Moobli raises a good point too, what about working dogs.
Most of the dogs that have been in the press, attacked in their own home, in fact the main ones that hit the headlines were in the families garden or house.
What about dogs in public say at Crufts, at working trials, at agility competitions, at obedience competitions. Would you have to have the dogs muzzled in the show ring, working sheep, running around an agility course.
How would gundogs pick up the game with muzzles on. What about terriers down holes. It would be impractical and dangerous to the dogs.
This would be the law gone mad. The government not putting any work into it but fining those not abiding. Lazy is the word.
How many stories were there of children getting bitten at Crufts this year. Haven't heard of one yet. There were over 24000 dogs all in close confines of each other.
Why oh why is this country trying to punish the dogs and not look at the bigger picture that it is the owners that are the problem and always will be.

Very interesting thread, have to say. Can see both sides... But, having thought about it for a bit and read other replies... I'm in the "NO" camp... For reasons that have been already stated...

Difficulty in playing fetch games etc
Difficulty in protecting themselves from other dogs not complying.
But mostly I'm against it for the simple reason that my dogs don't need it... I think as usual it would be a quick fix that punished responsible owners for the deeds of a few idiots.

I think it goes without saying that working dogs would clearly have to be exempt.

As for public perceptions of muzzled dogs being aggressive, if all dogs were muzzled, this would soon disappear.

As for all dog attacks taking place in the home, that is far from the case, a great number of attacks take place on the street...when children are out playing.

I still don't know my opinion on this, merely thinking aloud.

I do think the 'my dogs alright though' is a little like burying our heads in the sand....yep my dogs are okay too...but I see myself as part of a dog community and if it stops just one dog or child being attacked anywhere, then I'm happy to muzzle my boys.

Great post, its like saying, putting muzzles on dogs and keeping them onlead all the time will stop attacks is punishing decent owners while the idiots going unpunished. The goverment should be punishing these idiots, imo its like saying ban cars as that would stop road accidents, drunk drivers and car vandilisim.

Personally I don't think the perception would "soon" disappear - I think it would take years and years, especially with the older generation. Muzzling does the dog's image no good whatsoever. The anti-dog brigade would be rubbing their hands with glee!

I also don't think that "my dogs alright though" is burying my head in the sand. You give me one good reason why my well trained, well socialised and well behaved dogs should be punished for a crime they have never committed? As you know from previous threads, I don't particularly agree that dog attacks are on the increase - just perhaps more widely publicised - and in that respect I see no reason whatsoever for compulsory muzzling. It is the nanny state gone mad. JMO.

Ramble

I did not say all dog attacks take place in the home, what I said was the main ones that have hit the headlines were all at the owners home.

The rottis in the pub (owners home)
The rotti in the front garden (owners home)
The rotti attack on the young girl (owners home and then followed)
The pit bull in Liverpool that killed the girl (owners home)
The doberman in Warwickshire (owners home and garden)

Sorry but I refute the comment that I am burying my head in the sand along with any others that have well behaved dogs. I have absolute faith that my dogs would not attack a child or any human being for the sake of it.
I admit I carry a fabric muzzle in my first aid kits as all dogs including my own could be unpredictable if injured and for this reason I carry one.
However why should my dogs carry the burden of someone elses lack of respect and responsibility towards their dogs.
Can I just add that I am not aiming anything at the breeds I have listed above. They are the unfortunate ones that the press have decided to target recently

I know you don't think dog attacks have increased, but that doesn't mean that they haven't. You also know from my past posts that I was convinced we were very close to some knee jerk reactions from councils etc because of the problems of dog attacks etc, sadly I was right on that one and I really don't think we've heard the end of it.
I truly belive it is up to us all, as responsible dog owners, to come up with something that the government can take a hold of that is workable...we have to be willing to 'give' a bit, or they will take every bit of freedom our dogs have. I don't want that.
Muzzling is a high visibility option...if it were to be introduced I would suggest that if people are caught out with an unmuzzled dog, that dog should be seized on the spot...or an incredibly high fine imposed. Muzzling on its own won't work.
Still don't know where I stand though.
I do think it will prevent some dog on dog attacks and some child attacks too.
I don't see it as punishment for my dogs at all, they will still be out and about and free to enjoy themselves.Introduced correctly, all dogs would take to a muzzle...

Don't get at me though...I still don't know where I stand...

I think having all dogs muzzled would give out the message that all dogs are dangerous.I think it would cause further misunderstanding by non-dog owners and could well be the slippery slope to even further prohibitive legislation.

This is my gut reaction so being really honest here.How do we expect society to accept well behaved dogs and to develop an understanding of the wider issues if we present our dogs to the public as all being threatening and therefore muzzled.

Those of us who would muzzle if legislated would be the ones who handled their dogs correctly in the first place. It will be the others who don't who are running aginst any laws as they already stand.

I wasn't aiming my comment directly at you!!! I'm merely thinking aloud and putting things down as they arise, as i've said, I am not sure where I stand and to an extent I'm playing devils advocate...

I'm thinking aloud again, but perhaps it's 2 sides of the same coin here. Are we presenting our dogs as dangerous as muzzled...or not dangerous because they are muzzled. I don't really know....still haven't voted...