“Getting ANY adult dog breed is strongly NOT recommended”

[tallulahtoo78]

From a dog expert interview on LBC discussing the utterly awful, tragic death of the 17 month old little girl.

100% agree

Oh I was listening to that. He had some interesting ideas. Thought the 90% wolf thing and reversion was debunked (am not a dog person) but I’d never get a new dog with a toddler anyway.

I too completely agree, taking on a dog where they do not know the background (police trying to find out about previous owners indicates the parents did not k ow) is far too big a risk and one I would never take. Poor baby

I didn't think people with young dc were allowed to adopt by most, if not all, rescues?
I don't know the incident you are referring to so not sure if this was the case.

BBC News - St Helens dog attack: Girl aged 17 months killed at home
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-60829837

It says "bought" not rescued. Rescue places won't rehome with children for exactly this reason.

I'm assuming the expert was talking specifically about households with young DC? In which case I agree. If he was saying that nobody should adopt an adult dog, then clearly that's rubbish.

I hadn’t heard this but it sounds needed. We have too many of these horrific outcomes with children and new guidelines are needed to help protect them.

What breed was the dog? I can't bring myself to read the article!

I strongly believe all dogs should be neutered. We have too many dogs in homing centres

It's a bit harsh to say neglect charges should be considered or that the parents have acted irresponsibly when not all the circumstances are known yet. A family has lost their baby, that alone is cruel enough without people online speculating about whether they were to blame.

Being tested to see if it is a banned breed...

@JesusInTheCabbageVan

I'm assuming the expert was talking specifically about households with young DC? In which case I agree. If he was saying that nobody should adopt an adult dog, then clearly that's rubbish.

Not just homes with young DC

Unless extensive experience with raising dogs - getting any adult breed is irresponsible according to the interview

@CannaBelieve

What breed was the dog? I can't bring myself to read the article!

I strongly believe all dogs should be neutered. We have too many dogs in homing centres

They are doing tests to see if it can illegal breed. A neighbour said it looked like a staffy or pit ball

Dear God , that poor baby

That poor little girl. Children should never be left unattended with animals I don't care what anyone says. They are animals and unpredictable!

Having worked in boarding and rescue kennels it pains me to agree with this. It is very sad that some dogs wait a long time to be homed and often sit in kennels as rescues wont rehome with people who work FT but are childless (sat in a kennel all day V sat in a cosy house...) i think until children are old enough to understand a dogs body language and does and donts. I have to vote get a puppy for anyone with children of primary age. Such sad circumstances and the fact tests are being undertaken to identify the breed indicates of its appearance... baffles me the choices people make. There is a breed for everyone, i wish people would just choose wisely rather than looks or their ideas of what they want.

I am a childminder and we have a rescue. She was a litter of puppies dumped at 6 weeks old with a local rescue and she has been an amazing addition to our setting and family. That being said, she's never left alone with children (minded or otherwise) and has had extensive training with a behaviourist and trainer.

When I stop minding and when my DD is 13 we are looking to add to the family and want a rescue of adolescent or older. I would never ever ever consider bringing an adult dog into my home when I don't know its history. Add to that the poor animal would be incredibly unsettled and scared increasing the risk of fear aggression and would need our full attention not just a few pats and a tin of dog food while settling (my parents dogs have all been rescued so have some experience).

The so called expert sounds like an idiot though.

I genuinely wish people would consider the commitment a cute puppy actually is before passing them along the line.

I've only had one adult rescue that would tolerate children and he was a staffy and the most gentle, loving dog you could ever meet. Bringing an adult dog into a home with young children creates far too much unnecessary stress on the animal and is very irresponsible.

@suzysays

That poor little girl. Children should never be left unattended with animals I don't care what anyone says. They are animals and unpredictable!

Comments like these annoy me too. The child wasn’t unattended. But when a dog attacks there’s nothing you can do to stop it. Better to just not have a massive pitbull type you’ve just bought from some random in a house with children.

When are people going to learn to keep dogs away from babies.

That poor little girl. How awful. Why parents of a toddler would buy an adult dog, which obviously has characteristics of a dangerous breed is beyond me.

What a sad, sad story. But I don't agree with the statement that no adult dog should be rescued. I do think they should be rescued through rehoming kennels though and not private sales.

We have adopted 2 adult greyhounds in our lifetime. The first was 4 years old and the second 2 years old. We had children and worked with the breed specific rescue to ensure that the dog was right for us and we were the right home, with knowledge and both times, it has worked out well and we have had safe, happy family pets.

In the case of greyhounds, if they weren't adopted as adult dogs, many would never have the opportunity to live in a home... I can't remember the exact statistic but a few thousand retire from racing every year, that without adoption would either be put to sleep or end their lives in kennels.

Not just homes with young DC. Unless extensive experience with raising dogs - getting any adult breed is irresponsible according to the interview

That's going too far. I do agree some education on rescue dogs would be helpful. It is important to check the homes are suitable and the rescue people need to be especially careful homing with dogs with behaviour issues. However a person or family without young children can safely remove the vast majority of rescue dogs.