that we are determined to stop." Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: "There is a lot of public concern about dog attacks, including the recent tragic deaths of young children, and about the rise in the number of so-called 'status dogs' used to intimidate or threaten people.
"This is a serious issue of public safety. The government wants to hear what people think about the law as it stands and what more we might do to protect people from dangerous dogs."
Postal unions welcomed the move as "long overdue".
"Thousands of our members are attacked at work every year," said Billy Hayes, general secretary of the CWU.
"This reform cannot come soon enough."
The RSPCA said a serious debate on the issue was needed, concentrating on curbing irresponsible pet ownership.
"There is a real need for updated legislation that enables enforcers to tackle the problem effectively and prevent serious incidents from occurring rather than waiting till after a tragedy or penalising certain dogs just because of their breed or type," Claire Robinson, the charity's government relations manager said.
The Dangerous Dogs Act, passed by Parliament in 1991 after a spate of attacks, brought in destruction orders for banned dogs.
In 1997, another parliamentary act amended the law, removing the compulsory destruction orders and giving courts discretion over this and over sentencing of owners.
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