Under the proposed reforms, owners would face fines of up to $25,000 - instead of the current $2500 penalty - if their dog attacked a person or another animal causing serious injury or death.
The fine would jump to up to $50,000 if the attacking dog was already the subject of a dangerous dog order.
In extreme cases, when a dog owner deliberately encouraged their pet to attack or harass a person or animal, the owner could be fined up to $100,000 or be jailed for four years.
All other fines and expiations for dog attacks would be increased under the proposed changes, currently out for public consultation.
Tough breeder licensing changes are also proposed, which would impose a limit of 50 female animals per breeding program, in an attempt to outlaw large-scale, inhumane puppy farms.
The reforms also include a robust licensing and assessment system for breeders, criminal background checks on applicants, fines of up to $10,000 for breeding animals without a licence and the ability to suspend and cancel breeder licences.
Female dogs would also be limited to having a maximum of five litters and mandatory reporting of each litter would be introduced.
The changes, if passed, would bring South Australia in line with Victoria as the strictest jurisdiction for breeding programs in the nation.
Other proposed changes included removing the current mandatory requirement for retired racing greyhounds to be muzzled in public.
Councils would also have increased powers to manage dogs, including the ability to issue control orders on dogs that continually wandered at large, with penalties of up to $2500 each time a dog with a control order was caught wandering.
Department for Environment and Water Dog and Cat Management Director Kym Pryde said the public consultation period provided South Australian's the opportunity to share their views on dog and cat management across the state.
"The proposed changes are important measures to ensure breeders and owners are doing the right thing," she said.
Public consultation on the proposed reforms closes on Tuesday 11 June 2024. Have your say here.
