Owners who fail to take action to prevent dog attacks by condoning threatening behaviour - such as allowing their pet to snarl at strangers - could face fines or have their animals seized.

Authorities including the police, council officials and landlords will be able to issue community protection notices to force owners of unruly dogs to tackle their behaviour.

New measures also mean owners could be made to attend dog behavioural classes, keep their dog muzzled or on a lead and have their animals neutered or microchipped.

Owners who fail to comply with an order will face a £100 on-the-spot fine or criminal prosecution, with a maximum fine of £2,500 or £20,000 for businesses using guard dogs.

Fines could be imposed if owners fail to control their animals when let loose in a park, or if they allowed their dogs to chase cats to the point where neighbours were forced to keep them indoors, for example.

Animal welfare minister Lord De Mauley said: "Police and local authorities will now have more powers to demand that irresponsible dog owners take steps to prevent attacks before they occur. This is on top of the tougher prison sentences we introduced earlier this year for owners who allow their dogs to attack people and assistance dogs.”

As part of changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, prison sentences for owners of violent dogs were extended.

They now face a maximum of 14 years for a fatal dog attack, five years for an injury and three years for an attack on an assistance dog.