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AIBU?

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Why do people keep dangerous dogs???

490 replies

Ori18 · 31/03/2022 10:23

Another little boy pronounced dead this morning on the news - the toddler who was mauled on Monday and subsequently suffered a cardiac arrest. The dogs in question are not thought to be banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act - but I'd be interested to know which breeds they were as it's quite evident that certain breeds are more dangerous to children than others - why aren't Rottweiler's on the banned list for example?

And even though Pitt Bull Terriers are banned, people still go out of their way to own them, and are then shocked when they attack small children, maul babies, tear limbs off people. It makes me so angry. Same goes for German Shepherds and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. The Bull Terrier dogs are/were specifically bred for fighting - why would you even consider having one of these types of dogs around a baby or a small child? What is going on there? Is it lack of intelligence? Lack of education? Lack of giving a fuck? Because I think there need to be more dogs on the banned list, and heavier penalties served to people who insist on breaking the law to keep these dogs.

Aggressive/dangerous dogs and babies/small children do not mix, should never be mixed and it shouldn't take more deaths for the law to change around this. AIBU?

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notquiteruralbliss · 19/09/2023 15:02

I own a sighthound. that was bred for coursing No way would I let children near them or put them in a situation where they could hurt people / dogs / livestock. I am sure there are responsible owners who take the same approach with guarding breeds.

Soubriquet · 19/09/2023 12:08

The worst dog attack I’ve seen in person was by a Labrador. It picked up a Yorkshire terrier and shook it like a ragdoll. The noise was horrendous

Femalewoman · 18/09/2023 23:25

Never violent until they are and then major damage or death. Too late then.

Billyhargrovesmullet · 18/09/2023 20:58

To me people who own dogs like that show a complete lack of intelligence

Oysterbabe · 18/09/2023 20:55

MrsHughesPinny · 18/09/2023 20:43

I’ll caveat this by saying I’m not in the UK but I owned the sweetest, most loving pit bull in the world (now dearly departed). We had him for over 10 years and he was a wonderful companion who didn’t give us or anyone else any trouble. It used to break my heart when people would cross the street to avoid him, he was so fond of people.

I have post-graduate education and a professional occupation. Lack of intelligence doesn’t come into it. We rescued him from our local bully rescue and he was a valued member of the family.

It's just luck when one of things doesn't kill you. These dogs were family pets for 8 years and they had no reason to think they would kill their children.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.foxnews.com/us/dogs-fatally-mauled-tennessee-toddlers-injured-mom-never-violent-friend-says.amp

Dogs that fatally mauled Tennessee toddlers, injured mom were never violent, friend says

Tennessee authorities euthanized a pair of pit bulls that fatally mauled two toddlers and seriously injured their mom when she tried to save them, officials said.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.foxnews.com/us/dogs-fatally-mauled-tennessee-toddlers-injured-mom-never-violent-friend-says.amp

Regholdsworthswaterbed · 18/09/2023 20:55

incognitoforthisone · 31/03/2022 10:40

Rottweilers, German shepherds, Staffies etc are not on the 'banned' listen because they are no more dangerous than any other breed of dog. Staffies used to be known as 'nanny dogs' because they were renowned for being brilliant with children. I have known many Rottweilers over the years and every single one of them has been exceptionally placid.

It has bugger all to do with the breed of the dog and everything to do with the owners and they way they've acquired and raised the dog. Basically, some people are really bloody thick. And that's all there is to it.

That's bollocks though isn't it. I'm sure there are idiot labrador owners but they don't go around mauling people.

MrsHughesPinny · 18/09/2023 20:43

I’ll caveat this by saying I’m not in the UK but I owned the sweetest, most loving pit bull in the world (now dearly departed). We had him for over 10 years and he was a wonderful companion who didn’t give us or anyone else any trouble. It used to break my heart when people would cross the street to avoid him, he was so fond of people.

I have post-graduate education and a professional occupation. Lack of intelligence doesn’t come into it. We rescued him from our local bully rescue and he was a valued member of the family.

Femalewoman · 18/09/2023 20:39

purpleboy · 31/03/2022 20:39

[quote Leonberger]@SartresSoul I didn’t really have any opinion on bull breeds previously. They aren’t my thing looks and personality wise but I didn’t dislike them.

However with watching a fully grown (sweet submissive) Labrador get its throat torn out while about 5 grown men failed to get the attacking staffie off changed my opinion massively. I’ve never seen anything attack with such intensity and just completely refusing to give in no matter what was thrown at it. The more they tried to get it off the more aggressive it got.
I’ve never seen anything quite so horrific as that and I never would want one around my dog or my children.[/quote]
I have seen something similar and that is exactly why I think anyone who lets their kids around dogs like this is just asking for trouble.
The child doesn't stand a chance.

That's awful. The poor Labrador. Imagine that horrible thing on a child. I avoid Staffies and bully types, horrible things.

Femalewoman · 18/09/2023 20:38

Because they are idiots @Ori18

Because they think their dog will never bite.

Because they trot out the line that all dogs can bite - you don't say, but some dogs can kill and have an almighty bite power.

Because they don't listen to the fact that 44% of attacks are from the bully type dog, because you know 'they know best'.

The worst ones are the ones that have pictures with tiny babies or children with their massive bully dogs posing away, allowing to lick the face etc. Thick as dog poo those.

Questiontellme · 17/09/2023 09:03

@nalabae sigh, do you really not get it. Really??

The spaniel might have given you a nasty nip hd it gotten free, would be pretty bad if you were a toddler as probably at face height (hence the chat about muzzling all dogs) if a XL bully had decided to have a go that nip becomes tearing you to pieces and ultimately killing you - that’s why they’re dangerous.

Standingchair1 · 13/09/2023 15:58

oh that’s fine then !

Standingchair1 · 13/09/2023 15:30

’pet owners should be vetted’ made me chuckle. (in my mind vetted = taken to the vet)

Standingchair1 · 13/09/2023 15:14

With such a small sample ‘luck’ is I feed the most likely explanation.

Namechangetobeanon · 23/02/2023 21:58

I have two GSD, had my oldest since my daughter was 12 weeks old. They are an absolutely amazing team but have always been supervised together even to this day. I wouldn’t trust any animal unsupervised with children.

Both of my dogs are fantastic with kids although the older dog hates other dogs. They run around the garden waiting for the kids to incite playing with them otherwise they entertain each other and never approach.

I wouldn’t blame the breed, I’d blame the way they are raised. My FIL has 4 staffs, each and every single one listens to commands from all the grandchildren, plays gently and doesn’t push the boundaries.

That being said, I don’t trust dogs I don’t know or dogs of family where no boundaries have been set. My sister has a lab who jumps all over everyone, children included, steals food from the kids, snatches toys from the kids and in general is chaotic. Snarls at us if we dare walk past her or sit on the sofa!

sparkiesparkle · 23/02/2023 21:49

And even though my dog is a softie, I know it's because I train him, set boundaries and make sure he heads structure. I also used balanced training techniques because totally FF is failing most dogs. My dog has a clear understanding of what is expected of him. And I don't treat him like a human child

sparkiesparkle · 23/02/2023 21:42

You are bu. Staffies are gorgeous, lovely natured dogs. My dog is a German Shepherd, and the only danger to you would be that he licked you till he drove you nuts. And he'd still make sure you were ok, even if you shouted at him. He is my heart, and everyone loves him. His best friend is a staffy who runs around with him and helped him get over a fear period.
So yeah
YABVU. And goady

WiddlinDiddlin · 15/02/2023 05:30

We need to look at the people, not so much the breeds.

Why do people own dangerous dogs - because lots of people are stupid, and ignorant, and even non-stupid, non-ignorant people sometimes make mistakes.

Lots of people buy dogs from shitty sources, for shitty reasons, use shitty training and shitty management and their kids and the dogs pay the ultimate price for that.

We don't enforce the animal welfare act properly - you can set up as a dog trainer tomorrow, flog your methods all over social media where you use shock collars and prong collars to suppress behaviour, and you teach ego-driven morons to teach pet dogs protection dog work and bite sports, never make the risks of any of this clear and you're never going to be held responsible when something horrific happens.

You can breed from really nervous, anxious, fearful and aggressive dogs and sell those dogs to people who think they want a guard dog to protect their family and the chances of you being held responsible for that when it goes tits up are nil.

You can go out and buy or rescue a crossbreed puppy, and 9 months later, even though you have done everything right and been the most responsible owner, you can find yourself owning an illegal, banned breed. Because our legislation bans breeds by appearance, not DNA, and THAT is why we have far more 'type' dogs now than we had when the ban was first implemented.

Banning MORE breeds would not work. We have first hand evidence that banning breeds and their crosses/types does not work and if we look further afield to other countries who have done the same, amazingly... it doesn't work there either.

Educating people.
Preventing puppy farmers breeding on commercial scales.
Preventing the breeding of mentally and physically unsound dogs.
Enforcing the legislation we already have.

These are the things that actually need to be done.

Morgana123 · 15/02/2023 00:10

My dream was to have a doggo argentino but unfortunately it is one of the banned breeds in the Uk. I believe dogs personalities are mirrored by their owner’ personalities… it is naive to think a ruthless aggressive person would raise a sweet docile animal (or child for the sake of argument!)… we opted for a cane corso, out of respect to others, we only walk him outside rushing hours ie 6/6:30am and after 8/8:30pm. We also super mindful of our surroundings… other breeds he doesn’t like, etc. I believe we can live in harmony, we just have to respect each others boundaries, choices and limitations.

Thelnebriati · 02/04/2022 14:56

What on earth are you on about?
In the UK, serving police dogs can and do live in the handlers house!

The person killed by the dog was not the handler. When the handler is not present, a dog trained for man work is supposed to be in its kennel, where it sleeps.

Indoctro · 02/04/2022 13:55

@Uniformity

I generally only see adults. I did expect to see much more lab bites as there are just so many labradors about. If I've seen any in 15 years they were minimal. Same with staffies. Interestingly, these are the 2 most popular dogs for staff in our ED. In fairness I rarely see kids so the stats for kids being bitten by these dogs could be far far different.
Thank you that's interesting
CounsellorTroi · 02/04/2022 13:17

[quote XelaM]@Jayne35 Not my breed then 😃 I agree with you about JRTs and Chis - little mean monsters most of the ones I have met (I have also been bitten by a Chi and my dog has been snapped at and bitten by mean JRTs) but none of those attacks left any lasting scars beyond being unpleasant. Had either of us been attacked by an American XL Bully or a Rottweiler, we would have unlikely been here to tell the tale[/quote]
We’ve had two JRTs. Neither were mean monsters.

CounsellorTroi · 02/04/2022 13:14

What on earth are you on about?

In the UK, serving police dogs can and do live in the handlers house!

This. Difficult to form the necessary bond with the handler otherwise.

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