- Attack
- Includes aggressively rushing at or harassing a person or animal, biting or otherwise injuring them, damaging the property of the person attacked, attempting to attack, or behaving towards a person in a way that would make a reasonable person fear physical injury. It excludes an immediate response caused by provocation. The definition also excludes behaviour where the owner establishes that it was justified by a reasonable cause (Dog Act s 3(1)).
- Authorised person
- Someone formally appointed or designated to exercise powers under the Dog Act, such as an authorised council ranger (Dog Act s 3(1)).
- Commercial security dog
- A dog kept mainly to guard or protect premises that are neither homes nor the dog's owner's premises, whether or not a handler accompanies it (Dog Act s 3(1)).
- Local government
- The city, town or shire administering the Dog Act in its district. For an objection, this means the local government that issued the declaration notice (Dog Act s 9(1), s 33F).
- Provocation
- Includes teasing, abuse, cruelty or an assault by someone who is not responsible for controlling the dog, or an attack by another animal. Other examples include unlawful entry by a person onto the premises where the dog lives, another animal entering those premises, intrusion into a vehicle containing the dog, or threats or attacks against a person or animal the dog could reasonably be expected to protect. Intentional provocation by someone responsible for controlling the dog is excluded (Dog Act s 3(1)).
- Restricted-breed dog
- A dog of a breed listed as restricted in the Dog Regulations, or a crossbreed that includes one of those breeds. This classification is based on breed, rather than an individual declaration about behaviour (Dog Act s 3(1), Dog Regulations r 4).
