What’s with all these dog attacks?

[xxcatcatcatxx]

Seems like there’s loads and just read about another. Not sure if it’s always been this was or if the news is just reporting it more.

it always seems to be disproportionately terrier types involved, I’m not a dog person so don’t know if it’s their natural temperament etc. Just feels like there’s so many at the moment. I wonder if they’ll add other breeds to the banned list of dangerous dogs or if it’s more to do with owners and upbringing.

I think some breeds are more powerful than others which makes bad owner control more of a problem - I mean whatever anyone says you’re less likely to die from a Yorkshire terrier attacking you than a pit bull. But ultimately it’s bad ownership. People not understanding the commitment and time required to care for and train a dog properly. I think we should have dog licences and people should have to attend dog training sessions to keep their permit.

I think a lot of people don’t know how to act around dogs. And parents don’t teach their children how act. They let their little darlings rush up to a strange dog and start touching it. Would you like a stranger coming up to your like that? Or would you react?

Ah yes, the blame for dog attacks definitely lies with the victims..

Okay go ahead a rush up to a strange dog. Touch its head and pull its tail. Let’s see how that goes for you.

Of the dog attack fatalities of late, it’s been the family dog attacking, and it’s been American Bully XL. Nothing at all to to with a stranger rushing up to a dog.

Why would Janice rush up to a strange dog and maul it about? That is an absurd suggestion. The owner should be aware of an approaching person, read their body language and steer the dog away, block or parry an advance with their legs, arms or body, and above all have taught the dog to not bite OR wear a suitable muzzle at all times in public, surely?

Happy to be told I am wrong!

That’s right! I grew up with no dog. None of my friends have dogs. I know nothing about dogs. Literally my only experience of dogs is when they charge up to me in a park/wood and jump all over my clothes with muddy paws while the owner dawdles along behind shouting “Don’t worry he’s friendly he just wants to play!”

How am I supposed to know, or teach my child, how to act around dogs when I haven’t a clue?

I can’t teach Mandarin either.

How could I be so silly 🙄 this is MN all dogs are evil and should immediately be put down.

However people on the other hand, they are always angles and never are able to be wrong.

It's unlikely that a child with no experience of dogs would run up to one. Children who aren't familiar with dogs are cautious.

Go to any public area that has dogs and you can guarantee its the dogs rushing up to unsuspecting members of the public, while their owners laugh it off and say the dog is just being friendly.

To answer the OP question, rather than going off on the usual MN dog-hating tangent, .... it's August. Holiday time. There isn't a massive amount (apart from Tory leadership race) politically happening for the media to report on so they search around for other stories to fill up their endless 24 hour rolling feeds.
So dog attacks which wouldn't usually make the Editor cut to be included, get a space.

I read an interesting analysis piece once about this "silly season" phenomenon in the press - one that stuck with me was that murder cases like Ian Huntly in Soham get much more publicity and interest from the media if they happen in the summer months in the U.K. than other times of year when the media is more occupied with what's happening in Parliament.

Agreed, it’s always this horrible breed of dog that is currently in fashion with the kind of people who are more interested in looking “hard” than the welfare of their families.

Never trust a dog. Simple as.

also never let your child pull, nip, hit either!

don’t leave your child alone with a dog

dont believe MN when they say dogs are wonderful and it is your fault if they attack

The hot weather doesn’t help. Dogs can go a bit loopy in the heat.

I know someone who had the most placid, obedient golden retriever that started chewing on a small child on a very hot summer day.

Child was ok. Dog was PTS. But maybe it shouldn’t have been sat in a hot garden.

Mad dogs and Englishmen …….

There was a spate in the hot summers around 1989 which led to The Dangerous Dogs Act. Hot weather can stress dogs and make them more susceptible to aggressive behaviour.

Other factors:
Crap dog owners, especially those with a penchant for powerful, aggressive breeds.
"Lockdown dogs" reaching adulthood with a background of poor ownership/ training/ veterinary care and dubious breeding. Just more dog ownership shifts the odds.

Sometimes it absolutely does yes! Lack of knowledge and understanding appropriateness around animals

That’s not it. That’s really really not it. Jesus.
Prime example of why dog permits are completely necessary

No, no it doesn’t. Properly socialised dogs don’t attack when handled by strangers. They may freak out and nip, but not attack.

@xxcatcatcatxx “it always seems to be disproportionately terrier types involved”

Terrier type is often a strange sort of catch all phrase for bull terrier type.

I have a Border Terrier that's as soft as shit but those Bully XL dogs scare the shit out of me. There was one in the vets waiting room this week growling at my dog and I was really quite scared.

There was a spate in the hot summers around 1989 which led to The Dangerous Dogs Act. Hot weather can stress dogs and make them more susceptible to aggressive behaviour.

Other factors:
Crap dog owners, especially those with a penchant for powerful, aggressive breeds.
"Lockdown dogs" reaching adulthood with a background of poor ownership/ training/ veterinary care and dubious breeding. Just more dog ownership shifts the odds.

Yeah I’d be quite happy to see all fighting breed and mastiff type dogs banned and heavy penalties applied to owners. I was brought up with them and I know they can be the loveliest dogs imaginable, but in this day and age, and with the type of tossers who are owning them and breeding them, just no.

So what this thread is telling me is that if a dog rips you apart, it’s your own fault apparently. Even if you have no experience of dogs and didn’t go near it! 🙄 So many sweet and rational dog owners as usual…

There was a thread last week where the OP got roundly criticised for commenting on a woman who was 'walking her dog' while actually scrolling on her phone and being completely unaware of what the dog was doing (crapping, bother other dogs) and where it was (behind her). The consensus on the thread was that it was perfectly ok for the woman to be on her phone and they did it so it must be ok. So I guess there are a lot of dog owners out there unaware of the fact that dogs should be under control at all time, and that kind of mentality leads to poorly managed and trained dogs and owners who are not paying attention to what their dogs are doing so let them into dangerous situations. And the mastiff/bully types often attract idiots.

I was riding my bike in the park a few days ago,a puppy suddenly started chasing me and barking like mad. Even though it was just a puppy I was terrified it was going to bite my ankle.
also,it could keep up with my bike which scared me even more. Can’t imagine what that would have been like for a child!

these dog attacks are horrific. Thankfully no one was killed in the lost recent one.