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A senior RSPCA specialist said imported animals are being crossbred to be more menacing.
One breed that has turned up in the hands of criminals in Birmingham originated in South Africa where it was used to take down lions.
Another is a mastiff used for dog fighting in Pakistan.
Both are outside the remit of the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Mike Butcher, who heads the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit, said: “We are seeing a growing trend across the country of people buying bigger, fiercer dogs. People have to be prepared for further attacks.
“I’m not trying to frighten people but this is the reality on the streets.
“People are importing big dogs then crossbreeding them with potentially dangerous breeds to get more savage-looking animals. The result is a potential killer on a lead.
We need the law to come down harder on these breeders and importers to stop them flooding the streets with these dangerous animals. It’s inevitable that we are going to be facing more death and serious injury.”
The 150lb boerboel, used in South Africa, was banned in Denmark in 2010.
And the Japanese akita, which was also bred for dog fighting, has been barred from Ireland and Germany after a string of attacks.
The Canary catch dog, also known as presa canario, has been banned in Australia and New Zealand due to its fierce reputation around the world for attacking and killing people. The bully kutta, also known as the Pakistani mastiff, is used in Pakistan in big-money dogfights.
The Dangerous Dogs Act only covers the pit bull terrier, the dogo Argentino, Japanese tosa and the fila Brasileiro – and only covers attacks in public places.
Each year, there are more than 200,000 dog attacks in the UK, according to statistics from the Health and Social Care Information Centre.
Dog bite litigation expert Ruth Magee, who works for Simpson Millar solicitors on behalf of postal union CWU, said: “We have seen a worrying increase in reports of attacks on postal workers by bigger breeds of dog, resulting in devastating injuries.
“Owners need to do more to ensure their pets are adequately secured, especially if they are aggressive.”
