From Monday owners of nuisance dogs can face fines of up to £20,000.
Police and local authorities will be able to impose Community Protection Notices to tackle irresponsible dog owners.
If a complaint is made about a dog to the council or police, its owners could be ordered to do any or all of the following: attend training classes, muzzle the dog, ensure the animal is on a lead in public at all times, microchip the dog and repair fencing to prevent the pet leaving the property.
These new legal powers also mean that those who ignore the orders face a £100 on-the-spot fine or criminal prosecution - with fines of up to £20,000.
Animal welfare minister Lord de Mauley said: "Dog attacks are devastating for victims and their families which is why we are taking tough action against those who allow them to happen.
"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."
The new powers for authorities has also received the support of Shaun Davis, Royal Mail director of safety, health, wellbeing and sustainability.
He said: "Royal Mail campaigned for changes to the Dangerous Dog Act to ensure our postmen and women are protected when they enter private property including a customer's garden. We are pleased that these further changes will help police forces and local authorities use their new legal powers to prevent dog attacks."
Earlier this year legal changes were made to enable prosecution for a dog attack on private property and maximum prison sentences were extended to 14 years, from two years, for a fatal dog attack. For injury it was changed to five years from two years. For an attack on an assistance dog it is now three years.
A Practitioners Manual has been introduced to give police officers and other authorities guidance on how to best implement the legislative changes.
To see the dealing with irresponsible dog ownership: practitioner's manual visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dealing...
