Do you think dog bites will become a big problem?

[GoToSleepBabyPlease]

Given the popularity of lockdown puppies, do you think we'll see a rise in poorly trained/untrained young dogs and, as a result, an increased number of dog bites in public?

I bloody hope not. I am, for sure, seeing a rise in inappropriate dog and owner behaviour, but mostly of the bouncy scaring small children variety with poor recall. I haven’t yet seen much truly aggressive behaviour and I hope I don’t. I have a child who is terrified though so the current situation is already awful for us.

Well I suppose the more dogs out there the more possibility of getting bitten by one. Why the concern @GoToSleepBabyPlease?

No just lots of abandoned dogs when people go back to normalish life

Yes, presumably, although proper attacks are rare.

Plus lots of abandoned dogs, lots of badly treated unhappy dogs too, lots of dog shit and lots of barking all day. Plus also more happy dogs too.

Basically more dogs = more good andbad outcomes.

Another poster shared this on another thread

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/apr/15/dog-bite-britain-the-problem-with-the-pandemic-puppy-explosion

The increasing posts about these incidents on MN are worrying me and I have reconsidered where I take my children out. It’s the enormous dogs that are fashionable - even if ‘just’ poorly trained rather than fully aggressive, they can do so much damage to a small child. It does amaze me that people are allowed to just own them with no checks or requirements or enforcement of responsible ownership. I regularly see people walking bear-sized dogs that they could never physically restrain if they needed to. It seems like a disaster in the making.

Wow, the numbers are actually really high during lockdown... ‘His latest study, published last week, revealed a threefold increase in dog-bite attendances after the start of the first lockdown, peaking last July when doctors there dealt with 44 attacks – about 12 a week. While W54s include dog “strikes” – people being knocked over – Tulloch says records show the vast majority of cases are bites. “Often these are children who maybe have had only a graze on the knee before,” says Minford, who has two cocker spaniels and two sons. “And suddenly they’re in hospital with a bite to the face. Every interaction is heartbreaking.”

Irresponsible dog owners who haven't got a clue are the problem, for which dogs and other people will suffer.

To be honest I think it’s just mumsnet. Seems like they are trying to constantly scare people. Covid, brexit, dogs. Mumsnet has absolutely no grip on the actual realities of the real world.

It’s almost like fear is trying to be out in people taking their kids out to the park. Of course dog attacks happen, but the numbers are small and the chances of it happening are slight. No one posts how lovely a dog was, only when something bad happens so it’s a skewed view.

I've had increase in dogs bounding up to me and toddler and ignoring recall. Should be on leads but the owners seem a bit clueless

Have been taking my son to different more isolated places to try and avoid them. He's scared of dogs and I can't pick him up easily at the moment as 34 weeks pregnant.

To be honest I think it’s just mumsnet. Seems like they are trying to constantly scare people. Covid, brexit, dogs. Mumsnet has absolutely no grip on the actual realities of the real world.

This is not true imo. Have similar chats at work as on here - two people at work have had stressful dog interactions in the last year.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-london-56737576

All dogs should be a on a lead in a public place.

I think the problem is more people treating their dog like a child. Spoiling a dog can be dangerous when a dog doesn’t know it’s place, they’re pack animals and need treating as such. Not cruel or unkind but as a dog not a child. A dog must be under control either on a lead or with excellent recall coming to heel immediately no matter the distraction.

Yes, however the numbers are already up. So many random puppy purchases, dog training classes cancelled. Lots of dogs getting lost too, we are near a major park and often have you seen this dog signs have been up in the past year, prior to that not so many.

@Marchitectmummy yes! So often I bump into yet another new puppy with an ever more surprising owner. Not my business of course, but lots of them are very sheepishly grinning and saying ‘ah, yes, lockdown puppy, never thought we would get a dog but now we are always at home...’ I’m sure for some it would work, and have even thought about it myself, but it’s going to be a problem depending on work demands going forward.

@LegoPirateMonkey

The increasing posts about these incidents on MN are worrying me and I have reconsidered where I take my children out. It’s the enormous dogs that are fashionable - even if ‘just’ poorly trained rather than fully aggressive, they can do so much damage to a small child. It does amaze me that people are allowed to just own them with no checks or requirements or enforcement of responsible ownership. I regularly see people walking bear-sized dogs that they could never physically restrain if they needed to. It seems like a disaster in the making.

Just what I came to say.

I saw a bloke walking a massive dog secured to a lead around the man’s waist and I could just see him getting dragged along the ground if the dog decided to bolt. I just can’t imagine wanting a pet that’s bigger than me! There are a couple of beautifully trained and obedient giant dogs on my street that have never misbehaved and I’m not scared of them but I think the level of experience and skill the owner has is rare.

Yes I do. I've noticed an increase in poorly controlled, untrained dogs since last march.

Some people get dogs without an understanding of the work involved in being a good owner and raising a good safe dog.

@StarCat2020

No just lots of abandoned dogs when people go back to normalish life

I keep reading this and I don’t think it’s true at all, although I suppose it stands to reason that the more people have dogs the more will be abandoned in the same way sparkling alluded to. In other words, if 2% of dogs will bite and 2% of owners will abandon their dogs then that’s obviously going to be a lot more dogs depending on whether there are 100 dogs or 1000 dogs.

But in general I have seen absolutely no evidence of shelters overflowing with ‘lockdown puppies’ despite MN confidently stating this will be the case for over a year now.

Yes - my dd came home from the park in tears last week. A giant breed puppy (so big compared to her) had ‘played’ with her new football and destroyed it. It was a birthday present, and the first time she had played with it.

The owner had no control or recall. She was very apologetic and bought dd a new ball. But it doesn’t change the fact the owner clearly has no control over a large and growing dog.

But in general I have seen absolutely no evidence of shelters overflowing with ‘lockdown puppies’ despite MN confidently stating this will be the case for over a year now.

But that's because we've not had a long period of time with no restrictions. Even over the summer lots of people still worked at home, so there was no need for them to rehome their dogs.

Now people are back in work and many offices are due to open up again, people won't want to pay for a dog walker or daycare - it's expensive, but they won't want to deal with the barking, accidents and destruction that come with leaving puppies and teenage dogs home alone all day either!

I think it’s going to have to be an ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’ sunflowers

@Sparklingbrook

Well I suppose the more dogs out there the more possibility of getting bitten by one. Why the concern *@GoToSleepBabyPlease*?

Well, I've noticed an increase in dangerous dog posts on here, for one. There are lots of dogs running around off-lead with poor/no recall at the moment too- I was out with a friend recently and her two year old was knocked flying by a large puppy whose owners had not got a clue. This morning I just realised the two might be connected, previously I just thought that because I hadn't been out with small children before, I probably just hadn't noticed how many out of control dogs their were.

@beginningoftheend That's really interesting- thanks for that. I'll have a proper read later.

@LegoPirateMonkey I totally get where you're coming from- a toddler's face is exactly at head height for a lot of dogs. I've always been wary with my kids around dogs despite growing up with them.

“ But in general I have seen absolutely no evidence of shelters overflowing with ‘lockdown puppies’ despite MN confidently stating this will be the case for over a year now.”

Full in Scotland www.google.co.uk/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/animal-rescue-charitys-centres-at-capacity-due-to-lockdown-puppies-12260191

We also have a lot of badly behaved large puppies around. Maybe 8 months old.

That’s not abandoned pets, though, 4paws, that’s puppy farm raids.

If puppy farm raids mean the poor dogs get a good home then that’s great news, as far as I’m concerned.

But I don’t think pets will be abandoned in their thousands.