Whether to ban or allow Chinese pastoral dogs, an indigenous breed, in cities remain a heated topic online, with discussions sparking renewed debate last week.

The controversy arose after recently revised national public security regulations, set to take effect on Jan 1, 2026, will impose penalties — including detention — on people who own aggressive dog breeds. This means that in cities where Chinese pastoral dogs are prohibited, owners may face legal consequences.

There is currently no nationwide list of banned dog breeds in China.

A widely circulated "prohibited breeds" list, originating from a local regulation enacted in 2012 in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, has drawn considerable public attention. The list, which includes Samoyeds, Chinese pastoral dogs and Akitas, is not national policy.

On social media platform Xiaohongshu, a user named Yohu argued against a blanket ban, writing, "Their temperament should be properly evaluated before more nuanced regulations are put in place."

Debates over Chinese pastoral dogs have long been ongoing, with opinions varying by region and policies shifting frequently in recent years. Some areas ban the breed, while others allow it.

According to the Changsha County Animal Protection Association in Hunan province, the local security bureau held a meeting on June 19 to discuss removing Chinese pastoral dogs from the city's list of banned dog breeds. These dogs had previously been prohibited because they were classified as aggressive.

"Chinese pastoral dogs are a native breed with thousands of years of history in China. They are loyal, intelligent, healthy and highly adaptable," said Yang Juan, the association's president.

Yang noted that bans have led many owners to abandon their dogs, so they become strays, posing risks to public safety and food security. She argued during this year's two sessions — the annual gatherings of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference — that allowing legal ownership could reduce the number of stray dogs.

After the meeting, participants agreed that the dogs should be removed from Changsha city's list of dangerous breeds.

"Lifting the ban reflects a more refined and humane approach to urban management," said Liu Mengna, vice-president of the association.

Recently, many cities have lifted bans on Chinese pastoral dogs. In January, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, removed the breed from its dangerous dog list, maintaining a ban only on dogs taller than 71 centimeters at the shoulder.

In December 2019, Shenzhen in Guangdong removed Chinese pastoral dogs from its list of banned fierce dog breeds, allowing them to be registered and legally kept. The updated list released last year still does not include the breed.

In April 2020, Hefei, capital of Anhui province, released a draft list of banned breeds that included Chinese pastoral dogs, causing public outcry. Residents argued the dogs had been raised in China for thousands of years and should not be banned. A month later, Hefei issued a revised list, removing the breed.

Meanwhile, some cities continue to ban Chinese pastoral dogs, including Zhengzhou in Henan province, Kunming in Yunnan province and Haikou, capital of Hainan province.