A WORLD-FIRST project to develop a screening process to identify aggressive dogs has been knocked back by the federal government, despite receiving support from the NSW government and animal groups.

The University of Sydney put forward a proposal to examine genetic markers in dogs' brains which predispose the animals to impulsive aggression, which had the backing of the NSW and Victorian governments, RSPCA Australia and the Animal Welfare League.

Yet the Australian Research Council six weeks ago rejected the proposal for being low on "perceived significance".

The revelation comes a week after the death of two-year-old Deeon Higgins, who was mauled by his family's pet bull mastiff cross in Deniliquin, and the launch of a Daily Telegraph campaign, Muzzle the Mutts, for national measures to better control dangerous dogs.

media_camera Dog attack victim Deeon Higgins. Picture: Supplied

Professor Paul McGreevy, an award-winning veterinary behaviourist who was behind the proposal, said the project represented a new approach to the problem of dog attacks.

"We've seen state governments struggle with this for decades and it's the same across the world, so we saw the need for a fresh approach and we brought together a very strong research team for this project," Prof McGreevy said.

"We're convinced of the need for this research. We're determined to assist society and the dogs because we know that dogs are being condemned purely on appearance and we're sure that we can do better than that."

The test could mean owners would not have to wait until a dog bit someone to know it had aggressive tendencies.

media_camera Deeon Higgins' mother Vicki Higgins is comforted by her nephew and the dog's owner Darren Higgins in Deniliquin. Picture: Dallinger Simon

Every dog could be given a "score" measuring its impulsivity, potentially allowing families to avoid adopting or buying a dangerous pet.

"We had strong support for that project from the NSW and Victorian state governments, RSPCA Australia and the Animal Welfare League NSW, so we are disappointed," Prof McGreevy said.

Charlestown MP and chair of the state government's Companion Animals Taskforce Andrew Cornwell said: "I was shocked that the federal agency knocked it back. It's an outstanding project and it's one worthy of support. I personally feel the future of dangerous dogs management is inexorably linked to behavioural genetics."

media_camera Kingston, the mastiff cross that killed two-year-old Deeon Higgins. Picture: Facebook

Prof McGreevy said it would be too difficult to say what caused the bull mastiff cross that killed Deeon to snap, but most often dogs used their teeth to defend resources such as food, bones, toys or even a sleeping place. An aggressive dog might have had experiences as a puppy that leaves it frightened of certain stimuli _ even something as innocuous as a toddler.

Dog handler Creese Syred, who has trained dogs for use in missing person searches and trained with "dog whisperer" Cesar Millan, said all dogs had underlying aggression.

Originally published as Aggressive dog screen plan canned