Shock new figures have revealed the number of dangerous dog incidents in Tayside has rocketed over the past five years.
Statistics obtained under Freedom of Information legislation show a 2,266% increase in recorded offences since 2011.
Just three incidents were reported to police in 2011, one in Dundee and two in Angus.
But in 2015, there were 71, and between January and October this year there have been 37.
Trevor Cooper, a solicitor who specialises in canine law, said there could be several reasons for the soaring number of offences.
He said: “It could be that we have more dogs now, we might have a larger number of people reporting offences, or even the police being more prepared to take action than before.
“Other factors could be that dogs are being poorly bred and these dogs are getting into the hands of the wrong people.”
But Mr Cooper said one of the main issues may be that dogs are not being properly reared in the first few weeks of their lives.
He said: “Battersea Dogs and Cats Home went to behaviourists who determined it wasn’t breeds of dogs that was the issue, it was down to the breeders and the way the dog was brought up.”
Until February 2011, legislation only covered offences in public places but the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act extended it to cover private areas as well.
Mr Cooper believes that may be part of the reason so few offences were reported across Tayside in 2011 but added he still could not explain the surge to 71 in 2015.
He added: “Clearly, education is important and perhaps introducing more breeders into licensing would see more responsible breeders.”
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “The advice to anyone walking and exercising their dogs is to ensure that they act responsibly and keep their dogs under close control.
“In agricultural areas, the worrying of livestock can be devastating for farm animals.
“Whether in a rural or urban area, it is unlawful to let a dog be dangerously out of control.”