Yet another person killed from a dog attack.. what is going on

[icelolly12]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-64254413

Something needs to be done...reports of dog neglect taken more seriously, harsher prison sentences... any other ideas?

Awful, awful way to die, and makes me think twice about passing dogs off lead on walks.

Is it uncomfortable for a dog to wear a well -fitting muzzle?

Surely they'd get used to that like they get used to a collar with a lead on it which regulrly restricts their throat ( if they aren't well trained)?
It stops them eating but you'd have the muzzle off at home>

Personally I think it's the people buying the dogs in the first place that needs addressing
Even breeders with a wealth of experience and doing it to the best of their ability, all above board etc are still able to sell to people that know nothing about the breed they are buying. regulations and at minimum some kind of test, licence or something similar needs to be brought in to stop just anybody being able to purchase any animal
Let alone a dog!

Have you seen some dog owners? The ones who buy a dog because it's popular, or because they needed one during lockdown. The ones who buy a certain breed not knowing anything what that dog requires for its own sanity? The owners who even with a dog ona lead cannot control said dog? I have, and the problem is not going to be solved by dogs on a lead! If anything some owners and some dogs in certain circumstances make it worse! The "owners" are the sole responsibility in this. The people who allowed the dog to fall into the hands of these people who had no idea how to socialise or deal with a breed far out of their capabilities and lifestyle. The owners who naively and ignorantly buy a dog for the wrong reasons. It's simple really. Stop anyone just owning a dog until they are proven to be responsible enough be it through a number of methods. I personally think people who have kids should have to go through the same process

Back street breeders will sell to any one with money. Look on selling websites some are full of dogs either free or for a price. Regards the poor woman dog walker she had way too many dogs, and should not have taken a big dog out with the small ones. I think the big dog tried to chase after the horses, and she fell over trying to get control then got attacked.

I hate to see kids with big dogs on those extender leads designed for small dogs.

She was a dog walker with 8 dogs on leads. Witnesses say she struggled to control them. There needs to be legislation about this.

I’ve got a dog, but see too many not properly under control. Two issues I see a lot:

Large dogs often bought for security, very defensive of their owners, with owners who appear to have little control over them. Eg a GSD snarled and snapped at us the other day, quite frightening. Owner had headphones on and not even looking at dog.

Dog walkers with several dogs. I don’t think anyone could control multiple dogs in a dangerous situation, particularly large powerful breeds. I know from experience that some will take dogs they have litttle prior knowledge of e.g. their recall, likelihood of aggression, etc.

I’d support licensing, but it needs to be enforced, and tbh I doubt we have the police/dog warden resources to make it work. I think number of dogs per person outdoors and also per household should be limited, maybe to 3 or 4?

There is nearly always local legislation. In my area it’s four max and you need a licence to walk in the area.

In the area this event happened the max was six - too many I agree, should be 4 - and also a license was required. She was breaking the rules and had been seen regularly doing so previously. As an ex dog walker I cannot fathom why she was walking tiny dogs alongside such a large dog too. When I walked I carefully chose walks by matching size and temperament and never more than four. Difficult or unpredictable dogs had solo walks and kept on lead in quiet places. The whole situation was untenable and seemed to be get as many out as possible, at once. She was breaking the local rules and it was a disaster waiting to happen.

This was a dreadful and tragic event but it was unusual and an anomaly with many contributing factors. As almost always, human error creates a horror involving dogs who then suffer.

Another thing that’s bothering me, reading all the reports, is the reporting that all 7 dogs attacked. This cannot possibly be known because no one saw the attack apart from one woman who saw a few seconds of it and then her horse ran. It’s all surmising and embellishing for a better story. Another witness describes two dogs running away from the area in panic but they too didn’t actually see the attack. A thorough investigation will show which dogs did or didn’t bite and I hope very much that they do one and don’t just destroy all the dogs en masse.

This is true, and there were rarely any dog attacks, and not many dog fights. That's because the dogs got socialised with people and with each other. There were fewer cars on the road, so not the great likelihood of accidents there is now.

There was, however, an enormous amount of excrement.

Nervous dogs are very dangerous - they can be unpredictable, and you don't know what might provoke them. I honestly think that fear aggression is the hardest thing to deal with.

I did read the dogs were Leonbergers and sausage dogs which seems unbelievable as they are usually such gentle breeds.

Leonbergers are gentle.

Dachshunds can be feisty little beggars, and very excitable and snappy.

While the poor lady may have made some mistakes that led to her death and she is probably more to blame than the dogs it’s an awful way to die and I feel for her family.
I think calling her an idiot is horrible

@SnarkyBag what breed were they?

I don't think it's a question of aggression in this case. It's about fear. All dogs are capable of this being placed the right set of circumstances, particularly if on a lead and they cannot run away.

25.69m and most settled in urban/suburban areas. Density is 3 per square kilometre.

Yeah and I would even venture that the majority of dog owners just aren't responsible owners. People so often just get a dog because they think that's what you do, puppies are cute, and then blame the dog when dog ownership inevitably turns out to be a massive pain in the arse. The number of unwanted dogs is so depressing.

As for the dog walker, sympathies with her family. Sounds like she broke the rules to get more dogs out...in this cost of living crisis that's understandable. She made the error of placing too much faith in the dogs but then lots of people do.

My ex has a huge long haired GSD that only he alone can walk as when his GF took it for walks it would pull so much she was dragged down an embankment and broke her wrist, the dog is too powerful for her, so he is the only one who walks it, but he is 60 and has a heart condition so he himself could be overpowered at some point. My DS has 2 whippets, who go out in harnesses and leads, my DS lets them off in a paid for field, they are both friendly dogs, but he appreciates not all people want a dog to say hello to them. One of the whippets is scared of GSD and larger dogs after my Ex GSD pinned him down once in play (that was when the GSD was a puppy). Knowing my Ex from living with him for 28 years, the dog will be loved but not stimulated or walked enough. He definitely got it as a status symbol in the same way he spent 28k on a BMW when we couldn't afford it as he had promised himself a BMW by the time he was 40. So its not the youth that buy dogs for the wrong reason.

I myself am scared of dogs, except the whippets so perhaps I am biased.

No please read what actually happened? dogs are lovely family members ❤️

I imagine they can compare bite marks and DNA on the poor lady with the dogs to show when were involved in the attack.

I completely agree with everything Kevin has said, people have no clue about the reality of life for a lot of people as they have no exposure to it. It would be completely unenforceable.

My dog isn’t walked on a collar for the exact reason that it causes discomfort. She’s got a harness which was professionally fitted. There’s also no reason my constantly on lead dog needs to be muzzled.

Having a dog in the house is like having a gun in the house?

I've heard it all now. MN really shows its batshit underbelly on threads like these.

And dogs constantly on leads? No wonder so many dogs have behavioural issues.

Just catching up with the latest updates on this sad story this morning.

Yet again shows we need bans on large powerful dogs in domestic homes or strict control for feckless dog owners and walkers. Firstly Joe public should not be allowed to buy an 11st animal easily capable of killing an adult. It is too much of a risk that animal is not managed appropriately - the owner is also at fault here allowing their 11st dog out with a walker walking 8 other dogs.

Are the photos in the press of the actual dog involved? it is enormous. The cynic in me thinks the owners have purposely released the photo to portray the gentle giant flopped on the sofa. That is exactly why owners like that should not have these huge dogs as they think they are harmless and make very bad decisions on their management.

If the press isn't making it clear that it's the breed of dog involved then it probably isn't.