Mumsnet Talk

poor child

That poor little girl,she will be scarred for life now.

How many more people will be attacked before things change?

I just googled dangerous dogs in Britain and got this as the first hit. I have no idea how accurate the figures given are, but the situation appears to be getting worse rather than improving. The number of attacks seem to be increasing over the years by a considerable percentage.
So dog lovers, what do you suggest as a practical solution?
We know the theory of deed not breed, incompetent owners and untrained animals, but if you don't want them muzzled, on leads whenever outside the home, banned, destroyed in shelters, then what's a practical alternative?
How can the problem of serious biting be solved, given that many owners will not broke interference if there hasn't been an attack by their animal?

No one seems to give a fuck about changing things, and the police forces up here are about to get majorly cut.

It's about the owners, they're the ones who need the smack put down on them. My ex h was right, 'Most people, if they're not policed, they'll go ghetto.'

well I think it lies with the general public. Report things you see you don't like. Your neighbour has a dog that never leaves the house? Report it. There are teens fighting dogs in the park? Report it. You see a stray wandering dog? Report it.

Perhaps it would also help if harsher punishments were brought in for people who were found to be behaving irresponsibly with their animals and if dog training courses (for people to become trainers) were more accessible. There is only 1 dog training school in our town that offers basic obedience classes. And none at all in the neighbouring town. So if you don't drive you're buggered. More dog trainers would mean more training schools.

And educate your children on how to behave around dogs. Even if you don't have one. They will still encounter them every day. It makes sense that they know how to behave around them.

Rabid menaces to society!






Anti-dog thread shit-stirrers, that is

I totally agree with the notion that people should report others if they see a stray dog/cruelty etc.

I also think if a dog has attacked before then there should be no second chance,take the dog away from the owner,prosecute them & ban them from keeping any dog in the future.

Oh, and damned right I will "brook no interference if there has not been an attack by my animal"
Why should I?
MY dog is not trained to be aggressive.
MY dog is not being used as a status symbol.
I'm not projecting my phobias out into the wider world and demanding every teensy, weensy element of risk is eliminated in order to provide safe passage for my family.

What happened to my link?
I'll try again
www.ukandspain.com/dangerous-dogs/

So what's the answer BTP?
Do you find dogs attacking people acceptable?
How would you prevent or reduce such attacks happening, given that what we have at the moment isn't working, either for the dogs or the victims of attack.

The answer certainly isn't muzzling every single dog in the country, that's for sure.
Do you not see all the dogs that pass you in daily life that haven't attacked anyone, that will not attack anyone? Or are you blinkered to the majority of dogs that are owned responsibly.

I am an utterly reasonable dog-lover. Not frightened of dogs, even big dogs, and cannot bear cruelty to animals.

But when the general public are trying to have a reasoned discussion about what can be done to reduce the frequency of dog attacks, they are not "projecting [their] phobias out into the wider world and demanding every teensy, weensy element of risk is eliminated in order to provide safe passage for [their] family"

That sort of attitude is just so knee-jerk and loathsome.

What do you suggest for the reduction in the number of fatal and catastrophic dog attacks in this country BeerTricks?

I'm not a dog lover as a result of a bad experience when younger but i'm not a dog hater. I know a couple of people with these dogs and they are the gentlest dogs you could meet one of the owners also has a rottie and they are both gentle as anything.
I was just quite shocked that it was the second attack on a child in a week.

A licence.
Compulsory puppy and socialisation training.
Compulsory vet practice attendance for a check-up, at least annually.
Reporting of dog attacks by dog owners to be taken seriously. At the moment, if your dog is attacked by an out of control dog there is no recourse in law. Next time that dog might have a go at a child.
What I object to is the blanket condemnation of certain breeds.
It's types of people who are "loathsome" (gee, thanks!) and they gravitate towards breeds of dog that can supplement their image as 'hard'.

I wish the people (ie deluded dog lovers) would stop trying to claim it's incredibly rare and massively blown out of proportion.

There are parts of some cities that are overrun with dangerous dogs. I gave up running in my local park because the problem was so bad...

Nancy66
That's your local park. Complain to the park authorities, the local council, the county council, the Community Support officers, the Police..........
Nothing will change until people complain. About the specific owners causing problems, not the majority of dogs and their owners who don't go round looking for someone to bite.

Its a loathsome attitude to suggest that anyone who doesn't want more dog attacks is projecting their phobias and being over-protective.

Isn't it?

And if you looked at the stats of dogs owned v dog attacks I think you might find it is in fact, "incredibly rare and blown up out of all proportion".

BTP - "I will "brook no interference if there has not been an attack by my animal"
Why should I?"

...but you've then given five ways you want the government to interfere with dog owners?

I have been bitten once in between 35 and 50 years.
Sense of proportion, anyone?

I would be interested to see the statistics if anyone can provide them.

TheHeathen

I do all I said bar the licence and reporting my dog for attacking others (she doesn't)

Ah, I see, it initially sounded very dramatic - 'you can pry my dog lead from my cold dead hands!' type thing, and then you came over all British and said, 'but of course I don't mind getting a licence for it and being forced to train it etc'

"There are parts of some cities that are overrun with dangerous dogs. I gave up running in my local park because the problem was so bad..."

WHOA Nancy! Stop right there!

"Dangerous dogs"? Justify that remark please.

Dangerous in the opinion of whom?

The Police?

The Courts?

The experts?

You?

What makes you describe these dogs as dangerous?

I don't need to be forced to train her. Because I am a responsible dog owner. If I owned 3 Dobes, 2 Rotties and a Dogue De Bordeaux I would still be a responsible dog owner.
We're in the majority, so take your neuroses elsewhere.